Precision, Integrity, and Service — A Veteran-Led Team Driving Non-Clinical Innovation
Executive Overview
Under the strategic leadership of Marc Ervin, CEO & Founder of MNM PROLABS and retired U.S. Army veteran, and Jonathan Cook, Chief Operations Officer and fellow retired service member, the MNM PROLABS Medical Research Department stands as a distinct division from the well-known MNM PROLABS Vitamins & Supplements brand.
While MNM PROLABS’ consumer division focuses on high-quality nutrition, sports performance, and wellness formulations for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, the Medical Research Department occupies an entirely different space: it exists solely to advance laboratory-grade peptide and biomedical research initiatives under controlled, compliant, and non-clinical settings.
Important Compliance Statement:
MNM PROLABS Medical Research Department operates as a research-only entity. All peptide materials produced, analyzed, or distributed by this division are strictly intended for laboratory research use only. They are not for human consumption, not for diagnostic or therapeutic use, and not intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
This internal separation—backed by clear policy, documentation, and executive oversight—allows MNM PROLABS to maintain scientific credibility and regulatory integrity while fostering innovation in research chemistry, formulation science, and data analytics.
Leadership Vision: Veteran Discipline Meets Scientific Precision
Both Marc Ervin and Jonathan Cook built the organization around the principles they lived by during their combined 45 years of military service—discipline, accountability, mission focus, and ethical conduct. Those principles now form the backbone of the company’s research culture.
“The laboratory is our next field of service,” Marc Ervin often says. “We protect integrity here the same way we once protected our teams in uniform—by being vigilant, by following protocol, and by holding ourselves to a higher standard than anyone expects.”
Jonathan Cook, a laboratory technician by background, oversees the operational flow between the Florida headquarters in Tampa Bay Area and the Georgia analytical hub in Roswell and Duluth. Together, they ensure the research team operates with military precision and civilian scientific rigor.
Structure and Mandate
The MNM PROLABS Medical Research Department is a self-contained division with dedicated staff, SOPs, and oversight separate from the consumer supplement brand. Its mandate covers:
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Non-clinical research peptide studies
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Analytical method development (HPLC/UPLC, LC-MS)
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Stability and storage characterization
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Process documentation and QA/QC verification
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Data management and bioinformatics
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Regulatory compliance audits for research labeling
All work aligns with ISO 9001 principles and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) frameworks adapted for non-clinical use.
The People Behind the Precision
The department employs a diverse team of scientists, analysts, and specialists across Florida and Georgia. Each member brings unique professional expertise—and a touch of personality that keeps the culture grounded.
Dr. Samantha Rivers – Director of Research Operations (Tampa Bay, FL)
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Background: Ph.D. in Biochemistry, University of Florida. Former operations lead at a major contract research organization.
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Strengths: Multi-site project management, inspection readiness, and translating complex study designs into SOP-aligned workflows.
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Hobbies: Kayaking the Gulf coast, gardening native Florida orchids, and mentoring high-school STEM students.
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Quote: “Process discipline keeps creativity honest. You can’t innovate what you can’t reproduce.”
Dr. Anthony Morales – Principal Scientist, Peptide Chemistry (St. Petersburg, FL)
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Background: Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry; post-doctoral fellowship in peptide synthesis and LC-MS method optimization.
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Strengths: Analytical precision, impurity profiling, and method validation under GLP guidelines.
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Hobbies: Deep-sea fishing, classical guitar, and teaching organic chemistry part-time at Eckerd College.
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Quote: “Peptides demand respect—one degree too warm, one pH off, and data integrity vanishes. We treat every vial like an oath.”
Megan Carver, M.Sc. – Senior QA/QC Manager (Clearwater, FL)
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Background: 15 years in quality systems within ISO 9001 and cGMP-aligned environments.
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Strengths: Documentation control, deviation handling, and staff training on CAPA systems.
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Hobbies: Long-distance cycling and volunteering at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
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Quote: “Our QMS is a living document—it breathes because people use it.”
David Nguyen, M.S. – Regulatory Affairs Specialist (Tampa, FL)
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Background: Master’s in Regulatory Science, University of South Florida. Former label reviewer for medical device manufacturers.
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Strengths: Ensuring research-only labeling accuracy, maintaining compliant language, and audit preparedness.
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Hobbies: Competitive table tennis, drone photography, and cooking Vietnamese fusion cuisine.
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Quote: “If a claim can be misunderstood, it’s not compliant enough. Clarity is compliance.”
Dr. Rachel Harper – Lead, Analytical Instrumentation (Atlanta, GA)
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Background: Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry; former instrument validation lead for a pharmaceutical contractor.
