Our People

Leading our research center in The Villages, Florida, Dr. Jeffrey Norton has more than 20 years of experience in anesthesiology and pain management and has served as Principal Investigator on more than 40 clinical trials across all phases of research.  His extensive clinical trials experience includes research studies in Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), lumbosacral radicular pain, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis.  Dr. Norton graduated from Hahnemann University School of Medicine and completed both his residency in anesthesiology and his fellowship in pain management at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.  He is a highly respected expert in anesthesiology and pain management and has served as an Instructor in Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School.  After more than 20 years of clinical practice, Dr. Norton focused his career on clinical research and has since spent numerous years performing clinical research, looking to slow or stop the progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.  Today, Dr. Norton continues to devote his full-time efforts to advancing medicine.

Dr. Anita Kesar is an accomplished pharmacist with over 10 years of experience.  She is a graduate of South University in South Carolina, where she earned a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree.  After receiving her degree, she trained as a lead Pharmacist, where she was responsible for preparing medications, coordinating and managing the pharmacy, managing inventory, precepting pharmacy interns, and training Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.  As the Research Pharmacist at Charter Research, Anita ensures that all study-related activities are conducted in compliance with regulatory requirements and ethical standards.  Anita is known for her strong work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to work effectively with patients, healthcare providers, and colleagues. She is committed to staying up to date with the latest advancements in the fields of pharmacy and clinical research.

Leading our research center in Winter Park, Florida, Dr. Edgardo Rivera has served as Principal Investigator or Sub-Investigator on more than 40 clinical trials across all phases of research and in numerous therapeutic areas including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s disease, cervical dystonia, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), lumbosacral radicular pain, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, osteoarthritis, and obesity.  Dr. Rivera is particularly experienced as Principal Investigator in clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease.  Dr. Rivera is board certified in Emergency Medicine, is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (FACEP), and serves as an Oral Board Examiner for the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM).  He has published 29 papers on a variety of topics spanning emergency medicine, mass casualty response, systems performance, spinal injuries, cardiac arrest, and acute tachyarrhythmias.  Dr. Rivera was an Associate Professor at Michigan State University and served as Assistant Residency Director, teaching resident physicians and medical students for many years.  He also served on the editorial board of 2 prominent peer-reviewed national scientific journals for 15 years, regularly reviewing research manuscripts submitted for publication.  He has been an invited lecturer and speaker at multiple local, regional, national, and international educational and scientific meetings, from local hospital systems to large gatherings of physicians at the National ACEP Scientific Assembly.  Dr. Rivera served in the U.S. Air Force for 8 years and has over 30 years of clinical practice experience.  He is fluent in Spanish and English.

As Regulatory Manger, Christina Rosario is responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations for clinical trials involving human subjects.  Christina has over 12 years of experience in clinical trials across all phases of research, including Phase 1 first-in-human (FIH) trials, and is a Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP).  She has worked in numerous roles in the industry, including Source Document Specialist, Regulatory Specialist, Data Manager, Quality Control Specialist, Clinical Research Coordinator, and Lead Clinical Research Coordinator.  Throughout her career, Christina has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensuring ethical conduct and regulatory compliance.

Jennifer Guerra leads the development of source documentation for Charter Research and is an experienced Clinical Research professional with 6 years of experience as a Clinical Research Coordinator in numerous indications including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Cervical Dystonia, Essential Tremors, COPD/Pulmonary, and Asthma.  Prior to her work in clinical research, Jennifer earned a Medical Assisting and X-Ray Tech certificate and trained at an orthopedic surgery clinic and a pulmonary clinic, where she worked for 4 years.  She was introduced to clinical research during her time at the pulmonary clinic where COPD trials were conducted. This ignited her passion to help those in need to find clinical research opportunities.  Jennifer has a bachelor’s degree in business and is fluent in Spanish and English.

