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Clinical Research Advantage

Gold Stevie Award Winner 2012, Click to Enter The 2014 American Business Awards

Company: Clinical Research Advantage, Tempe, AZ
Company Description: Clinical Research Advantage provides a range of research services to pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies, as well as contract research organizations. These services enable medical professionals to improve patient care while expediting the process of bringing pharmaceuticals, medical devices and vaccines to market.
Nomination Category: Management Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Maverick of the Year - Business Services Industries

Nomination Title: Mark S. Hanley, CEO

Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2012 (up to 525 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Mark S. Hanley is a visionary who is changing the clinical trials marketplace through forward-thinking innovation and motivational leadership. As the Chief Executive Officer of Clinical Research Advantage (CRA), Hanley was responsible for doubling the size of the integrated network of clinical trial sites, and increasing the number of staff by 500% over the past year – all while marking two game-changing historical events. Firstly, Hanley and the Tempe Arizona-based company pioneered an alliance with Quintiles, the largest contract research organization in the world. This partnership resulted in the creation of the first-ever therapeutic alliance for clinical trials in primary medicine – an alliance that enabled a higher level of clinical trial participation, increased safety, improved study efficiencies and produced excellent quality data.

Following that partnership, Hanley had the industry buzzing once again when he acquired Cincinnati, Ohio-based Radiant Research. That acquisition made CRA the largest integrated site network in the United States. Through CRA’s rapid organic growth and the acquisition of the 20 Radiant Research sites, CRA now oversees 57 sites and more than 500 employees across the country. By combining the clinical trial industry’s two top players under one umbrella, Hanley has enabled CRA to conduct virtually any kind of clinical trial, thus accommodating study sponsors and contract research organizations at numerous geographically diverse locations.

Under Hanley’s direction, CRA also revved up the number of clinical trials performed by 200% over the previous year. Furthermore, during this rapid period of growth and expansion, CRA maintained its high quality standards for customer service and patient care. In fact, the company continued to exceed patient enrollment goals for clinical trials with an enrollment rate of 91% (the industry standard is 65% and 33% of sites never enroll a single subject). Plus, it displayed another hallmark of a successful clinical trial network is that upon finishing the first trial, 87% of CRA’s clinical trial participants will enroll in at least one additional study.

These achievements have not gone unnoticed. In 2012, Hanley was named one of the “100 Most Inspiring People in the Life Sciences Industry” by PharmaVOICE Magazine. The company and members of its senior management team were also honored with Stevie Awards in New York City and San Francisco. Additionally, Hanley and several CRA employees received accolades in the Best in Biz Awards, Arizona Corporate Excellence Awards, and Vaccine Industry Excellence (VIE) Awards. At the VIE Award ceremony in Washington, D.C., CRA was named as the “Best Clinical Trial Site Network.” In addition, AZ Business Magazine recognized CRA as an Industry Leader of Arizona, and AZ Magazine called CRA one of the top 25 workplaces for women.

Mark S. Hanley is an executive who continues to the change landscape of the clinical trials industry. His work has made clinical trials safer, more efficient and more accessible to the public. With more exciting plans in store for 2013, Hanley is constantly breaking new ground, making him truly a maverick.

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Provide a brief (up to 125 words) biography about the nominee:

Mark Hanley serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Tempe, Arizona-based Clinical Research Advantage. A quintessential entrepreneur, Hanley has built several successful businesses over the course of his 25-year career. Hanley has been credited with the turn-around and start-up of several businesses including Allied Healthcare International (publically traded on the NASDAQ as ACHI) and O² Science, which was sold to Pacific Pulmonary Services. After acquiring Clinical Research Advantage in 2007, Hanley and his team have grown the company to become the largest and most therapeutically diverse integrated site network in the U.S.