Pete O’Heeron, Chairman of the Board
Mr. O’Heeron serves as our Chairman of the Board, Secretary, and Treasurer. With more than 25 years of medical technology development experience, Mr O’Heeron brings together the resources necessary to commercialize unique technologies. His expertise covers a broad range of disciplines, from business start-ups and biologics, to medical devices and patient centered healthcare delivery. Prior to founding SpinalCyte, LLC, Mr. O’Heeron founded and still serves as CEO of an operational investment group, Advanced Medical Technologies, LLC, which identifies early stage opportunities in the medical field with strong intellectual property potential. Mr. O’Heeron’s previous experience includes the founding of NeoSurg Technologies to develop a minimally invasive access system. As a result of his efforts, NeoSurg Technologies was successful in launching the T2000 Minimally Invasive Access System, which reduced surgical equipment cost by over 60%. Mr. O’Heeron completed the sale of NeoSurg Technologies to CooperSurgical. Mr. O’Heeron was employed by Christus Health Care Corporation in a variety of executive-level positions. Mr. O’Heeron has provided strategic advisory services to healthcare companies in the areas of biologics, surgical instrumentation and telemedicine. Mr. O’Heeron received his Masters in Healthcare Administration from the University of Houston Clear Lake. Mr. O’Heeron completed Executive Management Certification in Mergers and Acquisition from University of Chicago and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration with a minor in Business Administration from Texas State University. Mr. O’Heeron holds 13 Patents and currently has 63 Patents Pending from surgical instrumentation to biologics and software development.
Gerardo King, Director
Joined the Board of Directors August, 2024. Gerardo King brings his expertise in finance, financial structuring, mergers & acquisitions, and advisory services to Liberty Star’s board. He is a seasoned, successful investment banker, principal investor, board member, and managing partner with over 25 years of experience in financial services and the mining industry. As the founder and CEO of Tamesis, a regional boutique investment bank, Mr. King oversees a diverse portfolio of clients and sectors across the U.S.A., Latin America, and Europe. He also serves as a board director at Peak 10 Energy, a leading energy company, providing strategic guidance and oversight on that company’s growth and sustainability initiatives. Throughout his career, he has successfully closed multiple transactions worth over $25BN. He has structured innovative and complex financing solutions and built and maintained strong relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and colleagues. He has leveraged his expertise in capital markets, asset management, strategic planning, and business development to drive value creation and positive impact to the organizations and communities he has worked with. Mr. King lives in Austin, Texas.
Saleem Elmasri (CPA) Director
Appointed to the Board of Directors, August, 2023. Saleem Elmasri (CPA) is a seasoned business professional with over 15 years of experience in financial and management consulting. He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers and worked for several of the firm’s Fortune 500 clients. From PwC, he transitioned to lead advisory practices at boutique consulting firms, specializing in transaction and complex accounting advisory. Saleem has helped his clients navigate transformational endeavors such as acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, and restructurings. Focused primarily on the life sciences and technology sectors, Saleem has augmented leadership teams in decision making roles to navigate transactions in the public markets, drive transformative business development efforts, including acquisitions and divestitures, and various SEC or audit compliance matters. Saleem is an experienced investor focused on early-stage companies addressing global scale challenges, having a large addressable market, and visionary founders. Beginning in 2016, Saleem has served as the CEO advisor, CFO, or Board member at several early-stage companies and in 2020, launched Titan Advisory Services to provide such services. In 2022, Saleem launched Titan Ventures, an eco-system driven venture capital firm, to allow colleagues and friends to participate in early-stage and other private market investments. In 2023, Saleem launched Titan Strategic Partners to help clients navigate project financing for ambitious infrastructure ventures.
Nicholas H. Hemmerly Director
Appointed to the Board of Directors, September, 2022. Nicholas H. Hemmerly is Co-Head of Investment Banking at Clear Street. Prior to joining Clear Street Mr Hemmerly was Head of Investment Banking at Bridgeway Capital Partners, LLC, a Merchant Bank. Prior to PwC CF Mr. Hemmerly was Head of Life Sciences Investment banking at PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance LLC (PwC CF). Prior to PwC CF, Mr. Hemmerly worked at Jefferies LLC with a focus on executing M&A and financing transactions within the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. Prior experience includes investment banking roles in JPMorgan’s Healthcare Group as well as JMP Securities Healthcare Group. Mr. Hemmerly began his investment banking career as an analyst with Wachovia Securities.