The Avoca Group | About Us

Profile: Patricia Leuchten
Founder and President

Patricia Leuchten founded The Avoca Group in 1999 to provide consulting services and technical tools to enable biopharmaceutical companies and their clinical research providers to create and maintain business relationships that are effective, strong, and mutually beneficial. With nearly 20 years experience leading business development, data management, and business operations teams for leading CROs and working through projects with pharma companies, Patty provides the vision for this vibrant, growing organization.

A leading authority on global pharmaceutical business development and clinical outsourcing, Patty has served as the lead advisor for large pharmaceutical companies' strategic outsourcing initiatives. She has trained global business development teams, created integrated business systems for company-wide management and tracking of information, and has developed technology-based solutions for measuring and managing business relationships.

Patty is a frequent speaker and writer on topics surrounding clinical outsourcing, business development, strategic alliances, and client service.

Profile: Janice Hutt
Vice President

Janice Hutt, Vice President, drives client successes by providing insightful sales and marketing strategies to senior CRO executives and business development staff. Leveraging 24 years in sales and business development management experience in the pharmaceutical and CRO industries, including ten years with Merck, Janice is known for her extensive network and hands-on approach. She helps Avoca clients handle challenging customer relationships with practical, action-oriented and highly effective programs. An expert at maximizing business opportunities at professional meetings and trade shows and creating successful client presentations, she helps clients significantly improve their win rates.

Janice also helps clinical units develop management and tracking tools to streamline business processes, trains business development professionals to create and use comprehensive CRO proposal templates, and facilitates negotiation of contracts and scope changes for international clinical programs. She implements CRO account management procedures that successfully coordinate client interaction between Business Development and Operations groups.

Profile: Deborah Briffa
Program Coordinator

Debbie Briffa comes to The Avoca Group with over 18 years of experience in the Financial Services industry, focusing on client relationships, strategic planning, and customer service management. In her recent position at Morgan Stanley, Debbie was the Vice President for Worldwide Corporate Services and was responsible for the management of over 400 staff worldwide in more than 10 different departments. She has had extensive experience in creating effective communication plans and client retention strategies, in meeting facilitation for both large and small groups, has built comprehensive training plans for both internal employee groups as well as external clients. During her time at Morgan Stanley, Debbie acted as Committee Chairperson for the Firm�s Client Relationship Management Program and worked closely with the Information Technology group to create appropriate tools in support of this important initiative.

As Program Coordinator with The Avoca Group, Debbie provides management oversight of one of Avoca�s key client relationships including facilitation of data capture and analysis using project specific survey instruments, overall analysis and reporting, proposal development, project tracking, meeting facilitation with key client staff members, as well as consults on best practices for establishing strong client relationship programs.

Profile: Denise Calaprice, Ph.D.
Senior Director

Dr. Denise Calaprice has extensive experience in directing clinical research programs in a variety of settings including academia, a CRO, a large global pharmaceutical company, and a small biotechnology company. After receiving her Bachelor�s degree in biology from Harvard University and her M.S. and Ph.D. from Princeton, Dr. Calaprice entered the world of clinical research as an NIH postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University�s College of Physicians and Surgeons.

She subsequently joined Quintiles as a Clinical Research Project and Program Director, where she directed full-service international research programs including studies in Phases I through IV, and including NDA and IND preparation, submission, and support. While at Quintiles, Denise won the President�s Award for her outstanding contribution to the business.

In her position as Senior Director of Clinical Research at Altana Pharma, Denise developed the infrastructure of the U.S. clinical research department and contributed to infrastructure development internationally, including training of personnel and SOP and guideline development, while simultaneously overseeing the performance of both outsourced and sponsor-performed international clinical trials. As Director of Clinical Sciences at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Denise provided oversight for outsourced Phase I through III clinical research projects, and supervises and trains personnel in CRO management. She has also consulted for both CROs and pharmaceutical companies.

As part of the senior team at The Avoca Group, Denise provides support to pharmaceutical companies in the area of CRO management and also participates in the development of Client Relationship programs for both CROs and pharmaceutical companies.

