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Home > About AIT > Executive Team
Founder, President, and CEO Michael A. Evans, Ph.D. brought twenty years of experience in toxicology and medical training to the forefront when he founded AIT Laboratories in 1990. Since then, the Indianapolis-based reference laboratory, which specializes in pain management, forensics, clinical and pharmaceutical testing, has grown into a premiere testing and research institution recognized nationwide for superior customer service and quality in testing. Prior to his career as an entrepreneur, Evans served as tenured professor, director, faculty member, and researcher for institutions such as the Indiana University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Illinois Institute of Technology, and the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He was also a visiting professor of toxicology for Kunming Medical College and the Sichuan Institute of Materia Medica, both located in China. Evans’ educational background comprises a doctorate in toxicology from the Indiana University School of Medicine, a postdoctoral fellowship with the National Toxicology Center at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and numerous fellowships and grants from the National Institute of Health and the World Health Organization. His expertise is frequently sought out for private consultation.
Andrea Terrell, Ph.D., DABCC has served as laboratory director since 2003 and chief scientific officer since 2008. Under Terrell’s leadership, the lab has received certification with the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT) and maintains accreditation with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Terrell earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Indiana University and her doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from Colorado State University. As a graduate student, she was honored with several fellowships, including one from the Colorado Institute for Research in biotechnology. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo.
Terrell is an active member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) and the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) and holds diplomate status with the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC). She regularly attends conferences held by AACC, SOFT, and the International Association of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology (IATDMCT) to present on topics related to clinical and forensic toxicology.
Eric A. Orme has served as vice president and chief operating officer since December 2007. Prior to joining AIT, Orme served from 2001-2007 in various roles in St. Louis, Mo. and Indianapolis, Ind. with Boston Scientific Corp., including management roles in sales, finance, and medical education. Orme served as director of marketing for IProperty.com in Indianapolis from 2000-2001. From 1998-2000, Orme held positions in corporate finance and divisional operations with General Mills, Inc. in Minneapolis, Minn. Orme has also served as a management consultant for Price Waterhouse LLP in Boston, Mass. and a legislative aide for U.S. Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-Michigan). He holds a B.A. in economics and an MBA from Indiana University.
Todd Pedersen has served as vice president of corporate development since August 2007. Pedersen comes to AIT after serving as director of life sciences for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). He worked to promote the State of Indiana and attract companies in the life sciences industry to the state. Prior to joining the IEDC, Pedersen served as an account manager for IMS Health in Pennsylvania, an on-site contractor for Eli Lilly and Co. He also served as a global product manager for Cook, Inc. in Bloomington, Ind. In 1999, Pedersen founded and served as director of sales and operations for DynoMed, an Indianapolis-based developer of software programs that supported clinical staff in educating patients. Pedersen holds a B.A. in history and an MBA from Indiana University.
Ron Thieme, Ph.D. has served as vice president and chief information officer since October 2007. Thieme most recently served as vice president of strategic services with Ambassador Solutions, a Carmel, Ind. management and technology consulting firm. Thieme has advised executive teams in the life sciences, financial, and logistics sectors. Prior to joining Ambassador Solutions, Thieme served as president and principal consultant for his own consulting company, Llanfair, Inc. in Noblesville, Ind. from 2001-2005. He also co-founded, managed, and sold Cambient, a Boston-area business and IT consulting firm. In addition, Thieme has held leadership roles at Mission Research Corp. in New Hampshire and Symbolics, Inc. in Massachusetts. Thieme holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from Purdue University.
Raquel Bahamonde has served as executive director of marketing since December 2007. Prior to joining AIT Laboratories, Bahamonde spent most of her 20-year career as a journalist. For nearly six years, she served as INside Edge editor, director of online content, and executive producer for Inside INdiana Business, a statewide business news organization in Indianapolis, Ind. Bahamonde spent several years as a media relations director for a Carmel, Ind. public relations/advertising agency, where she worked with clients including major corporations, government, non-profit, and healthcare organizations. Bahamonde spent ten years as a news and entertainment producer for WISH-TV (CBS) in Indianapolis. She has also held reporting and producing jobs in Illinois and Michigan. Bahamonde has been honored with two Emmy Awards and eleven nominations in her career. She holds a B.A. in radio-TV from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.