Chenyqua Shepard is the Chief Operating Officer.    Mrs. Shepard has over 30 years of experience in accounting and finance within various industries including pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, real estate, construction and retail/manufacturing and has more than 15 years in various leadership roles in the life sciences industry.  She has been responsible for various functions including technical accounting, financial and SEC reporting, financial planning and analysis, internal controls, information technology, human resources, and has been involved in several start-ups and emerging businesses.  Prior to joining GeneCentric, Mrs. Shepard was a partner with Rankin-McKenzie where she served several emerging companies as their part-time or interim Chief Financial Officer or Controller.  Prior to her partnership with Rankin-McKenzie Mrs. Shepard was the Chief Financial Officer of Praelia Pharmaceuticals and the Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer at Cornerstone Therapeutics, which was later acquired by Chiesi USA.  She began her experience in life sciences as a Director of Accounting and Finance with Biovail Pharmaceuticals, a Canadian pharmaceutical company, which later merged with Valeant Pharmaceuticals.  She has been licensed as a certified public accountant since 1991 and began her accounting career with Deloitte Touche in 1989.  She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Masters of Accountancy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.