As the Physicians Partnerships Manager at our Orlando research center, Crystal Bernard is passionate about making clinical research accessible to all people, including underrepresented minorities.  She works closely with our physician partners and oversees our patient referral processes, ensuring a great patient experience.  Crystal is fluent in Spanish and English and has 7 years of experience working with individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and various dementias, including direct patient care and interaction, clinical trial recruitment, marketing, community outreach, and educational programs.  Prior to her current role, Crystal served as Marketing Team Lead, where she led significant growth in event and digital marketing.  Prior to joining Charter Research, Crystal served as Coordinator of the Brain Fitness Academy, where she managed educational and social programming for individuals living with cognitive impairment.  Crystal has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Tampa and is pursuing a master’s degree in leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary.

With 10 years of clinical trials experience, Heather King leads manages the Patient Recruitment Team at our Winter Park site.  Prior to joining Charter Research, Heather worked as a Recruitment Associate and Recruitment Team Lead for Neurology at Bioclinica Research.  During her tenure, she also served as Clinical Research Coordinator on the Neurology Team and subsequently on the Pain and General Medication Teams.  Heather joined Charter Research in 2021 to reunite with former colleagues.  Her passion for learning and leading does not end with clinical research. She has been a group fitness instructor for over 16 years, managing two teams of instructors.

Jessica Garaycoa is a detail-oriented clinical research professional with over 5 years of clinical trials experience.  She graduated from medical school at the Universidad de Oriente in Venezuela, and worked as a Pediatrics and Internal Medicine Resident in Medicine before moving to the United States in 2015.  Jessica’s passion for medicine led to a career in clinical research, and she held positions of progressive responsibility at PPD, including Senior Clinical Research Manager, prior to bringing her skills and experience to Charter Research.  Jessica’s heart for safety and the well-being of patients makes her an asset to the entire team.  Jessica is BLS- and ACLS-certified and is fluent in Spanish and English.

Kiara Nieves brings over 12 years of leadership and marketing experience to Charter Research and is a passionate advocate for mental health and clinical trial participation in the Hispanic community.  She has 4 years of experience working with people with Alzheimer’s disease and also enjoys helping people with PTSD, trauma, depression, and anxiety.  In addition to her role as Diversity Marketing Manager, Kiara oversees the Psychometry Team at our Orlando research center.  Prior to joining Charter Research, Kiara worked as a Program Therapist at Halifax Health, where she conducted individual, family, and group therapy.  Kiara is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in clinical psychology and clinical counseling.  She is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Lauren Duvall is a certified research professional with extensive experience in Phase I-IV clinical trials.  She has managed and coordinated a wide scope of clinical trials including first-in-human, women’s health, osteoarthritis, psychiatry, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, NAFLD/NASH, device, and diagnostics.  Lauren also has experience in administration of psychometric and clinical rating scales for cognitive related studies.  Prior to working in research, Lauren gained valuable healthcare experience as a medical scribe with a Physician Associates Internal Medicine physician. Lauren graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science and holds an active Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) certification with ACRP.

Liz Harrison oversees a clinical research team and has responsibility for ensuring high quality data collection, exceptional patient service, and appropriate visit volume to support the growth and success of the clinical research team. Liz has more than 10 years of experience in healthcare project management and clinical research operations.  Prior to her work with Charter Research, Liz was the Senior Manager of Clinical Operations for the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP), where she was responsible for optimizing GAP-network initiatives and working with research sites to optimize clinical trial execution.  Liz also previously worked as a Research Manager with Bioclinica Research (formerly Compass Research and subsequently acquired by PPD), where she worked on strategic operational plans and oversaw broad clinical functions.  Under her management, her site grew in study capacity, participant enrollment, and reputation for high-quality data.  Liz earned a bachelor’s degree in health services administration from the University of Central Florida.  She resides with her family in Maitland, Florida.

As Compliance Team Lead, Stephanie Armendariz is responsible for managing all aspects of our compliance programs, including risk assessment, process development, training and education, and internal audits.  She works closely with senior leadership to develop and implement strategic initiatives aimed at ensuring the organization operates in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations.  Stephanie has over 10 years of clinical research experience in the role of Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) across a variety of therapeutic indications including depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.  She has participated in the performance and management of over 90 clinical trials and demonstrated exceptional attention to detail and high quality data through complex studies while communicating protocol issues to sponsors, CROs, and Principal Investigators.  In addition, Stephanie has extensive experience in ensuring compliance in clinical trials and is fluent in both Spanish and English.

