Press Releases

Susan Acker Rejoins Constella Group, Inc., as Chief Executive for Corporate Development

In her new role, Acker will focus on strategies for the company's future growth including merger and acquisition activities and will serve as a member of the company's executive leadership team. She will work closely with the leaders of Constella's three business units—Constella Health Sciences, Constella Health Strategies and Constella Biomedical Informatics—on their strategic planning efforts. In addition, she will stand in as acting chief operating officer of Constella Biomedical Informatics until the company fills that position.

Acker rejoins Constella after serving as vice president of corporate development from 1997-1999. During that time, she also held the position of executive director of Paragon Analytical Sciences, a joint venture between then ASI, and a West-coast contract research organization named Paragon Biomedical, Inc.

"I am very pleased to welcome Susan back to Constella after a three-and-a-half-year absence," said Constella CEO Don Holzworth. "Susan provided us with great leadership and value in the past and now returns with several years of chief executive-level experience that will help drive us to new realms of possibility for our three business units."

Prior to her return, Acker became the co-founder, president, CEO and chairman of the board of Blue292, a Durham-based provider of software solutions for crisis information management and environmental, health and safety systems. She was responsible for establishing Blue292's strategic direction, brand building, capital formulation, management team recruitment, product development, and sales and marketing initiatives. While at the helm of Blue292, Acker raised nearly $20 million from top-tier tier venture capitalists, including Credit Suisse First Boston's Sprout Group. Under her leadership, Blue292 built its flagship software applications for crisis and environmental information management.

Acker conceptualized Blue292 in 1997 while earning an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School. The company was the focus of her senior-year project and a natural outgrowth of her previous 10-year career in the environmental business. Her previous experience includes positions as director of sales and marketing for Triangle Laboratories, Inc., and vice president and corporate secretary for Entropy, Inc.

"I'm very, very excited to be back at Constella in a role that matches my skills and offers me new challenges," said Susan. "Coming back was attractive because this is a company I believe in, and one whose philosophy and mission resonates deeply with me. Constella is also a strong, growing company where I can put my experience as a CEO to good use."

Acker is actively involved in the business community, serving on the boards of The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), North Carolina Electronics and Information Technology Association (NCEITA), the Kenan Institute's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Venturing (CETV) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan Flagler Business School, and the Carolina Environmental Program.

She served as UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School's Executive MBA commencement speaker in 2002 and is a recipient of the following awards and achievements:

• 2002 UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School - Alumni Merit Award
• 2001-2003 William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations
• 2001 Governor's Award as Outstanding Entrepreneur, sponsored by North Carolina Technological Development Authority
• 2001 Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award
• Regional Finalist, Outstanding Entrepreneur, Venture Capital Based Business, sponsored by Working Woman magazine
• Regional Finalist, 2000 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
• 1999 Women in Business Award

About Constella Group, Inc.
Constella Group, Inc., formerly named Analytical Sciences, Inc. (ASI), is a leading provider of professional health services worldwide, now celebrating 20 years of enhancing human health through innovative science, technology and knowledge solutions. Constella's three business units—Health Sciences, Health Strategies and Biomedical Informatics—conduct health research and provide a variety of technical, professional and strategic consulting services to help industry and government clients identify and solve problems affecting human health. The company's 650 employees serve clients from company headquarters in Durham, N.C., and from offices in Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Morgantown, W.Va.; Bethesda, Frederick and Silver Spring, Md; and in Santa Monica, Calif.; Herndon, Va; and Boston.