Fred Burke, President & CEO
President, CEO and Co-founder, Central Pharmacy Services, Inc. (“CPSI”), Atlanta, Georgia, owned and operated nuclear pharmacies (specialized medical laboratories that centrally prepare radio-pharmaceuticals), serving over 1,000 hospitals and clinics in 22 states. Founded in 1992, CPSI grew from start-up to 45 business units, with Operating Profit of $25MM in CY02. CPSI was named to the 1997 and 1999 Inc. 500 lists of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., and was acquired in 2001 by Cardinal Health, the nation’s largest drug wholesaler and healthcare services firm.
President and Co-founder of Sales Technologies, Inc. (“ST”) pioneered the Sales Force Automation market by providing networked applications software for large field sales forces on the then-emerging technology of portable computers. ST grew from start-up in 1983 to over 600 employees world-wide in 1991, including multiple offices in North America and Europe serving a blue-chip roster of Fortune 100 clients. Prior to its acquisition by The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, ST was listed as number 30 on the 1988 Inc. 500 list.
Engagement Manager, Consultant, McKinsey & Co. | Brand Manager, Procter & Gamble | Officer, U.S. Air Force
David Morris, EVP & CFO
CFO, Central Pharmacy Services, joining shortly after inception to build the central support and financial structure necessary to serve the dispersed, autonomous business units in a rapid growth entrepreneurial environment. Organizational units included accounting, information systems, human resources, M&A/business development, and administrative services.
President, PBM Div., Complete Health. Established and operated Rx Management, a subsidiary PBM division of HMO Complete Health, which provided prescription drug management services to parent HMO’s/PPO’s and other Fortune 500 self-funded employer groups. C.P.A., Auditor, EY.
Kendall Forbes, R.Ph., EVP Sales & Operations
EVP of Sales and Operations, and Founder of Central Pharmacy Services, Inc. Responsible for management of all field business units. Developed evolving structures and systems to leverage organizational skills in rapid growth entrepreneurial environment. Launched 37 greenfield start-up pharmacies, and integrated 8 acquisitions.
Owner, Baton Rouge Central Pharmacy. Established and operated highly successful and profitable nuclear pharmacy. Recognized opportunity for building a larger company leveraging the service model so successfully employed in Baton Rouge market.
Gail Young, SPHR, Vice President, Human Resources
Director, Human Resources, Central Pharmacy Services 1994 – 2004; Sr. Professional Human Resources certification, 20+ years’ progressive management experience in international shipping and logistics and travel management. Joined Guardian in 2004.
Chad Downey, CPA, Vice President, Treasurer & Internal Audit
B.S., B.A., M.S. Accountancy, Auburn University 8+ years’ progressive management experience in public accounting, Ernst & Young. Joined Guardian in 2005.
Jeff Tuch, CPA, Vice President, Purchasing & Payor Relations
B.S., Business Administration, Western Michigan University 17+ years’ experience in accounting management; 13 years with NeighborCare, progressing from Accountant to Regional Controller responsible for the financial operations of a region representing $130MM in revenue. Joined Guardian in 2007.
Alex Ferguson, Vice President, Business Development
BS, Microbiology, University of Georgia; MBA, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, 5+ years experience Venture Capital and M&A with CHMG Capital, and 3 years’ experience in Sales. Joined Guardian in 2008.
David Martin, Vice President, IT & Operational Systems
B.E., Computer Engineering and Mathematics, Vanderbilt University; MBA, Market Strategy and Global Business, Emory University Goizueta Business School; extensive background in technology leadership roles, serving as a Senior IT Consultant with IBM for three years and nine years with Allconnect, Inc., where he rose to the level of Vice President of Technology & Software Development. Joined Guardian in 2012.
Rich Eakins, Vice President, Sales
Over a decade of experience in account management, business development and national sales in the long-term care pharmacy industry. Having served as Sales Director for Omnicare for over seven years, Vice President of Business Development for Heritage Healthcare for two years and leading Business Development for Connect 4 Healthcare, Rich has deep subject-matter expertise on growing the local LTC pharmacy business and developing a national presence in the LTC pharmacy marketplace. Previously, Rich worked a combined 17 years with IBM and Aramark in administration, business development and management roles. Joined Guardian in 2012.
Will Mudd, CPA, Vice President, Controller
B.S., Management with Accounting Concentration, Presbyterian College; 10+ years with the audit services group of a global public accounting firm servicing a broad range of clients, ranging from small, private equity backed private companies to mature public companies. Joined Guardian in 2012.
Bob Weir, R.Ph, Vice President, Operations & Regulatory Support
B.S. in Pharmacy, St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Bob is a pharmacy management professional with a proven track record of successful leadership for multi-facility pharmacy locations. Before joining Guardian in 2015, Bob served as vice president of operations in the LTC division at Omnicare. Prior to Omnicare, Bob was responsible for operations at Continuing Care Rx. Bob also served for 12 years with Kindred Pharmacy Services (KPS), ultimately serving as senior vice president of operations until KPS merged with Pharmerica in 2007.
Doug Towns, Vice President & General Counsel
B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy, Emory University; J.D., University of Virginia School of Law; Doug and Guardian’s executive team have a long-standing working partnership, dating back to 1995. While in private practice, Doug had spent nearly twenty years as a Partner with Jones Day in Atlanta. Joined Guardian in 2016.