Leadership Team
Nicole Osborn
Chief Executive Officer
Nicole Osborn founded Meridian Clinical Research in 1999 in Omaha, NE. Under her guidance, Meridian grew from a single dedicated research center in Omaha, NE, to a network that includes more than 20 research sites and 60 principal investigators across North America.
Under Osborn’s direction, research at Meridian is frequently published in academic journals and presented at major scientific and academic events worldwide. In recent years, Osborn has expanded Meridian's therapeutic capabilities in areas such as infectious disease, neurology, dermatology, and women's health to facilitate more complex trials for novel drugs and medical devices. In 2019, she led Meridian's acquisition of Regional Clinical Research to expand the company's reach to four research sites in New York.
Osborn has been appointed to the Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) leadership council, for which she provides strategic guidance, policy decisions, and oversight. Osborn cofounded Platinum Research Network, a highly respected site network and global leader in vaccine clinical trials.
She is involved in numerous charitable organizations focused on researching and treating diseases. Osborn attended the University of Iowa and earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Clarkson College.
Laura Falcone, APRN
Chief Operating Officer
As chief operating officer, Laura Falcone directs operations at all Meridian sites across North America. An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), Falcone brings years of firsthand clinical experience to her executive role at Meridian. She established Meridian’s excellence in patient-centric research conduct and remains heavily-involved in day-to-day clinical operations, occasionally serving as sub-investigator for trials.
In 2012, Falcone was named Study Nurse of the Year at the PharmaTimes U.S. Clinical Researcher of the Year competition.
Before joining Meridian, Falcone was a nurse at the Methodist Health System. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and biology from the University of Virginia; a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Creighton University; a Master of Science in adult acute care and a Post-Master's Certificate in family practice nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Dave Roehr
Chief Financial Officer
Dave Roehr brings more than three decades of experience in banking, finance, and strategic growth to his role at Meridian. Before joining Meridian, he founded Proceed Finance. Roehr was also president and chief financial officer of Cabela’s Inc., guiding the company through a time of unprecedented sales growth and retail expansion, rocketing the company past the $1 billion valuation mark.
In his role at Cabela’s, Roehr also served as founder, chairman of the board, and CEO of World’s Foremost Bank, a wholly-owned regulated credit card bank used by Cabela’s. He was also a partner at tax consultancy Grant Thornton LLP, where he leveraged his certified public accountant (CPA) and Masters of Taxation credentials within their public accounting business practice, contributing to revenue growth of over $150 million and expansion into almost 70 countries.
Aside from his career leadership roles, Roehr is also a member on various boards of directors, with current and past board memberships at organizations including Buckle, Air Methods, Regional Board of Directors for US Bank, and Security First Bank.
Brandi A. Lang, Esq.
Chief Legal Officer (CLO)
Brandi Lang has practiced law for businesses in health care, corporate governance/transactions, M&A, high finance, real estate, and employment law in a career spanning two decades. As Meridian’s CLO, her long-standing health care experience helps her plan for and manage the legal, risk management, and compliance needs of the multi-state organization.
Before joining Meridian in 2017, Lang represented clients nationwide in private practice on behalf of her firm’s nationally-reputed health care section. She has served in house as an officer and managing counsel for Fidelity National Title Group (a part of Fidelity National Financial, a Fortune 500 company), and in other private practice capacities.
Lang believes in community involvement on many levels, and has served on charitable boards, volunteered for altruistic entities and causes, coached youth sports teams, taught continuing legal education courses for attorneys and legal professionals, and written scholarly articles on points of law for health care industry publications. Lang earned her bachelor of business administration in finance with a minor in accounting from Texas Christian University. She graduated with her JD from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. Lang is licensed to practice law in Texas (2003) and Florida (2006), and is registered as in-house counsel in the state of Nebraska.
Brandon J. Essink, MD, CPI
Principal Investigator, Medical Director
Brandon Essink, MD, CPI, has served as a principal investigator at Meridian since 2003. In his role, Dr. Essink directs clinical practice operations at Meridian’s dedicated research center in Omaha, NE. He is frequently selected to lead pioneering vaccine research programs because of his extensive experience in the field and the superb track record sites have maintained under his guidance. Results from clinical studies Dr. Essink oversees are frequently published in industry journals, including Vaccine.
Dr. Essink earned his BS from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE, and attended medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha, NE, graduating in 2001. He completed his residency in Family Practice at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2003 and a Family Practice Procedural Fellowship in 2004. He has been board certified in family practice since 2003 and has practiced family medicine since 2004.
Keith Vrbicky, MD
Principal Investigator, International Medical Director
Keith Vrbicky, MD, serves as a principal investigator for Meridian’s Norfolk, NE, OB/GYN site, and is also the company’s international medical director. Dr. Vrbicky earned his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine in 1979. He completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Creighton University Affiliated Hospitals in 1983 and served as assistant professor at Creighton University School of Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology until he began private practice in Norfolk in 1985. In 2013, Dr. Vrbicky delivered his 10,000th baby.
