Founded in Dallas in 2014

A laboratory built to bridge product innovation and rigorous testing.

BioChroma was founded to help companies move from product ideas and manufacturing questions into disciplined analytical, microbiology, and stability decisions with direct access to scientific leadership.

Founded in 2014 in Dallas, BioChroma was built to close the gap between product innovation and the analytical work required for release, stability, and regulatory review. Today the laboratory operates with 40+ staff across six analytical groups plus administration, supported by ISO 17025 accredited systems, founder-led scientific direction, and a structure designed to keep chemistry, microbiology, quality, and R&D working in coordination.

Company Story

BioChroma was founded in 2014 to close the gap between product innovation and rigorous testing.

The company was founded in 2014 to bridge a practical gap: many products can move quickly in formulation, manufacturing, or brand development, but the testing, documentation, and technical judgment required for release and regulatory review often lag behind. BioChroma was built to keep those worlds connected through founder-led scientific direction and a structure that lets chemistry, microbiology, quality, and R&D work in coordination.

  • Founded in 2014 in Dallas
  • Built to bridge product innovation and rigorous testing
  • Structured for coordination across chemistry, microbiology, quality, and R&D

Leadership Team

Founders and leadership

Benny McKee

President & Cofounder

Benny McKee

Dallas Baptist University (BS Biology); HACCP & Food Safety Certified; ISO 17025 Practitioner.

With more than 30 years of hands-on laboratory and executive leadership, Benny founded BioChroma in 2014 to bridge the gap between product innovation and the rigorous analytical testing that market entry demands. Before BioChroma, he spent nearly two decades at Analytical Food Laboratories—rising from bench microbiologist to Executive Vice President—and served as Chief Science Officer at Coats Aloe International. His background spans microbiology operations, cGMP auditing, HACCP, and the full spectrum of FDA, AOAC, and USP methodology.

Dr. Cheri Turman-Ballard

Vice President & Cofounder

Dr. Cheri Turman-Ballard

PhD Biomedical Sciences (UT MD Anderson); MS & BS Chemistry (Stephen F. Austin State University).

Dr. Turman-Ballard provides the scientific foundation for BioChroma's analytical operations. With over 25 years of cross-functional experience in pharmaceutical science, she oversees method development strategy, complex analytical pathways, and the scientific integrity of every deliverable. Her doctoral work at UT MD Anderson and deep command of chemistry and biomedical sciences ensure that BioChroma's technical output meets the highest peer-reviewed and regulatory standards.

Amber Howeth

CFO

Amber Howeth

Texas A&M Commerce (BS Business & Psychology).

Amber brings over 20 years of financial management expertise to BioChroma, overseeing fiscal operations, contract management, and the financial infrastructure that supports sustainable growth and long-term client partnerships.

Department Leadership

Directors and group leadership across the laboratory

Chemistry

Joe Galbraith

Director of Chemistry

Oversees five analytical groups—HPLC, LCMS, GC/GCMS, IC/ICPMS, and Wet Chemistry—and the full spectrum of chemical analysis from raw material identification through finished product release.

Microbiology

Stacey Choate-Ciletti

Director of Microbiology

Leads all microbiological testing operations including USP compendial testing, pathogen screening, preservative efficacy, environmental monitoring, and sterility programs.

Quality

Brianna Kibbee

Director of Quality & Regulatory Affairs

Manages the laboratory quality system, CAPA processes, internal audits, regulatory compliance, and data integrity oversight across all departments.

R&D

James Fowler

R&D Biochemist

Leads research and development projects including method development, molecular biology techniques, and advanced analytical method design for novel sample matrices.

Group Leads

Technical depth across the laboratory

Group leads show the operational depth behind BioChroma's departments without turning the page into a full org chart.

Shawn Ridlen

LCMS Group Lead

Chemistry

Justin Arrington

HPLC Group Lead

Chemistry

Ameena Khawaja

Inorganic Group Lead

Chemistry

Nicole LaVoie

Wet Chemistry Group Lead

Chemistry

Jenna Rutledge

Microbiology Group Lead

Microbiology

Next step

Start a technical conversation

Share your scope, timeline, and priorities. We will connect you with the right scientific and operational leads for practical next steps.