Profile: Howard Jacobson, Ph.D.
Learning and Development Specialist

Dr. Howard Jacobson is The Avoca Group's learning and organization development specialist. An expert on sales, marketing strategy, and client service, Howard has been a consultant and Director of Marketing for global change management consulting firm Bregman Partners. Howard's other areas of expertise include project management, teamwork, organizational development and communication strategies. He has taught at Temple University and numerous adult education programs in the US and abroad.

At Avoca, Howard develops and delivers business development training modules, coaches high potential business development professionals, and manages Avoca's e-learning program. Howard has a BA from Princeton University and an MPH and PhD from Temple University.

Profile: Jennifer Smoot
Project Associate and Marketing Assistant

With a degree in specialized technology and visual communications, Jenn Smoot provides expertise for the Company�s AvocaView technology systems, including maintenance of client documents in secure client-accessible web portals, management of respondent databases and user identification information, and supporting the project management teams in data analysis and report generation. Jenn also creates documentation for the use of Company systems and provides the support to the Avoca team.

Profile: Joan Maggio
Business Development and Operations Specialist

Joan Maggio has over 10 years of experience in the CRO industry. She provides key support to the Avoca team in the areas of database development and analysis, proposal development, project tracking and contracts. Before joining Avoca, she held various positions at Besselaar (now Covance) in the areas of finance, business development and marketing. While at Covance, she created and managed the Business Development and Marketing informational databases. Ms. Maggio maintained the client backlog, contract files and proposal activity. In this capacity, she acted as the centralized source of information to worldwide business development and provided data reports to senior management.

Profile: Joann Murano
Survey Research Specialist

Joann Murano has over 20 years of experience in medical device, product development, and pharmaceutical clinical trials. Prior to joining the Avoca team, Joann was with Bio-Imaging Technologies, where she served as Vice President, Data Services, directing operations of six divisions with 100 professional, technical, and administrative employees. As VP, she also developed strategic business plans, departmental budgets, and regulatory compliance guidelines for US and European operations. At Bio-Imaging, she also held past roles as Director of both Data Management and Project Management, including management of medical imaging components of clinical trials for pharmaceutical, device, and biotechnology sponsors. Prior to joining Bio-Imaging, Joann was a Clinical Science Project Manager at Janssen Research Foundation, where she managed multiple Phase I/II clinical trials from protocol design through final clinical research report.

Profile: Karen Sobel Lojeski, Ph.D.

Dr. Karen Sobel Lojeski is CEO of Virtual Distance International. Karen established Virtual Distance to provide advisory services and software solutions to global organizations using technologically mediated collaboration and virtual resources. Prior to launching VDI, Karen held management positions at Stratus Computer, Inc., Chase Manhattan Bank N.A., and Mercer Consulting Group. She was Chief Operating Officer for Prolifics, a JYACC company, and Vice President of North America for Xansa. Karen holds undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and a Ph.D. from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., where she specialized in technology management, virtual work, and outsourcing.

Dr. Lojeski collaborates with The Avoca Group on innovation in strategic relationship management.

Profile: Lisa Hines
Senior Analyst, Survey Research Services

Lisa Hines brings a wide range of strategic planning, market analysis, and customer service management experience to The Avoca Group. An experienced interviewer and marketing executive of twenty years, Lisa has worked with numerous CROs and other providers of niche services to the pharmaceutical industry to develop effective communication and customer retention strategies.

Lisa works with Avoca clients to understand business objectives, create survey instruments to gain an understanding of market forces and customer satisfaction, and implements survey research programs. She develops reports that clarify and crystallize often-hidden issues that could compromise client company market positions.

Lisa has an MBA from the University of Connecticut and has held executive roles in five companies.

Profile: Lisa Payne
Senior Director, Survey Research Services

Lisa Payne brings a wide range of experience in the areas of clinical account management, marketing, administration, sales and communication to Avoca clients. With experience as an internal clinical monitor on global project teams at one of the CRO industry's largest companies, Lisa facilitated communication within these teams and served as liaison between clients, project teams and management. She tracked studies, coordinated monitors, and assured regulatory compliance.