With nearly 10 years of clinical research experience, Tina Blair is an expert in clinical research site operations and patient recruitment.  As one of the earliest team members at Charter Research, Tina built and trained the recruitment team in The Villages before moving to the company’s site in Winter Park.  Tina then oversaw the Winter Park Patient Recruitment Team while also building relationships with outside vendors and community partners.  Today, Tina is responsible for planning and managing our community events.  Prior to joining Charter Research, Tina served as Clinical Trial Manager and Clinical Operations Coordinator at Bioclinica Research and in a variety of positions at Compass Research, including Recruitment Specialist.

Brittany Ortiz leads the Patient Recruitment team at our research center in The Villages, Florida.  She is committed to delivering exceptional customer service and has been instrumental in driving the enrollment success of our clinical trials.  Prior to Charter Research, Brittany accumulated over a decade of experience in the field of ophthalmology, serving in leadership for three years before discovering her passion for research.  Her extensive experience in leadership roles has enabled her to develop exceptional team management skills, and she is always looking for ways to motivate and inspire her team to achieve their goals.  Her exceptional communication skills and ability to build strong relationships with clients and candidates have helped her to establish herself as a highly respected professional in the industry.

Jamilya Rahming is the Marketing Team Lead at our research center in The Villages.  Jamilya is a creative and organized professional with 7 years of proven marketing skills.  Prior to joining Charter Research, Jamilya served as a Community Educator at the Alzheimer’s Family Organization, where she gained experience in helping caregivers and loved ones of those living with Alzheimer’s disease. Specializing in dementia education, social media, advertising strategy, and inbound marketing strategies, Jamilya uses her experience to enhance patient recruitment and marketing at Charter Research.  Jamilya is a proud alumna of the University of South Florida, where she received a bachelor’s in health science.

Jennifer Mellott supports our clinic team in performing and documenting all clinical trial activities in compliance with FDA regulations and guidance documents, ICH-GCP, and company SOPs.  Jennifer brings over 30 years of progressive clinical and healthcare experience to Charter Research, including 9 years of experience in quality management.  Prior to joining Charter Research, Jennifer served as Quality Manager at Cook Children’s Northeast Hospital and then as Director of Quality Services as Baylor Surgical Hospital., where she gained experience championing quality assurance initiatives to enhance patient outcomes.  Jennifer is a collaborative team member with a passion for cultivating strong relationships.  She considers herself a life-long learner and is honored to be involved in clinical trials focusing on the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease and other age-related diseases.  Jennifer is a registered nurse and holds a master’s degree in health care administration.

Jessie Luttrell oversees a clinical research team in The Villages and has demonstrated exceptional leadership, enthusiasm, and dedication to driving results for study sponsors, enhancing staff morale, and ensuring precision in all aspects of her team’s studies.  Prior to joining Charter Research, Jessie led an ophthalmology research department, where she gained extensive experience in study start-up, patient recruitment, clinical operations, regulatory compliance, budgeting, and contracts.  Through her hard work and commitment to excellence, Jessie has earned a reputation as a skilled leader and team player with a great depth of clinical research knowledge and a passion for helping others.

Kate Scheurich provides administrative and clinical oversight for our Psychometric Ratings team in The Villages.  She has many years of experience in performing a vast array of clinical and cognitive scales for clinical trials and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) who brings over 14 years of clinical experience to Charter Research.  She earned a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Louisville and is licensed to practice in the state of Florida.  Kate has worked with individuals of all ages, ranging from early childhood to end-of-life seniors, and has further expertise in providing support to individuals with severe mental illness.  She has worked in a multitude of settings including Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes, Skilled Rehab, supportive housing, and transitional housing.  She also has experience working in inpatient psych, IOP, supportive housing, community mental health, in the school system, crisis units, and private practice.

