Biolase Adds Two New Independent Directors to Board

Biolase Inc. has revamped its board.

The dental laser manufacturer and distributor replaced outgoing members Gregory Lichtwardt and Erin Enright (they resigned late last year) with James R. Talevich and Samuel B. Low, D.D.S. The pair were appointed to the board’s Audit Committee, with Talevich serving as chair. The new additions change the board’s structure, as four of the six members now are independent directors.

Talevich has more than 23 years of experience as a senior financial executive, and currently is a director of international manufacturing firm Nova LifeStyle Inc., where he chairs the Audit Committee and serves on the Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees. Talevich currently is a member of the Executive Committee and Advisory Council of the SEC Financial Reporting Institute at the USC Marshall School of Business, and he’s also a member of the UCLA Anderson School of Management Alumni Board of Directors. He serves on the Concordia University Healthcare Management Advisory Board as well.

“I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to its [Biolase’s] future success,” Talevich said.

Prior to his current roles, Talevich served as chief financial officer (CFO) of I-Flow Corporation, an Irvine, Calif.-based medical technology company, from 2000 to 2009; CFO of Tectrix Fitness Equipment Inc. from 2005 to 2009, and CFO of Gish Biomedical Inc. from 1999 to 2000. From 2008 to 2009, he served on AcryMed Inc.’s board. Talevich previously held financial and accounting positions with Mallinckrodt Group Inc., Sorin Biomedical (Fiat S.p.A.), Pfizer Inc., SensorMedics Corporation, Baxter International Inc., and KPMG. 

Talevich received a B.A. in physics from California State University, Fullerton, and an M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He is a licensed certified public accountant and is a member of the Forum for Corporate Directors, Financial Executives International, OCTANe, DeviceAlliance, and the California Society of CPAs.

“Jim Talevich brings to Biolase a powerful skill set that will serve our shareholders well in the coming years,” Chairman/CEO Federico Pignatelli said. “Biolase is poised to expand its business far beyond its current core base in dentistry, and that will require the depth of knowledge and breadth of experience in finance, compliance, governance and restructuring that he possesses.”

Low is professor Emeritus of the Department of Periodontology at the University of Florida’s College of Dentistry, where he has spent his entire academic career. Previously he served as associate dean for Continuing Education and Partnerships and associate dean for Administrative Affairs. Low also maintains an intramural practice, which includes periodontal dentistry and implants.

“I look forward to assisting Biolase in achieving its goals,” Low said. “Technology is the core value for the present and future of healthcare, and Biolase is in the position to be at the forefront as the total dental technology provider.”

Low has served on the American Dental Association’s Board of Trustees; as president of the Florida Dental Association, and as a member of the American Academy of Periodontology. He has been on the editorial board of two academic journals related to dentistry.

Low received a B.S. from Lamar University and a D.D.S. from the University of Texas.

“Dr. Low is a very accomplished dental professional who has shaped the professional careers of thousands of dentists. He is a welcome addition to our Board, and we anticipate relying on his depth of expertise and knowledge to accelerate our growth in our core dental business in the coming years. We expect both Jim and Sam to be at the heart of a promising future,” concluded Pignatelli.

Irvine, Calif.-based Biolase develops, manufactures, and markets dental lasers and medicine. The company also markets and distributes high-end 2-D and 3-D digital imaging equipment and CAD/CAM intraoral scanners and in-office milling machines. The company’s proprietary laser products incorporate approximately 300 patented and patent-pending technologies designed to provide biologically clinically superior performance with less pain and faster recovery times. Biolase has sold more than 24,000 lasers worldwide.