Team Camber

Kon Ostaficiuk

President

Kon joined Camber in February 2009 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and assumed the role of President in 2011. During this time, Camber has grown from $30 million in sales to over $1 billion in 2015, and has become the 12th largest generics company in the US based on dispensed prescriptions.

A well-respected industry veteran with over 25 years’ experience in the generic pharmaceuticals industry, Kon has held a variety of sales and marketing positions with increasing responsibility. He began his career at Sidmak Laboratories in East Hanover, NJ, and has held VP Sales and Marketing positions at Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals, Able Laboratories, and Boca Pharmaceuticals before joining Camber.

Kon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Science degree in Microbiology from Rutgers University. He resides in Mendham, New Jersey.

Surya Gandikota

Chief Financial Officer

Surya Gandikota joined Camber Pharmaceuticals as Chief Financial Officer in 2023. He has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 23 years. Surya has progressed through roles of increasing responsibility managing various functions within finance & accounts both in India and USA. Prior to joining Camber, Surya worked with Eywa Pharma, Mylan, Matrix Laboratories, Dr. Reddy’s, and Tecumseh. Surya earned Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, Physics & Geology and Graduated in Cost and Management Accountancy . He currently resides in Chesterfield, New Jersey with his wife Suneetha and their two children, Ram Bharadwaj and Sanjana. Surya and wife are active and enjoy participating in temple and religious activities.

Ron Cerminaro

Vice President of Commercial Strategy and Operations

Ron joined Camber in 2019 as Business and Strategic Project Manager, Sales Operations. A well-diversified industry veteran with over 25 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Ron has held a variety of positions in retail operations, purchasing, sales operations, strategic planning, and marketing, in retail, wholesale, brand & generic manufacturing, healthcare agency, and consulting.

He began his career as a dispensing Pharmacist in various independent and chain retail settings, excelled in sourcing roles at Pathmark Stores and H. D. Smith Wholesale, was General Manager of Greenstone Ltd., a member of the National Trade Team at Pharmacia / Pfizer, Vice President of Trade Channel Marketing at Access Communications, and established Pharmaceutical Insights, LLC to consult in the building of startups Patriot Pharmaceuticals and Wallace Pharmaceuticals, before joining Camber.

Ron earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from Rutgers University School of Pharmacy, as well as a Mini-MBA Global Biopharma Entrepreneurship from Rutgers Center for Management Development. Ron is a Scotworks Certified Negotiator. He resides with his wife in Somerset, New Jersey.

Clay Smith

Director of National Accounts

Clayton Smith is one of our National Account Managers, a position he has held since shortly after joining Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in July 2011. Prior to starting with the company, Clayton earned a B.S. B.A. from Bucknell University and participated in the university’s varsity Track and Cross Country programs. Clayton also earned an MBA from Rutgers University.  Clayton currently resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with his wife Colleen and two children.

Stu Messinger

Director of National Accounts

Stu joined Camber in October 2010 and brings 25 years of consumer products and generics experience in roles of increasing responsibility that include multiple therapeutic areas and all classes of trade. Prior to joining Camber, Stu served in a variety of sales and management roles at Interpharm Pharmaceuticals, Del Laboratories and Pfizer. Stu and his wife Liz have two children named Bennett and Lindsay.

Stephen Rutledge

Executive Vice President, Rx Sales

Stephen joined Camber as Executive Vice President in 2018. He has worked in the Pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years.  What began as a short-term planned involvement in the industry became a successful and rewarding career providing affordable medicine and a better way of life for those with whom he comes in contact. His focus includes organizational structure, strategy, customer relationships, Supply Chain support, Business Development, and Finance.

Before the Pharmaceutical industry, he worked in sales with two Fortune 500 companies and was involved in starting three family businesses.  Stephen resides in Kentucky.  He, his wife Laura, and their son Barton live in the hometown where they grew up.  He is an active member of their church.  His hobbies include spending time with his family, involvement in his son’s activities, and enjoying the great outdoors together.

Kirk Hessels

Vice President of Marketing

Kirk joined Camber as Director of Marketing in July 2014. Before joining Camber, Kirk operated his integrated marketing agency, KH Advertising, for over 20 years, working with a diverse client base including pharmaceutical, consumer packaged goods, and B-to-B companies. Beginning in 2008, Kirk helped lead the marketing and branding efforts for Camber, including advertising campaigns, web development, public relations, sales support materials, and trade show participation. Kirk has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Resides with his wife Pat in Red Bank, NJ.

Laura Ricardo

Director of Corporate Accounts

Laura joined Camber Pharmaceuticals August of 2008 as Director of Corporate Accounts. She has over 20 years of experience as a top-performing Sales Executive and has held positions in several emerging healthcare organizations, with a solid track record of steadily delivering profit to the bottom-line. She graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Michael Parrillo

Director of National Accounts

Michael joined Camber as a Director of National Accounts in February 2020. He has a diversified industry background with over 18 years of pharmaceutical experience. Michael’s previous roles include: field sales representative, field sales trainer, area business manager and regional sales manager. The majority of his career was spent as a Senior National Account Manager at Ferndale Healthcare.

Michael has a B.S. in Marketing from Providence College. He resides in Mendham, NJ with his wife Tracy and their two children, Olivia and Michael John.

Crystal Mechler

Director of National Accounts

Crystal joined Camber Pharmaceuticals in December 2018 with over 15 years’ experience in the generic pharmaceutical industry. She was previously Director of National Accounts for Aurobindo Pharmacetuicals USA, Inc. responsible for generic sales. Prior to joining Aurobindo, she was a National Account Manager at Trigen Laboratories and Boca Pharmacal, Inc. Before moving to the generic pharmaceutical business, Crystal spent 4 years at Rexall Sundown.

Crystal has a MS in Clinical Nutrition from Rosalind Franklin University and a BS in Food and Nutrition from The Florida State University. She currently resides in Parkland, Florida with her husband Brent and their three children, Brent III, Brooke and Brynn.