Rachael Nix oversees a clinical research team in The Villages and is passionate about ensuring a great patient experience and producing high quality data for study sponsors.  Her leadership, drive, and passion for excellence sets the tone for her entire team.  Prior to her current role, Rachael worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Charter in a variety of complex clinical trials – with a special focus on Alzheimer’s disease – where she gained exceptional experience in study start-up, clinical operations, and compliance.  Prior to joining Charter Research, Rachael served for 10 years as Clinical Coordinator in a large ophthalmology practice.  She is a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant through the American Academy of Ophthalmology and has clinical trials experience in the use of eye imaging technology to aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Tara Gayheart is an experienced clinical research professional with over 13 years of experience.  She joined our growing team in 2020, and now serves as a Clinic Team Lead, overseeing special projects and clinical trials with unique or complex requirements.  In her role, Tara oversees the preparation and documentation of all study related material, ensuring that each study follows local and federal regulations.  Prior to joining Charter Research, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator for 4 years, conducting ophthalmology clinical trials at Ocala Eye.  A graduate from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Health Administration, Tara was inspired at an early age to pursue a career in the medical field by her mother, who retired as a Cardiology Nurse; her father, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran; and her brother, a traveling ACNP.  Tara is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and has a passion for helping others and a results-focused attitude.

Dr. Diana Balsalobre is a Board-Certified Neurologist with over 22 years of clinical experience.  She completed her Internship and Neurology Residency in Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida in 2000.  Following residency, she completed a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology with training in EEG and EMG/NCV at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.  Upon completion of her fellowship, she moved to Puerto Rico, where she worked in a private Neurology practice for 16 years.  She returned to Florida in 2016, serving as an outpatient neurologist with Advent Health Medical Group and subsequently with Neurovations Clinic before joining Charter Research in 2023.  Dr. Balsalobre has vast experience diagnosing and managing multiple neurological conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, migraine, and stroke.  She is fluent in Spanish and English.

Dr. Mary Quarterman is an established and highly skilled physician with over 13 years of experience.  Dr. Quarterman received her medical degree from Florida State University and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Orlando Health.  She practiced in outpatient primary care for nine years and transitioned into clinical research as a principal investigator with Charter Research.  She is skilled in the treatment of both chronic and acute medical illness.  She is also experienced in lab review, prescribing of medications, and monitoring of adverse events.  She is fluent in medical Spanish and certified in basic life support.

Dr. Ramon Rodriguez is a board certified Neurologist and highly experienced Principal Investigator. Dr. Rodriguez received his medical degree (M.D.) from the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus in San Juan, PR. After receiving his MD, Dr. Rodriguez completed both an Internship in Internal Medicine and Residency in Neurology at the University of Texas. After finishing his residency, Dr. Rodriguez completed a fellowship in the Medical and Surgical Management of Movement Disorders at The University of Florida. Thereafter, Dr. Rodriguez joined as a faculty member in the Department of Neurology at the University of Florida. During his tenure at UF, Dr. Rodriguez held the position of Director of Clinical Services for University of Florida’s Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, and Director of the Clinical Research Center for Neurological Disorders. Under these roles he supervised over 50 clinical research studies encompassing areas such as Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Dystonia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Deep Brain Stimulation, Advanced therapies for Parkinson’s Disease, and many others. He has performed over 10,000 botulinum toxin procedures and spent numerous years performing clinical research looking to delay or arrest the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Rodriguez also held the role of Chief of the Neurology Service at the Orlando VA Medical Center. During this time, he established the Parkinson’s Disease Consortia Site.

With 12 years of experience as Principal Investigator and Sub-Investigator, Dr. Alexander Smirnoff has led more than 50 clinical trials in neurodegenerative disorders.  Dr. Smirnoff is board certified in Psychiatry, Neurology, and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. He has over 30 years of experience in the practice of general neurology and provides continuing care for large populations of patients living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, movement disorders, and painful neurological conditions.  Dr. Smirnoff is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida Neurology Department and formerly served as the Director of Stroke at The Villages Regional Hospital.  After receiving his medical degree from Latvian Medical Academy, he completed his internship and residency in Neurology at Hennepin County Medical Center and the University of Minnesota Medical School.  After residency, Dr. Smirnoff completed fellowships in Clinical Neurophysiology and Movement Disorders at Wake Forest University.

