History of Microbac, 2000s
J. Trevor Boyce Elected to Board of A2LA
As a longtime member of the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), J. Trevor Boyce was elected in 2000 to the A2LA Board of Directors.
Laboratories Added, Acquired, Consolidated in 2000
The beginning of the millennium resulted in a variety of laboratory expansion and consolidation for Microbac. In the year 2000, the South Jersey Division opened, the former Madison Division in Indiana was merged into the Hammond (IN) Division, and Revet Laboratory was acquired in Marlboro, Massachusetts, which became the Company’s Massachusetts Division.
Gascoyne Laboratories Acquired in Baltimore
In May of 2001, J. Trevor Boyce purchased Gascoyne Laboratories, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland, the nation’s oldest laboratory. Gascoyne’s portside location, environmental testing capabilities, and certification with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proved to be advantageous for Microbac. Gascoyne eventually became known as the Company’s Baltimore Division.
Three Acquisitions in 2002
Microbac’s market and geographical growth were reaching progressive levels in the early portion of the 21st century. In 2002, the Company added Friend Laboratory in Waverly, New York, Hauser Laboratories in Boulder, Colorado, and Central States Analytical in Evansville, Indiana. Hauser, a renowned leader in the physical and mechanical testing industry, while also performing chemical and biological analytical services, afforded Microbac the resources to provide testing to a plethora of markets that the Company had not previously served. Friend Laboratory, which provided environmental testing services, eventually became part of the New York Division, while Central States Analytical is a satellite/service center for the Kentucky Division.
Death of A. Warne Boyce
On May 9, 2002, A Warne Boyce, Microbac Founder and Chairman, passed away. In spirit true to his character, Microbac will grow and prosper in ways which perpetuate his diligence, ideals, integrity, and passion toward building the finest network of testing laboratories in the world.
Toxicology and PCR Technologies Added
Microbac continued to grow its diversity of services in 2003, adding Toxicology and PCR technologies to its vast repertoire of offerings. Both technologies provide the testing marketplace with a variety of analyses options in order to meet a wider range of customer needs.
Simalabs Acquisition Provides Chicago-area Presence
In 2004, Microbac acquired Simalabs in Merrillville, Indiana, which became the Chicagoland Division. The division, which also includes a service center in Indianapolis, offers sampling and testing services for the environmental, food, and microbiology markets.
Director of Development Named
In order to maximize scientific advancements and provide customers with the highest level of technical acumen, Microbac created the position of Director of Development. In 2004, Dr. Kim Baughman, who joined Microbac in 1998 upon the Company’s acquisition of Southern Testing and Research Laboratories, was named Director of Development. The Director of Development is responsible for overseeing technical development for all Microbac divisions.
Corporate Quality Improvement Department Established
In 2004, Microbac implements a Corporate Quality Improvement Department headed by Joanne Simanic and Dave Danis.
Customer Care Initiative
In its ongoing commitment to provide customers with exceptional service, Microbac establishes a Customer Care Committee comprised of several Microbac employees who draft the Company’s Customer Care Philosophy. Robert Crookston, a Microbac Vice President, is appointed the Company’s Customer Care Ambassador.
Acquisition of S&W Laboratories Adds to Knoxville Division
Microbac strengthens its position in the microbiology market with the purchase of S&W Laboratories, Inc. in Knoxville, Tennessee. The operations of S&W, which specialized in food microbiology and garnered a large piece of the regional market for Microbac, became part of the Knoxville Division in Maryville, Tennessee.
J. Trevor Boyce Elected Chair of A2LA
In 2006, J. Trevor Boyce, Microbac’s CEO & President, is elected for a three-year term as Chairman of the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).
