Staff

Dr. Thomas C. Kupiec is the CEO of ARL Bio Pharma and DNA Solutions Inc.

Dr. Thomas C. Kupiec is the CEO of ARL Bio Pharma and DNA Solutions Inc. Dr. Kupiec received his Ph.D in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Pharmacy. He currently serves as a graduate faculty member at the OU Health Sciences Center and has held teaching appointments at several universities. He has published numerous articles and abstracts in a variety of fields including pharmaceutical sciences, forensic sciences and pharmacogenomics. Dr. Kupiec is often requested as a speaker at national pharmaceutical conferences and has spoken at ASHP, IACP, ACA and for state pharmaceutical associations.

Dr. Kupiec’s vision of entrepreneurial research is manifested by his responsibilities at DNA Solutions and ARL, which include supplying technical expertise and business development in the pharmaceutical and forensic fields. Additionally, Dr. Kupiec offers consultation services for a variety of pharmacy related fields as well as expert witness testimony in the fields of forensic toxicology and pharmaceutical sciences. He has testified in over a hundred cases, both civil and criminal, in federal, state and municipal courts.

His professional experience includes various appointments at Northwest Toxicology Inc. (NWT), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Dr. Kupiec is affiliated with numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Society of Forensic.

Vince Bobin

Vince Bobin is the Chief Operations Officer for ARL Bio Pharma and has overall responsibility for the Chemistry, Microbiology, Analytical and Projects/R&D departments. He received his BS in Biochemistry from the State University of New York at Geneseo.

Vince’s previous work history includes quality control testing for Procter and Gamble, and most recently, 10+ years of analytical research and development for Pfizer. He has a strong GMP background and experience with regulatory filings including IND’s, NDA/MAA’s.

Leann Hewett

Leann Hewett, CPA, MBA, is a seasoned financial executive and currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for ARL Biopharma, Inc., DNA Solutions, Inc., and the Kupiec Group. In her role, she oversees the strategic and day-to-day operations of the Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, QA/Facilities, and Information Technology departments—bringing both precision and vision to the companies’ leadership teams.

With over 25 years of experience in financial management, Leann has built a reputation for fostering financial integrity, optimizing operational performance, and ensuring regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Business Administration from Oklahoma City University. Her depth of knowledge spans financial reporting, cash flow management, forecasting, HR strategy, and enterprise technology integration.

Leann’s career includes a diverse array of leadership roles. Before joining ARL, she served as CFO for an entrepreneur with business interests spanning legal lead generation, aviation, and real estate. She was also the long-time Controller for an international biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing firm, and has held financial leadership roles in hospital and physician practice settings. Her breadth of experience has helped organizations improve financial performance, increase profitability, and build lasting, sustainable business plans.

A committed professional, Leann is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA). Her career is guided by principles of honesty, trustworthiness, and operational excellence, making her a respected and reliable financial leader across the industries she serves.

Dr. Qiang Liu

Qiang Liu is the Chief Scientific Officer for ARL Bio Pharma. Dr. Liu received his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from North Carolina State University.

Before joining ARL, he developed and commercialized a high resolution mass spectrometry platform for biomarker discovery at the R&D department of Metabolon Inc. His professional experiences also include Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetic (DMPK), bioanalysis in drug discovery and development, imaging, proteomics and metabolomics during his appointment at Consortium for Parasitic Drug Development and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Liu has published twelve peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters in the fields of mass spectrometry, biological imaging and drug development. He is affiliated with various professional organizations including American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), and American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS).

Tommy Means

Tommy Means is the Quality Director for ARL Bio Pharma (ARL) and DNA Solutions Inc. He is focused on ensuring that Quality Systems for both companies are functional and operational. This includes ISO, FDA, USP, DEA, EPA & AABB compliance and regulations.

Tommy’s professional background includes work in Gas Chromatography, Project Management, Quality Control / Quality Assurance and Vendor Auditing. Tommy is a member of the American Society of Quality, The Institute of Validation Technology & American Association of Blood Banks.

Prior to joining ARL and DNA, Tommy was part of the Research and Development team of Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company. Tommy received his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

Andrew Taylor

Andrew has been with ARL Bio Pharma since 2014. Prior to joining ARL, he worked as a research Microbiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA. Andrew received his Bachelor of Science in Zoology / Biomedical Sciences from The University of Oklahoma and a Master of Science in Forensic Sciences from Oklahoma State University.

