BioLife Welcomes New Board Member

BioLife Solutions Inc., a Bothell. Wash.-based developer of proprietary clinical grade hypothermic storage and cryopreservation freeze media for cells and tissues, and contract media manufacturer, has named Rick Stewart to its board of directors. The Kirkland, Wash.-based Cardiac Dimensions CEO replaces Howard Breslow, who resigned his position.

Stewart has served as president, CEO, and a member of Cardiac Dimensions’ board of directors since 2001. Cardiac Dimensions develops minimally invasive treatment modalities to address heart failure and related cardiovascular conditions. From 1998 to 2001 he was president and CEO of Tegris Corporation, an IT infrastructure and enterprise applications provider for vertical markets. Prior to that Stewart had a long career within Eli Lilly in its Medical Device and Diagnostics Unit, holding multiple executive positions in general and technical management, sales, marketing and business development. He was a member of the senior team that led a buyout of the Physio-Control subsidiary from Eli Lilly in 1994 which shortly thereafter was taken public. He received an MBA from the University of Washington in Seattle.

Mike Rice, BioLife Solutions chairman and CEO, called this an “important time” for the company. “We are generating record revenues and on a significant growth path, and Rick’s extensive life sciences and operations background will make his counsel and participation invaluable as we seek to generate more shareholder value,” he said. “I know I speak for our entire board in looking forward to the contributions Rick will make as we continue to execute our growth plan.”

Rice also praised outgoing board member Breslow’s past contribution to BioLife as corporate counsel.