Biolyst Leadership Team

Chief Executive Officer

Reza Ardekani is Chief Technology Officer of Biolyst Scientific. As Chief Technological Officer, he spearheads the creation of new products, shapes the company’s technology roadmap, and ensures that Biolyst Scientific remains at the cutting edge of solving customer needs. Reza assumed the role upon the successful sale of Azer Scientific, a company he built into a prominent laboratory consumables player as the Founder and CEO.

Reza brings extensive experience in leading national business development strategies, developing intellectual property, managing multi-channel commercial teams, and overseeing operations and distribution. He has been instrumental in founding, financing, and developing numerous businesses, guiding them from initial concepts to successful enterprises. Reza holds a bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology and Cytotechnology from Thomas Jefferson University.

Chief Operating Officer

Jeff Rogers brings more than 30 years of executive leadership in specialty chemicals, ingredients, and life sciences to Biolyst Scientific. He joins the team with a proven track record of building and scaling businesses across the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, personal care, and food & beverage industries.

Most recently, Jeff served as CEO of M2 Ingredients, Inc., the largest producer of functional mushrooms in the Western Hemisphere, where he led the senior leadership team and grew gross margin from 29% to 44% while generating over $2.5 million in cost savings in 14 months. Prior to that, he served as CEO of Pharmachem Innovations, guiding the company through a complex carveout from Ashland and standing up standalone operations across HR, finance, and manufacturing for a ~$100 million business.

Earlier in his career, Jeff was President & COO of Niacet Corporation, where he had full P&L accountability for a $220+ million global business and led the company through a successful sale to Kerry Group. He also held global leadership roles at Lonza (Global Vice President, Consumer Product Ingredients), Ashland (Vice President, Care Specialties), AkzoNobel, and National Starch & Chemical, spanning assignments in the U.S., UK, and Europe.

Jeff holds a BS in Chemistry/Biology from The College of New Jersey and completed the Executive Development Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists, the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, and the American Chemistry Council, and has served on the Board of Trustees for Hunterdon County Medical Center.

Director of Quality & Regulatory Affairs

Mariana brings over 25 years of experience in Quality, Supply Chain, and EHS Management across multiple industries, including automotive, oil & gas, mining, construction, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. She has led strategic initiatives in ERP implementation, multi-site quality system integrations, and regulatory compliance, working with standards such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 13485, ISO 14001, and 21 CFR 210/211 and 820.

A certified Green Belt in Six Sigma, Mariana holds an MBA in Safety Engineering and a degree in Industrial Engineering from CEFET-MG. Before joining Biolyst Scientific, she held leadership roles at FIAT Group (now Stellantis), Sandvik, Bosch, and Troxler.

Originally from Brazil, Mariana moved to the U.S. in 2012 and joined Azer Scientific in 2022. She became Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs in 2023 and has since been focused on strengthening the quality team, ensuring regulatory compliance, and integrating Biolyst’s quality processes to enhance customer satisfaction and drive growth.

“I don’t build quality systems for myself—they are built to drive excellence, foster a strong quality mindset, and help companies achieve differentiation through robust processes.”

Senior Director of Product Management 

Ralph Finkbiner serves as Senior Director of Product Management for Biolyst Scientific, leading the strategic direction and commercialization of the company’s portfolio across clinical, research, and life science markets. He oversees global product management, marketing communications, and new product development for the Azer Scientific and Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS) portfolios, driving initiatives that strengthen Biolyst’s brand presence and expand market share in both consumables and instrumentation.

With over 16 years of experience in the life sciences and diagnostics industry, Ralph has played a key role in integrating product and marketing strategies following the merger of Azer Scientific and EMS, positioning Biolyst for continued growth. Prior to Biolyst, he served as Product and Marketing Manager for Azer Scientific, where he led numerous product launches across histology, microbiology, and clinical consumables, building partnerships with global OEMs and distributors to expand market reach.

Ralph holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from The Pennsylvania State University.

“Leading product management and marketing at Biolyst means guiding a team that transforms a diverse portfolio into solutions that truly advance clinical and research workflows.”

Director of Strategic Accounts

Steve has 7 years of sales experience all with Azer Scientific ranging from inside sales, outside sales, and Strategic Accounts Manager. During this time, he focused on growing customer base and building relationships while delivering quality products in a timely manner.

He is responsible for managing relationships with key clients, developing sales strategies, and driving revenue growth for the organization while ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

“Committed to driving success and long-term business sustainability by aligning the company’s offerings with the evolving needs of our customer base.”

Vice President of Procurement

Chuck Hill joins Biolyst Scientific as the Vice President of Procurement with over 25 years of significant global supply chain expertise gained from several years with Boeing, Morgan Truck Body, Penske Logistics and a career as an Aviation Logistics Officer in the United States Marine Corps. He comes to Biolyst from Boeing Commercial where he managed interior installations on the 787 Dreamliner. Prior to Boeing, Chuck was at Morgan Truck Body where he oversaw Logistics and Warehousing, Transportation Management Operations, and Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Provider Agreements. With his vast experience, Chuck demonstrates a record for delivering high service levels in diverse material environments in support of production and repair operations.

In his new role, Chuck will be responsible for managing vendor relationships and optimizing inventory and transportation in support of strategic objectives. Chuck holds a B.A. in International Relations from Boston University and an M.S. in Information Technology from the Naval Postgraduate School. Married to Mrs. Bethany Hill since 1997, Chuck and Bethany have three children. The Hill family resides in Morgantown, PA where Bethany teaches Middle School Math and Science at Conestoga Christian School. While away from work, Chuck enjoys time with his family. Chuck can be reached at Charles.Hill@Biolyst.com.