Jessica Sletten is a nationally renowned clinical trials executive with over 20 years of experience in clinical research site operations and site network management.  Prior to founding Charter Research, Jessica served as the Vice President of Clinical Operations at Bioclinica, where she directed a team of more than 230 employees and oversaw the growth of the U.S. site network, including research clinics specialized in neurodegenerative diseases, pain management, general medicine, and early clinical development. Prior to Bioclinica, she served as Site Director and oversaw clinical operations at Compass Research, where she implemented strategies that enabled the company to become the #1 enroller in the world in Alzheimer’s disease research.  Jessica has a long track record of leading clinical research teams to surpass industry quality assurance standards and has guided her teams in completing 12 FDA inspections with no 483s.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

Jeff Pohlig has worked in the clinical trials industry for 13 years and has helped lead teams in North America, Europe, and Asia in completing over 500 clinical trials, including more than 100 clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease.  Prior to joining Charter Research as Chief Executive Officer, Jeff served as Chief Operating Officer at Bioclinica Research, where he oversaw the growth of 30 research centers in 14 countries, with more than 700 employees.  Before that, he was Chief Operating Officer at Compass Research, a clinical trials company known globally for its research studies in Alzheimer’s disease.  During his tenure, Jeff was named among Orlando’s top C-level executives by the Orlando Business Journal, and the company appeared on both the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America and Florida Trend’s list of “Florida’s Best Companies to Work For.”  Jeff is past President and Chairman of the Board of the Brain Fitness Academy, which helps people with dementia to live well through the progression of the disease.  He currently serves on the board of the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center, which provides support to the caregivers of those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.  Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Rollins College and has 20 years of executive management experience.

As Human Resources Director, Stacy Brooks is passionate about building culture and driving strategies that optimize business outcomes.  Stacy has over fifteen years of Human Resources experience in a variety of industries including nonprofit, trade association, and clinical research.  In her role at Charter Research, Stacy leads the Human Resources team in all aspects, including strategy, talent acquisition, employee relations, training and development, compliance, and benefit administration.  Stacy holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida.  She also holds certifications in Human Resources leadership from both the Human Resources Certification Institute (SPHR) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP).

Craig Poffenbarger is a seasoned leader with 15+ years’ financial management experience in healthcare related organizations of clinical research, electronic health record (EHR), acute hospital care, and home health.  As CFO, Craig is responsible for accounting, reporting, forecasting, internal controls, process improvement, and treasury management.  Prior to joining Charter Research, Craig served as CFO for Compass Research, a clinical trial company (acquired by Bioclinica and subsequently by PPD), and AZZLY, an EHR company.  He has demonstrated the ability to implement effective systems, strategies, internal controls, and processes to maximize company performance, profitability, and cash flow.  Craig has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida Southern College and a Master of Business Administration from Webster University.

Caroline Smith is an expert in clinical research site operations, client services, compliance, and regulatory affairs with nearly 10 years of experience.  Prior to joining Charter Research, Caroline served as a Strategy Insights & Planning Consultant at ZS Associates, where she worked directly with sponsors to design and develop analytics solutions to support clinical portfolio development and reduce clinical trial cycle times.  Caroline also previously worked as a Research Manager at Bioclinica Research and in a variety of clinical research site operations positions at Compass Research, including Clinical Operations Coordinator and Regulatory Specialist.  She holds a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from the University of Florida.

Dan Davis is an expert in clinical research operations and business analytics with 13 years of clinical research experience.  As Project Director at Charter Research, Dan is involved in both business strategy and clinical operations support, and he leads the implementation of technology solutions for the company.  Prior to joining Charter Research, Dan served as the Director of Global Business Operations at Bioclinica Research and in a variety of positions of progressive responsibility at Compass Research, including roles as Project Director and Neurology Clinic Research Manager.  Dan has worked in all areas of clinical trials operations and in all phases of research and brings a broad perspective and exceptional analytical skills to drive strategic decision-making. Dan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Pennsylvania State University.