The LifeAire Team
Dr. Kathryn C. Worrilow, founder and CEO of LifeAire Systems, received her doctorate in Anatomy and Cell Physiology from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Reproductive Physiology and Infertility at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She has served as the Scientific Director of In Vitro Fertilization Programs for over 20 years and has performed extensive work specific to molecular signaling between the sperm and oocyte, the contribution of the paternal genome to the embryo, and the impact of ambient air on successful human embryogenesis and preimplantation toxicology. Her work, with that of her colleagues, led to the development and design of the LifeAire Systems patented air purification technology and System, Aire~IVF®. The Aire~IVF® System delivers the most pristine air quality available for IVF environments through an in-duct system by inactivating biologicals and eliminating embryotoxic volatile organic compounds using revolutionary and proprietary air purification technologies. One of the most unique features of the LifeAire System is the extensive data supporting the design, the specificity of its design towards the human embryo and the results from over four years of clinical implementation. Dr. Worrilow has been invited to present and publish her research both nationally and internationally, and enjoys sharing the data with her colleagues.
LifeAire Systems is dedicated to improving patient care. Although the proprietary System was developed specifically for the human embryo, LifeAire Systems is excited and positioned to offer their technology to improve patient care along the continuum of care, to infants in the NICU, the child in the PICU and the elderly in long term care. The LifeAire System’s proprietary technology has been tested and confirmed to provide a 9-log reduction of airborne pathogens responsible for hospital acquired infections in operating rooms, intensive care units, burn units, pharmacies, and long-term care facilities, thereby improving patient outcomes and healthcare economics while reducing overall cost.
The team at LifeAire Systems is proud of the contribution its air purification technology is making to provide clean, contaminant-free air for health, wellness and life.
As an advocate of science education and the role of science in our community, she enjoyed her position on the Board of Trustees of The Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown, PA. Dr. Worrilow’s career has always involved a great deal of teaching and she has enjoyed her participation as an Adjunct Professor with the Emerging Health Professionals Program at Pennsylvania State University Lehigh Valley.
Chris brings four decades of diverse business experience to the LifeAire Systems. He has direct, hands on experience with business start-ups, existing business growth initiatives, plant operations, research and development, sales and marketing, and global business management. Mr. Sutton is Managing Principal of CIS Consulting LLC, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, a firm he founded to guide clients in business startups and existing business growth initiatives. In addition, he is a principal and the growth engagement lead for the consulting firm LFG Resources, Inc., in Allentown, PA.
Chris spent his early career with GTE in plant operations before moving to Air Products’ Applied Research and Development Group. Over a thirty year period, he advanced through a number of management positions culminating in several global, executive positions including Vice President of Environmental/Energy Systems, Vice President of New Business Development, and Corporate Growth Champion. Chris’ P&L management experience covers a wide range of businesses from producing discrete physical products or devices for the production of industrial gases to the production and sales of electricity from highly efficient, leading edge technology, cogeneration facilities. The latter position required leadership through all business development phases including technology selection, facility design, plant commissioning and operations, and the arrangement of project specific debt and equity financing. He has worked directly with a number of teams to develop commercialization processes for new products and innovative business models. In addition, he created and managed the first venture capital board for a Fortune 250 company. Chris has been consulting for the past six years.
Mr. Sutton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Lafayette College and completed a case study based, continuing executive education program at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. He is a member of the American Society for Metals and the co-inventor of the system described in U.S. Patent Number 7,216,040 “An Intelligent Network of Hydrogen Supply Modules”. For a number of years, he served on the board of directors for a fuel-cell applications start-up company located in Vancouver, BC.
John serves as strategic business leader in Healthcare and Life Sciences for Life Aire Systems. Having extensive business background within these market sectors, his expertise is focused on positioning LAS to build, grow and maintain business relationships within these sectors globally. His management career spans over 40 years with global life science owners, national healthcare providers and regional institutional, development,energy and technology business owners.
He has extensive experience in business development. It began with a 20 year career at Catalytic Engineers an Constructors ( an Air Products Co.) starting from filed operations into sales management and up to VP of Sales.When the company was acquired by Raytheon, John formed a Healthcare focused subsidiary,Specialty Technical Services and was named President. John then led the Field Operations Division, Business Development Group of Day & Zimmerman Inc.which focused on Life Science and Energy Industry initiatives. He then teamed with other business executives to form a leading Biotech Engineering and Modular skid manufacturing firm, BioKinetic’s. John structured and executed the company’s marketing and business development strategy while having responsibility for specific national initiatives and customer accounts.Over John’s 8 year’s of service, the company experienced significant growth and became a leader in that Industry. He then joined the Lend Lease organization where for over 10 years he was responsible for the National Life Science Business Development Platform while also coordinating all the sales activities for the Lend Lease Global Life Science Business Units. In 2014 Mr. McIntyre formed a Consulting Company and since then has supported CRB Constructors and others prior to joining the Life Aire Systems TEAM.