Jessica Munson

Jessica Munson is the Laboratory Director for ARL Bio Pharma. Jessica received her M.S. degree in Forensic Science from The University of Central Oklahoma, following completion of her undergraduate studies at St. Gregory’s University.

Jessica has 7+ years of experience in analytical research and development. Prior to joining ARL, she worked for FLIR systems where she commercialized fluorescent polymer based technologies for detection of explosives and chemical warfare agents.  She further participated in extensive GC-MS and HPLC based projects for characterization of accelerated explosive degradation products.

In her role at ARL BioPharma, Jessica previously served as project manager for a variety of pharmaceutical clients and was engaged in method development & validation for both stability testing of pharmaceutical preparations, in addition to chromatographic purity.

Brian Kelley

Brian Kelley is the Director of Business Development for ARL Bio Pharma. He received his BS in Biology from Oklahoma State University. Brian has over 20 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical industry more than half of which has been working with pharmacies and outsourcing facilities. At ARL, he has overall responsibility for the customer service, marketing, and sales departments.

Corbin Harrison

Corbin Harrison is the Director of Human Resources for ARL Bio Pharma.  He is passionate about building culture and driving employment relationships that optimize business outcomes.  He has over twenty years of Human Resources experience in a variety of industries spanning Healthcare, Higher Education, and eCommerce.

Corbin holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Michael F. Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma. He also holds certifications in Human Resources leadership from both the Human Resources Certification Institute (PHR)  and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP).

Beverly Usry

Beverly Usry serves as the Controller for ARL Bio Pharma and DNA Solutions, where she oversees the organizations’ accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, and fiscal controls. A seasoned CPA with over three decades of experience and more than 15 years in executive financial leadership, Beverly brings a strategic, systems-focused approach to finance that enables scalable growth, operational transparency, and organizational alignment.

Beverly began her career as an internal auditor and steadily advanced through leadership roles in various major companies across a wide range of sectors. She has consistently been the go-to leader for transformative financial initiatives, leading Sarbanes-Oxley implementations, rolling out ERP systems at five companies, and standing up scalable financial processes in both domestic and international markets.

Known for her servant leadership style, Beverly is guided by integrity, accountability, and a deep belief in empowering others. She is especially proud of building high-performing teams and mentoring colleagues to achieve their goals. Her impact extends beyond the corporate space. She volunteers on nonprofit boards, leverages her financial acumen to strengthen community organizations, and actively supports youth education and church outreach initiatives.

Beverly holds both a BBA in Accounting and an MBA from the University of Oklahoma and is a licensed CPA, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA). A lifelong learner and curious mind, she hopes to be remembered as a leader who helped others grow, challenged the status quo when necessary, and always led with heart.

Nick Peeples

Nick Peeples is a seasoned Director of Information Technology and administrator with extensive service-oriented experience. His consistently level-headed approach to mediation and problem resolution, along with a customer-first work ethic, has allowed him to professionally manage the diverse needs of business and technology. With a thoroughly technical background reinforcing his management abilities he has consistently and insightfully aligned IT and business needs while working as a servant leader.

Amy Dean

Amy Dean is the marketing director for ARL Bio Pharma, DNA Solutions and the Kupiec Group. She joined ARL in June 2007. Her responsibilities include graphic design, advertising, public relations, and the research, planning, implementation and evaluation of marketing campaigns.

Prior to joining ARL, Amy served in the financial industry for nine years.

Amy received her bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Central Oklahoma and her master’s degree in business administration specializing in leadership and organizational development from Oklahoma Christian University.

Dr. Nicole Vu

Dr. Nicole Vu is the Scientific Director for ARL Bio Pharma and it’s sister company DNA Solutions. She is focused on ensuring the science and technology that both companies utilize is of the highest quality. Before joining the team in 2004, Dr. Vu spent over a decade with the Federal Aviation Administration in the Forensic Toxicology and Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory where she served as a Research Chemist and later as Team Leader to conduct research in Aviation Toxicology and Toxicogenomics.

Her professional experiences also includes appointments as Specialist in Immunohematology at OU Medical Center, and adjunct professor in Forensic Serology at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Dr. Vu is affiliated with various professional organizations including American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, and is an active member of Institutional Biosafety Committee at OU Health Sciences Center.