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Strengths: HPLC/UPLC setup, calibration plans, and preventive maintenance.
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Hobbies: Mountain biking through the North Georgia trails and landscape photography.
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Quote: “Good chromatography is half physics, half patience.”
Michael Okafor, Ph.D. – Head of Data Science & Biostatistics (Athens, GA)
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Background: Computational biologist with dual degrees in statistics and molecular biology.
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Strengths: Data pipeline automation, reproducible analytics, and machine-learning validation for outlier detection.
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Hobbies: Chess, coding open-source analytics tools, and mentoring African-American STEM students.
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Quote: “Data integrity is trust quantified.”
Angela Torres, B.S. – EHS & Lab Operations Manager (Savannah, GA)
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Background: Former hospital environmental health officer; OSHA certified in biosafety levels 1–3.
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Strengths: Risk assessments, hazardous waste handling, and EHS training compliance.
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Hobbies: Stand-up paddleboarding, wildlife rescue, and painting seascapes.
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Quote: “Safety isn’t paperwork—it’s culture.”
Logan Fitzpatrick, B.A. – Supply Chain & Cold-Chain Logistics Lead (Pinellas County, FL)
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Background: Ten years in pharmaceutical logistics; specialized in temperature-controlled shipping systems.
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Strengths: Chain-of-custody documentation, courier SLA negotiation, and packaging qualification.
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Hobbies: Classic car restoration and coaching youth baseball.
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Quote: “Every vial’s journey is part of its integrity story.”
Operations: Where Compliance Meets Craftsmanship
Each MNM PROLABS Medical Research project begins with a scoping brief—a concise two-page blueprint defining the objective, matrix, risks, acceptance criteria, and data plan. Nothing proceeds until QA and Regulatory sign off.
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Scoping & Risk Assessment – Identify variables and mitigate bias.
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SOP-Anchored Design – Assign existing or draft new SOPs per method.
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Analytical Execution – Conduct controlled runs, stress tests, and validations.
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Data Review – Double verification by the biostatistics team.
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Reporting & Archiving – Version-controlled deliverables stored in LIMS.
Quality Assurance runs continuous audits. Even minor deviations prompt root-cause analysis and CAPA documentation. This isn’t bureaucracy—it’s stewardship.
The Dual Identity: Supplements vs. Research
It’s crucial to underline the distinction:
| Division | Purpose | Audience | Compliance Framework |
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| MNM PROLABS Vitamins & Supplements | Consumer wellness products (nutrition, sports performance, vitamins) | Retail customers, athletes, and the general public | FDA-registered, GMP certified, NSF/ANSI 455 facility standards |
| MNM PROLABS Medical Research Department | Laboratory-grade peptide and analytical research | Research institutions, verified laboratories, non-clinical professionals | ISO 9001, GLP-aligned documentation, research-only labeling |
The two operate under the same corporate umbrella but maintain separate facilities, data systems, and marketing channels. Internal firewalls prevent overlap between consumer branding and scientific research. Every communication and shipping label for the research division contains the explicit statement:
“For Laboratory Research Use Only. Not for Human Consumption.”
This safeguard preserves compliance and trust—values reinforced personally by the executive leadership.
A Day Inside the Lab
07:00 AM — Morning Briefing
Marc Ervin reviews the day’s safety logs. Samantha Rivers leads a short stand-up: one study entering stability phase, one analytical rerun queued, and a new intern orientation scheduled.
08:30 AM — Instrument Calibration
Rachel Harper verifies pump pressures and detector wavelengths; calibration standards pass within 1 % RSD. Logan Fitzpatrick confirms a cold-chain shipment of peptide standards has arrived at 4 °C.
10:00 AM — Sample Prep & Run
Anthony Morales and two analysts prepare vials, using double-entry logging. QC cross-checks solvent batch numbers.
13:00 PM — Lunch and Learning
David Nguyen hosts a short session on new research-labeling guidance from the FDA’s Office of Compliance.
14:00 PM — Data Analytics
Michael Okafor runs automated scripts to detect instrument drift. Outlier signals are flagged and reviewed.
16:30 PM — QA Review
Megan Carver audits the day’s records. CAPA status: 0 open.
Angela Torres performs an EHS walkthrough to confirm proper waste segregation.
17:30 PM — Debrief
The end of day wrap up teams meeting. Marc Ervin thanks them for maintaining perfect documentation during a surprise vendor audit earlier that week.