Acquisitions Put Lexington and Cortland, NY on Microbac Map
The purchases of EnviroData Group (EDG) in Lexington, Kentucky in 2006 and Buck Laboratory in Cortland, New York in 2007 provide two new geographical locations for the Company. The former EDG Lexington laboratory, one of the largest environmental testing firms in Kentucky, became a satellite for the Kentucky Division. The acquisition of Buck Laboratory, the former laboratory of Buck Environmental Labs, resulted in Buck and Friend Laboratory in Waverly, New York forming the New York Division.
California and Ohio Acquisitions
Within a two-month period early in 2008, Microbac acquired Centrum Analytical Laboratories in Riverside, California and Kemron Environmental Services, Inc. in Marietta, Ohio. Centrum specialized in environmental testing and featured three mobile labs. Upon the acquisition, Microbac’s Corona (CA) Division moved into the Riverside laboratory and became the Company’s Southern California Division. Kemron Environmental Services, which became Microbac’s Ohio Valley Division, provides work through third-party consultants on commercial, DoD and DoE sites around the world and directly contracts with government agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state EPAs, and individual military bases representing all branches of service globally.
New Castle Division Closes
After 35 years of operation, the New Castle (PA) Division laboratory officially closes in the summer of 2008. Several New Castle employees and the analyses, which included dairy, food, water, environmental and wet chemistry, were consolidated into the Company’s Erie Division.
Corporate Office Moves from Wexford to Pittsburgh
In December of 2008, Microbac's Corporate Office moves into a new facility in Pittsburgh from nearby Wexford, where it was housed for nine years. The new location, which offers expanded space, is located 10 miles south of Wexford inside the Pittsburgh city limits.
Massachusetts Division Moves to Worcester
After operating for nine years in Marlborough, the Massachusetts Division moves to a facility in Worcester, Massachusetts early in 2009. The new facility in Worcester features a ready-made and already-equipped laboratory.
Microbac Celebrates 40th Anniversary
On May 1, 2009, all 27 of the Company's locations celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Microbac Laboratories, Inc. In order to commemorate the milestone, each location hosts a birthday party.
Earle Named Chief Administrative Officer; Lombardi Controller
Cabot Earle was named Chief Administrative Officer and Ray Lombardi as Controller in 2009. As Chief Administrative Officer, Earle oversees operations of the Corporate Office in Pittsburgh. Lombardi, as Controller leads the Finance and Accounting teams and manages all tax matters.
James Nokes Named President
In 2009, James Nokes is named as the Company's President by J. Trevor Boyce, Microbac's CEO & Chairman. Nokes, who has served as a Microbac Vice President/Regional Director and was the Managing Director of the Knoxville Division from 1999-2009, joined the Company in 1998. The third President in Microbac history, Nokes succeeded Trevor Boyce, who also served as President since 1993, and A. Warne Boyce, who founded the Company in 1969 and served as President until 1993.
Crookston, Hyde Named Senior Vice Presidents
In 2009, Robert Crookston was named as Senior Vice President of Business Development, and Sean Hyde as Senior Vice President of Operational Affairs. Crookston, who previously served as a Microbac Vice President/Regional Director for several years, was the longtime Managing Director of the Company's Chicagoland Division based in Merrillville, Indiana. Hyde, who served Microbac Executive roles as Senior Vice President and Vice President over the previous decade, served as Managing Director of the Louisville-based Kentucky Division for 17 years.
Microbiotest and GPL-Tennessee Acquisitions
Microbac continues to expand its range of services and geographical markets with the 2009 purchases of Microbiotest in the Washington D.C. suburb of Sterling, Virginia, and GPL-Tennessee (Tri-State Analytical Laboratory) in Johnson City, Tennessee. Microbiotest, a microbiology and virology laboratory that has become synonymous with antimicrobial efficacy testing over more than two decades, has established a global reputation within the disinfectant, sterilant, and bioprocess industry. The addition of GPL-Tennessee, an environmental testing laboratory, helps Microbac expand its market base in the southeast. The laboratory becomes known as the Tri-Cities Division and eventually is a satellite of the Knoxville Division.