A frequent contributor to prestigious publications, Dr. Vrbicky maintains a faculty appointment at both Creighton University and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the American College of OB/GYN. In 2006, Dr. Vrbicky, together with Connie Keck, co-authored a book titled Menopause Maze. In 2006, Dr. Vrbicky was welcomed by U.S. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry to address the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations. Dr. Vrbicky was recognized for his service at the President's Convocation at Creighton University and received the 25-Year Faculty Service Award.
Wes Bonner
Vice President, Strategic Development
Wes Bonner joined Meridian Clinical Research in 2014 and now serves as VP, business development and principal investigator liaison. He is responsible for cultivating relationships with physicians across North America to enhance Meridian’s site network and operations. Before joining Meridian, Bonner accrued 17 years of experience in sales and account management roles with pharmaceutical companies including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Upjohn, Otsuka, and Sanofi (where he was a seven-time Above and Beyond winner).
Bonner serves as expert counsel for Total Clinical Trial Management, a committee that bridges the gap between clinical research organizations (CROs) and clinical research conduct. He has also spoken at a Model Agreements & Guidelines International (MAGI) event and served as a moderator at the Global Site Solutions Summit. Bonner earned his Bachelor of Science in communication from Georgia Southern University.
Kathy Stoddard RN, CCRC
Vice President, Clinical Operations
Kathy Stoddard has substantial experience in managing multi-site research trials and providing oversight for business development, contracts, budgets, staffing, and operating procedures. She was previously chief operating officer at AMR. Before that, Stoddard served as vice president for a nationally known multi-site research network for four years. During this time, she was primarily responsible for the development, buildout, and credentialing of three urgent care centers in three states to augment the core business.
Stoddard was also director of research for Heartland Research Associates for 15 years. During her tenure there, the business grew from one employee to more than 50 across five separate research centers, with annual revenue exceeding $4M.
Stoddard attended Wichita State University and St. Francis School of Nursing. Her past experience includes the buildout of an orthopedic ambulatory surgery center, accredited by the state of Kansas. She is a member of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals and is recognized by that organization as a certified clinical research coordinator.
Andrew Kimball
Vice President, Business Development
At Meridian, Andrew Kimball is responsible for generating new partnerships and strengthening existing client relationships while assisting in the financial and operational growth of research sites. Kimball was formerly vice president of business development at Platinum Research Network, of which Meridian Clinical Research is the largest member. At Platinum, he expanded the network to comprise more than 80 principal investigators and 30 cities.
Before joining Platinum, Kimball was senior director of business operations at Total Clinical Trial Management, and worked at companies including Benchmark Research, VaxNet, and Greenphire. Kimball frequently presents at clinical research conferences worldwide, speaking on site management, growth, and relationship development. He graduated from Mount Wachusett Community College with a degree in graphic design.
Debra Gabrielson
Vice President, Finance
Debra Gabrielson has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for almost 25 years as CEO of Regional Clinical Research. She has extensive knowledge in negotiating contracts and budgets, and in managing all aspects of running investigative sites. Throughout her career, she has helped facilitate more than 850 clinical studies. Gabrielson expanded Regional from one site to five in the Upstate New York area, and supported development programs across numerous therapeutic areas.
Before her research career, Gabrielson worked in a level II trauma center as an emergency department nurse. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in nursing at Binghamton University and the Wilson Hospital School of nursing.
Stephanie Anderson
Vice President, Human Resources
Stephanie Anderson directs all aspects of human resources management, including recruitment, benefit management, and employee onboarding at Meridian. She excels at creating unique solutions to communicate with and motivate employees.
Before joining Meridian in 2019, Anderson served a similar role at ALN Medical Management, and was a strategic business partner at Spreetail, an ecommerce company based in Lincoln, NE. She earned her master’s degree in organizational leadership and change from Drury University in Springfield, MO. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, NE. Anderson has also earned a SHRM-CP designation from the Society of Human Resource Management.
Beau Garland
Vice President, Recruitment
Through a career spanning more than 20 years, Beau Garland opened three sites in California as part of a large site management organization (SMO), and later established his own research center, Paradigm Clinical Research. Paradigm grew to five sites across the U.S., and was frequently recognized for its high performance for vaccine trials.
As the longtime COO and director of business development at Paradigm, Garland optimized contracting, budgeting, regulatory, and source processes. Moreover, he ensured the sites excelled in patient recruitment and retention.
As vice president of recruitment at Meridian, Garland leads patient recruitment operations at sites nationwide and at Meridian’s dedicated call centers in Omaha, NE, Sioux City, IA, and Statesboro, GA. He has strengthened Meridian’s enrollment and retention processes, as well as the company’s patient outreach initiatives.
Garland earned his degrees in economics and healthcare policy from San Francisco State University.
Barb Geiger
Company Controller
Barb Geiger directs all aspects of Meridian’s corporate accounting functions, including monthly financial reporting, cost allocation, and banking compliance. Before joining Meridian, Geiger was the controller for a medical billing company in Lincoln that provided billing and collections services to more than 270 clients. She received her permit to practice as a Certified Public Accountant in 1998 and spent seven years at the public accounting firm of BKD, LLP as a tax manager. At BKD, she specialized in preparing corporate taxes for healthcare and banking clients.
Geiger earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration with an accounting emphasis from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She also earned a medical assisting degree from Southeast Community College and worked at an internal medicine practice and Bryan East Hospital.