Management Team

Martin Schmieg
President and Chief Executive Officer

Martin Schmeig has over 20 years of experience launching and building businesses in the medical device, biotechnology and life sciences industries. As CEO of Freedom2, he drives all aspects of company development.

Prior to Freedom2, Martin repeatedly transitioned companies with innovative technologies to successful product based enterprises, while increasing valuation through his proven financial management, negotiation skills and aggressive fundraising capabilities. Working with companies such as Sirna Therapeutics, Advanced Bionics and Cytometrics, he raised capital in excess of $55 million for one enterprise, raised the market capitalization of another from $0 to $200 million, and was the financial architect of a $4.2 billion sale of a third company to a Fortune 500 company.

Martin’s executive experience spans operating functions including finance and management
to marketing and business strategy. He holds a BS in Business Administration from LaSalle University and is a Guest Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and at the University
of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering, Arts and Sciences. He is a Mentor at the Port of Technology, University City Science Center’s business development incubator. He is a CPA
in Pennsylvania.

Blair Barnes
Chief Financial Officer

Blair Barnes brings over 25 years of experience in finance, business analysis and capital fund raising to Freedom2. She is responsible for all financial operations and investor relations activities for the company including business development; technology licensing and investor development.

With an extensive background in investment banking and hedge fund management, she has repeatedly improved the performance and added investors to funds for firms such as Craig Drill Capital, Bedford Oak Advisors and Henderson Brothers, Inc. Most recently as the VP of Business Development for Freedom2, Blair was instrumental in raising three rounds of financing to launch the company. She is the treasurer and secretary for the company.

Blair began her career in finance as an assistant trader at Lehman Brothers. She holds a BA from Sweet Briar College in Political Economics and Business.

Candace Koska
Vice President of Marketing

Candace Koska brings over ten years of experience in the development, sales and marketing of high-end personal care products and services. She leads people and programs and is an essential contributor to product development.

Candace currently manages a geographically diverse team of physicians, researchers and chemists—all contributing to different aspects of the product’s characteristics. She opened and continues to run a research lab and a clinical testing facility. Having made initial contact with artists and clients in the tattoo and skin care industries through an early role handling the marketing public relations for Freedom2, she is now running clinical trials involving both.

Candace holds a BA in Sociology and Biochemistry from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

A. Peter Morello, Ph.D.
Director of Research

Peter Morello is an accomplished research scientist and sought-after speaker in the fields of molecular pharmacology, physiology, and biotechnology. As a member of Brown University’s Division of Biology and Medicine, Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, his most recent research focused on the evaluation of pigments engineered for removal and quantitative biodistribution of microsphere drug delivery systems. He is a co-holder of the (WIPO) patent Drug Delivery Formulations for Targeted Delivery (November 23, 2006).¹ His research is fundamental to Freedom2’s product development.

A regular contributor to peer-reviewed journals and symposiums, Peter has co-authored articles for Lasers in Surgery and Medicine and the Journal of Microencapsulation on “In vivo evaluation of pigments engineered for removal”; “Preparation and characterization of poly (methyl methacrylate) iron (III) oxide microparticles using a modified solvent evaporation method”; and “Investigating the effects of surfactants on the size and hydrolytic stability of poly (adipic anhydride) particles". These topics are directly applicable to the formulations of Freedom2’s permanent, but more easily removable, tattoo ink Infinitink.

Peter’s research work extends beyond the lab environment. He is an instructor at Brown University and his clinical experience in hospital settings includes interaction with patients to assess medical conditions. He is also involved in the development of database systems that enabled a high rate (>99.5%) of patient post-operative follow-up.

Educated at Brown University, Peter has a Ph.D., Medical Science and Bachelor of Science in Biophysics.

¹ WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION (WIPO) PATENTS
WIPO WO 2006/125074. Morello, A.P., Reineke, J., Cheifetz, P.M., Laulicht, B., Mathiowitz, E. Drug Delivery Formulations for Targeted Delivery. November 23, 2006.

Christine Solari
Director of Development & Manufacturing

Christine Solari is responsible for taking Freedom2 technologies from concept to commercial success. With experience and knowledge of the entire product development cycle, Christine successfully manages teams that deliver new products by establishing product specifications with customers while ensuring manufacturing capabilities.

Christine’s experience with processes, people and chemistry was gained during her tenure at the DuPont Experimental Station (Wilmington, DE). At DuPont she led cross functional teams in the development and successful delivery of ink-jet printer inks to several worldwide OEM customers. In addition, she developed a specific set of processes that increased ink manufacturing capacity by 25% without capital investment or quality issues.  

Prior to her work on the ink manufacturing process, Christine developed the 2nd generation black ink dispersion which gained $8MM/yr PTOI for DuPont.

Christine joined DuPont as a junior engineer and quickly gained experience in managing processes, training and developing employees, and ensuring the quality and performance of highly toxic materials. She holds a Six Sigma Green Belt certification.

Christine holds a Bachelor of Science (Cum Laude) and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University.