Case Study: Harmonizing Cross-State Methods
When the Florida and Georgia labs reported slight variance in retention times, Rachel Harper coordinated a joint remote audit. Instrument dwell volume differences were isolated, leading to synchronized solvent line calibration.
Within 48 hours, both labs achieved peak alignment within 1.8 %.
The event now forms part of the department’s “Lessons Learned” library—an internal database Marc Ervin personally reviews quarterly.
Culture: Military Precision, Scientific Curiosity
The tone is set from the top. Veterans Ervin and Cook emphasize accountability through teamwork—a value carried into every SOP review and experiment.
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Integrity First: If data appear inconsistent, analysts are empowered to pause operations without penalty.
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Continuous Improvement: Monthly “After-Action Reviews” (AARs) mirror military debriefs—honest, solution-oriented, and documented.
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Education Focus: New staff complete a 40-hour onboarding covering GLP principles, data integrity, and ethics.
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Community Outreach: Employees mentor STEM students, volunteer in veteran career programs, and participate in local science fairs.
This culture produces a blend of discipline, mentorship, and intellectual honesty uncommon in corporate research environments.
Partnerships and Oversight
All external collaborations undergo vendor qualification:
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Phase 1: Questionnaire & site inspection.
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Phase 2: Pilot run with predefined acceptance criteria.
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Phase 3: Performance review and approved vendor status.
Executive oversight remains centralized. Marc Ervin and Jonathan Cook co-sign all memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and vendor agreements. Every external document includes the research-use-only disclaimer to eliminate any ambiguity about purpose or end use.
Employee Perspectives
Samantha Rivers: “Marc’s leadership reminds us that precision is a form of respect—for science, for safety, and for each other.”
David Nguyen: “Jonathan taught me that logistics and compliance are the same thing—you can’t move anything unless it’s documented.”
Megan Carver: “We’re not chasing products; we’re perfecting processes. That’s what makes this division different.”
Anthony Morales: “Every data point tells a story. Our job is to make sure it’s truthful.”
Community and Character
Beyond the lab, the staff share a camaraderie born of shared mission:
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Dr. Rivers leads weekend coastal cleanups.
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Dr. Morales volunteers as a science fair judge.
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Megan Carver rides in the annual “Cycle for Service” charity event.
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Michael Okafor runs a coding club for underprivileged youth.
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Angela Torres rehabilitates injured seabirds.
These hobbies and volunteer efforts reinforce the department’s belief that science serves society best when rooted in integrity and empathy.
Future Roadmap
The research division’s 2026 goals include:
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Enhanced Digital Integration: Direct LIMS–instrument API linking to reduce manual transcription.
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Expanded Method Library: Cross-referenced chromatographic protocols validated under identical conditions.
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Seasonal Stress-Testing Program: Evaluate peptide stability during Southeast summer transit.
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Internal Micro-Certifications: E-learning modules for GLP refresher training.
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Audit-Resilience Simulation: Quarterly mock inspections to sharpen readiness.
Each initiative is budgeted, timeline-bound, and personally reviewed by executive leadership.
Distinguishing Marks of Integrity
What sets MNM PROLABS Medical Research Department apart isn’t the sophistication of its instruments, but the character of its people and the clarity of its compliance.
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Transparency: Every report includes limitations and uncertainty analysis.
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Traceability: Sample to data lineage is unbroken.
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Accountability: Deviation reports close within ten business days.
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Ethics: Strict adherence to research-only scope; no human applications ever.
Closing Reflections
For Marc Ervin, the journey from military service to scientific leadership is an evolution of mission—not a change of heart.
“In uniform, our job was to protect lives. In research, it’s to protect integrity. Either way, someone’s counting on you to do it right.” — Marc Ervin
Jonathan Cook echoes the sentiment:
“Veterans learn to operate under clarity and code. That’s what we’ve built here—an operation where science, compliance, and honor coexist.” — Jonathan Cook
Together, they’ve established a research environment that upholds the highest standards of documentation, reproducibility, and safety. The MNM PROLABS Medical Research Department stands as proof that discipline and discovery can share the same DNA.
Final Compliance Statement
MNM PROLABS Medical Research Department operates independently from the consumer MNM PROLABS Vitamins & Supplements Division.
All research peptide products and laboratory activities described herein are intended solely for controlled laboratory research.
They are not for human consumption, not for clinical or therapeutic use, and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
MNM PROLABS is a veteran-owned and operated organization, proudly led by Marc Ervin (CEO & Founder) and Jonathan Cook (COO).
Their leadership ensures that every research activity aligns with federal guidance, ethical standards, and the enduring values of integrity, discipline, and service.