Mr. McIntyre holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Christian Brothers University in Memphis TN. In addition he holds a certification in Construction Management from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA and is a long standing member of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE).
Erik J. Marsh is the Director of Business Development and Sales for LifeAire Systems, LLC. In his role, Erik develops and manages key customer relationships, including clinical, procurement and facilities management staff.
Having worked for companies such as Zimmer Orthopedics and Medtronic, Inc., Erik has extensive sales and sales management experience in the medical device industry. In particular, Erik advanced to the Director of National Sales Distribution for the craniofacial division of Bionx Implants, Inc. In this position, he was responsible for overseeing the hiring and training of the distributor network throughout the U.S.
Mr. Marsh earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business & Economics from Lafayette College, where he was an All-American football player, setting several school records that stand today.
Drew Lakatos is the Chief Growth Officer of LifeAire, with responsibility for developing additional verticals for LifeAire’s technology. He is an engineer, entrepreneur, and executive that has built a 20-year career spanning semiconductors, consumer device, and trauma prevention/healthcare. Drew was co-founder of several startups: Venture backed Tango Belt of which he was CEO; Global-SMC; and Datacom.
He’s been featured in articles for USAToday, FastCompany, BusinessWeek, Reuters, and the BBC and has appeared on CBS News, FOX, NBC, NPR. Mr. Lakatos has presented at TEDMED, SXSW, Cleveland Clinic, and CES. He’s been interviewed and highlighted in: The Change Maker’s Playbook, Chapter 3. Author Amy J. Radin, City Point Press 2018. The New Startup. Author David Pike, Acacia Books 2018. Wharton’s LaunchPad on Sirius XM, by Karl Ulrich 2017.
He received a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Villanova.
Lars Johansson, Ph.D., has over 30 years of experience in human assisted reproductive technology (ART), working as a Clinical Embryologist, Lab Director and Director of Embryology at CooperSurgical.
Throughout his career, he has developed specialties in improving outcomes through the optimization and troubleshooting of techniques, selecting disposables and equipment, and reducing the exposure of the culture media, gametes and embryos to environmental toxins—authoring several book chapters on the subject. He has also been actively involved in the research, design and development of new equipment for human ART.
In addition, Dr. Johansson developed training laboratories in Denmark and India and has lectured—and trained—embryologists in thousands of ART clinics and many international reproductive congresses worldwide. This global experience has given him a deep understanding of total quality management (TQM) and the need for standardization of techniques, which facilitates troubleshooting.
He holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Biology and had scholarship for post-doctoral education at CEHD in Monash, Melbourne, under the supervision of reproductive medicine pioneer, Professor Alan Trounson.
Alicia R. Urrutia is the Manager of Engineering for LifeAire Systems, LLC.
In her role, Alicia manages new product development, replacement component processes, and oversees QC and installation of system technology. She also provides testing and interpretation of data for publication, design, and maintenance.
Alicia previously worked at Heidelberg Cement as the Plant Process Engineer and has extensive experience in system optimization and asset management. In this position, Alicia was responsible for a multi-million dollar budget while developing, executing, and managing action plans including annual plant turnarounds.
Ms. Urrutia earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University. During her undergraduate studies, Alicia interned with LifeAire Systems and conducted research on various remediation methods of volatile organic compounds.
Pam Palmer is the Business and Project Manager for LifeAire Systems, LLC. Pam is responsible for managing the finances and helps track inventory and customer maintenance schedules.
After working in production management positions in the printing and publishing industries, Pam transitioned to working with small businesses managing their finances and production processes. In addition, she prepares tax returns for a local accountant.
Pam’s education includes two B.A. degrees, one in Graphic Arts from Millersville University, Millersville, PA, and the other in Psychology from Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA. She took accounting classes at Northampton Community College.
Huey pursued his undergraduate and graduate work in Biological Sciences and Developmental Biology at Temple University. In addition, he earned a master of science degree at the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences in health education. He received micromanipulation (ICSI and AHA) training at the Jones Institute of Reproductive Medicine, in Norfolk, VA.
In addition to his responsibilities as an embryologist, Huey was an active participant in FDA clinical trials and ongoing research studies and served as a consultant to both colleagues throughout the country and to several biomedical companies. Huey excels in improving the protocols and preimplantation environment of the IVF laboratory such that the highest level of patient care can be offered.