At Avoca, Lisa manages Client Service initiatives and is a leader in the company's Survey Research Project Team. Lisa works with Avoca clients to understand their business objectives and develops and implements insightful survey research programs to help build and manage critical business relationships.

Profile: Mary Lynn Krolczyk
Project Assistant

Mary Lynn Krolczyk has fifteen years of experience in the healthcare environment, specializing in operations management, customer service, quality assurance, and marketing. Ms. Krolczyk is a key member of Avoca�s survey research team, both in survey conduct and project management. Prior to working with Avoca, Ms. Krolczyk has worked in a consulting capacity in market forecasting, strategic planning, sales and marketing, quality assurance, and operational management in the healthcare industry. She has a Master�s degree in Health Services Administration and a BS degree in Health Science.

Profile: Michael Cruz
Senior Director, Project Planning and Information Technology

Mike Cruz joined The Avoca Group in 2006, bringing with him nearly 25 years of experience as an IT professional in small, mid-cap, and large companies. Mike�s last 10 years were with an integrated healthcare group that provides global solutions for diagnostic imaging. His experience includes both domestic and international management of multiple technology teams.

As part of the senior team at The Avoca Group, Mike is responsible for creating organizational efficiency, optimizing Avoca business processes, overall planning, implementation, maintenance, and effectiveness of information systems and services, and managing service delivery.

Profile: Per Kreipke
Survey Research and Training Technology

Per Kreipke has extensive experience as a programmer, manager and as a software and system architect. He helps Avoca to evaluate and implement new technology in support of ongoing client work in the areas of survey research and training.

Mr. Kreipke has been head of development for and a principal in Onclave Inc., where he designed and managed the development of a weblogging portal and content management system. Earlier, Mr. Kreipke developed software for several niche companies.

Profile: Tony Cline, Ph.D.
Survey Research Services

Tony Cline received a Master of Social Science degree from Stockholm University and a Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University. Tony has been a faculty member at the University of California, Santa Barbara, President of Russell Sage Foundation, and Principal Scientist and Executive Director, Research at Educational Testing Service.

Tony's recent research has focused on the use of information technologies in complex organizations. He is currently writing a book on the impact of information technology on society. In addition, he is an Adjunct Professor of Sociology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Tony consults with The Avoca Group on survey research methodology, survey design, and the analysis and reporting of data.

Profile: William Hills

Bill Hills is a founding partner and Chief Commercial Officer of Virtual Distance International. Bill is a senior consulting executive with deep experience in assisting Fortune 500 companies with improving business processes and information technology utilization. Bill�s expertise focuses at the intersection of business process optimization and effective information technology utilization from both an industry and consulting perspective. Bill has served as head of the information technology consulting practices at Mathematica Policy Research, Director of IT at Chase Econometrics, and head of Systems and Development at Johnson & Johnson�s RW Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute. As a consulting executive, Bill has held leadership roles at Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Xansa plc, and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).

Bill collaborates with The Avoca Group on projects involving the application of advanced technologies to client feedback and client relationship management.

Profile: Zelig Dolinsky, Ph.D.
Survey Research Services

Zelig Dolinsky has extensive experience in the CRO/Pharmaceutical industry. Following a successful academic career, Zel was appointed Senior Director of Change Management for a major CRO. In this position he developed performance metrics as well as a Company-wide Balanced Scorecard that helped to ensure that company strategy was closely monitored and maintained.

He has developed structure for enhancing efficiency across multiple company locations, developed both customer and employee satisfaction surveys, and analyzed and utilized survey information to prevent pending problems and increase customer loyalty and retention as well as decrease employee turnover.

Zel provides consulting services in change management, negotiation/mediation techniques, project management, complementary and alternative medicine, survey design and interpretation, as well as scientific and data analysis issues in clinical trials. He is a Board member of both commercial and non-profit/scientific organizations and earned his Ph.D. in Biological Psychology at SUNY Binghamton.