Dr. Vu educational credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from The University of the Ozarks, a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from Arkansas State University and a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from The University of Oklahoma, Health Sciences Center. Dr. Vu has also received a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from The College of Pharmacy at the University of Oklahoma, Health Sciences Center. She currently serves as a graduate faculty member at the OU Health Sciences Center and has adjunct teaching appointments at OU College of Pharmacy.

Ye Guan

Dr. Ye Guan is the R&D Projects group Supervisor for ARL Bio Pharma. Dr. Guan received her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from University of Oklahoma. Prior to joining ARL, she worked in a research group in University of Oklahoma where she participated in projects using real-time MS to analysis nucleotides in single cell with Nano-ESI and single-probe mass technology.

In her role at ARL Bio Pharma, Dr. Guan previously served as project manager for a variety of pharmaceutical clients and was engaged in method development & validation for stability testing of pharmaceutical preparations and pharmacokinetic (PK) studies.

Kaitlin Nootbaar

Kaitlin Nootbaar is the Supervisor of the Microbiology Department. Kaitlin joined ARL Bio Pharma in August 2017. Prior to joining ARL, Kaitlin worked as a middle school science teacher. Kaitlin received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Kendrick Britto

Lauren Choy

Raelyn Tidmore

Raelynn Tidmore is the Chemistry Supervisor for ARL Bio Pharma. Raelynn received her B.S. degrees in Forensic Science and Chemistry from The University of Central Oklahoma.

Raelynn has 10+ years of experience in analytical research and development. In her role at ARL Bio Pharma, She previously served as R&D Associate Supervisor and project manager for a variety of pharmaceutical clients. She also engaged in method development and validation for stability testing of pharmaceutical preparations, chromatographic purity, and dissolution.

Justin Barnes

Nora Dorety – Requeno

Nora Dorety is the Supervisor of the sub-division within the Analytical Department: “Non-cGMP – Analytical” for ARL Bio Pharma. Nora received her B.S. Degree in Biology from The University of Central Oklahoma. Nora has 5 + years of experience with ARL Bio Pharma. Prior to joining ARL, Nora worked for Advanced Laboratory Services as a toxicology chemist. Nora uses her experience to help assist ARL clients and the laboratory in their testing needs.

Amber Gilbert

Amber N. Gilbert is a Technical Sales Representative at ARL Bio Pharma with nearly two decades of experience in client relations, business development, and operational leadership in the blood and biotech industries. She’s passionate about improving operational efficiencies and delivering tailored solutions that serve clients and advance healthcare innovation.

Bailey Rubin

Bailey Rubin joined ARL Bio Pharma as a Technical Sales Representative in 2024.

Bailey graduated from Oklahoma State University where she obtained her B.S. in Animal Science-Business with a minor in Economics. Prior to her journey at ARL, Bailey spent eight years in the service and retail industries where she gained experience in sales and client relations. Her passion for building relationships and pursuing a path in science led her to this position at ARL.

Michael Darnaby

Michael Darnaby serves as a technical sales representative. He joined ARL in 2020 as a part of the client services team, eventually attaining the position of Client Services Representative III.

He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in Zoology. Michael previously spent nearly a decade in the hospitality industry managing multiple restaurants. His passion for science brought him to ARL, where he utilizes his strong background in customer service to help ARL’s clients.

James Zellner

James Zellner serves as a technical sales representative. He joined ARL in 2012 as a member of the Microbiology team. He attained the position of Microbiologist III and has extensive experience with the microbiological testing services offered at ARL.

His duties in the Microbiology Department included USP testing, client consultation, SOP development, training of new microbiologists, and data review and approval. James has also been published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding. Prior to his joining the ARL team, James worked in retail, and brings 10 years of sales experience helping clients and customers find solutions. He moved to the Business Development department in 2016.

James was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Oklahoma.

Amy Wells

Amy Wells serves as Client Services Supervisor. Amy joined ARL in 2019 as an Administrative Assistant in the Accounting department, eventually attaining the position of Accounts Receivable Lead. Amy joined the Client Services team in 2023. Previous experience includes 10+ years in the banking industry, where customer service was a top priority. Other professional experience includes Quality Assurance roles with medical device and food manufacturers.