Resumé / BioFollowing graduation from Nicholls State University in Thibodeaux, LA with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, Kenny joined Main Lafrentz as a staff accountant in Houston, Texas, rising to senior accountant in only two years. After experiencing the challenge and excitement of private industry and growing businesses in various industries through the eyes of a financial auditor early in his career, Kenny accepted a position with a small venture capital company, Hufo Oils in Midland, Texas where he played an instrumental role in developing business plans, raising capital for startups, and implementing marketing strategy to gain market share. His involvement in startups ranged from manufacturing of high tech measuring devices for aircraft to oil & gas exploration and production, telecommunications, farming, residential construction, an import business, and the formation of partnerships and corporations.
Kenny is currently the CEO of SelenBio, Inc., a biotechnology company that has developed a proprietary, platform antimicrobial technology that can prevent biofilm and bacteria. Prior to his current position he was CEO of Human Care USA (formerly Barton Medical Corporation), the U.S. headquarters of the four-member Human Care Group, a medical equipment manufacturer whose parent company Human Care HC AB is in Stockholm, Sweden.
His first fundraising venture on his own was in 1985 when he raised $500,000 to start Mini-Phone, Inc., a telecommunications company desiring to establish a disposable telephone concept in the hospital industry. After the sale of the business to a larger telecommunications company in Baton Rouge, LA, Kenny was asked to follow the acquisition as its President, but later sold his interest to other stockholders and left to help start a home health business in Midland, Texas.
Kenny assisted a local physician in starting a comprehensive home health agency offer visiting nurse services, DME, specialty home care and a retail pharmacy. The agency grew to $3 million in gross revenue before he was asked to join a large prospective new customer, Manor Park, Inc.
At Manor Park Kenny served as Director of Operations and played a vital role in developing a budget and strategic plan to reverse an operating loss history for this non-profit organization. Kenny, along with other executive management turned over $600,000 in annual losses on $8 million in revenue into $10 million in revenue and break-even in three years. Because of his performance at Manor Park he was asked to interview and was chosen as President and CFO in 2000 for a growing dental and orthodontic supply company (ClassOne Orthodontics, Inc.) located in Lubbock, TX. After developing a sales and marketing network domestically, he expanded the small company's brand and sales to over 10 countries internationally. In 2007 the company licensed university-develop biotechnology (antibacterial), raised $3 million in R&D capital and commercialized the technology in the dental industry. In 2009 Kenny led the effort of selling the company to Henry Schein, Inc., a $6.5 billion dental and medical supply distributor. During Kenny's tenure as President and CFO of ClassOne it was recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the top 5,000 fastest growing small businesses in the United States.
While Kenny enjoys the challenges of small business, startups, turning businesses around and growing small to medium size businesses, he also enjoys sports and playing golf. Kenny has been married to his wife Olinda for 30 years and has two daughters, both professionals, one a nurse in Houston, TX and the other a financial and real estate analyst in Boston, MA.
Between selling the dental supply business and prior to his position as CEO of Human Care USA, Kenny spent 8 months as an instructor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX teaching consumer behavior, personal selling and sales management. He received an average score of 4.7 out of 5 from student evaluations regarding effectiveness of teaching, fairness, respect and stimulation of student learning.
Earlier in his career, Kenny was involved in the Jaycee organization, the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Council and the Chamber of Commerce Bioscience committee.
