Board & Leadership

Mr. Joseph D. Ceccoli has been a Board member since December 2014. He is the Founder, President, and CEO of Biocogent, LLC, a bioscience company focused on developing and commercializing skin-active molecules and treatment products. Before starting Biocogent in 2010, Mr. Ceccoli was Global Director of Operations for BASF Corporation, overseeing domestic and international business units. He also served as General Manager for Engelhard Corporation and COO of The Collaborative Group from 2004 to 2007.

Mr. Ceccoli holds a B.S. in Biotechnology from Rochester Institute of Technology and has advanced training in pharmaceutical sciences, emulsion chemistry, engineering, and management. He is a member of professional organizations such as the American Chemical Society and the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. He has authored 16 technical papers and holds 16 patents. The Board values Mr. Ceccoli’s extensive experience in the bioscience and chemical industries, his executive leadership roles, and his contributions to both global and U.S.-based operations and management.

Ms. Elizabeth M. Schmalz Shaheen has been a Board member since June 2017. She has been President of American Flavors & Fragrances LLC since 2003 and runs her consulting firm, Betsy Schmalz & Associates. Previously, she was Senior Vice President of Corporate Product Development at Estée Lauder, overseeing development for major brands. She also served as Executive Vice President of Product Development at Bath and Body Works and Victoria’s Secret for The Limited. Ms. Schmalz Shaheen began her senior management career at Revlon, handling new product development for brands such as Borghese, Ultima II, and Prestige fragrances.

She is an active member of Cosmetic Executive Women and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgian Court University, where she serves on the Board of Trustees. The Board values her strategic and leadership accomplishments in the cosmetics and personal care industries, deeming her a valuable member.

Dr. Yacov A. Shamash has been a Board member since March 2006. He is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Stony Brook, a role he has held since 1992. From 1992 to 2015, he was the Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences and also served as Dean of the Harriman School for Management and Policy from 1995 to 2004. He was Vice President for Economic Development at Stony Brook from 2001 to 2019.

Dr. Shamash founded the NY State Centers of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology and Advanced Energy Research at Stony Brook. He also developed and directed the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for the Design of Analog/Digital Integrated Circuits from 1989 to 1992 and chaired the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Washington State University from 1985 to 1992. He serves on the boards of public companies Comtech Telecommunications Corp. and Keytronic Corp., and is involved with several non-profits including Long Island First Robotics and Listnet. Dr. Shamash holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College London.

Dr. Shamash interacts daily with leaders from various industries and has significantly contributed to our business development through key introductions. His experience as a director of other companies, both private and public, adds valuable technical expertise and insight to our Board.

Robert B. Catell has been a Board member since October 2016. He is Chairman of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) at Stony Brook and the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC). He also serves on the boards of several business and non-profit organizations, including Long Island Association (LIA), A+ Technology & Security Solutions, Inc., ThermoLift Inc., and Utility Technology Solutions (UTS).

Mr. Catell was formerly Chairman and CEO of KeySpan Corporation and KeySpan Delivery, Chairman of National Grid, U.S., and Deputy Chairman of National Grid plc. He has also served on numerous boards, including the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA). He chaired the New York State Business Council from 2002 to 2003 and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce from 1994 to 1995.

Mr. Catell holds a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from City College of New York and is a registered Professional Engineer. He has attended Columbia University’s Executive Development Program and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

The Board values Mr. Catell’s extensive executive management experience, including his roles as a director in both private and public companies and within regulated and technical industries.

Ms. Murrah was appointed Chairperson of the Board in June 2025 and Strategic Transition Advisor in September 2025 following the announcement of the Company’s pivot to a digital asset treasury strategy centered on BNB, a native cryptocurrency of the Binance blockchain ecosystem. She joined the Company in 2013 as Chief Information Officer, was appointed Corporate Secretary in 2017, and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2021, President in December 2024, and Chief Executive Officer in June 2025.

Before joining Applied DNA, Ms. Murrah served as Senior Director of Information Technology at Motorola Solutions following its acquisition of Symbol Technologies. At Symbol, Ms. Murrah held leadership roles spanning product line management, global account sales, corporate and marketing communications and IT.

Ms. Murrah holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. She is an inventor on 14 U.S. patents.

Beth Jantzen has served as Chief Financial Officer since February 2015, after joining the Company as Controller in 2013. Previously, she was a senior manager at Marcum LLP (2000–2013) (now CBIZ CPAs P.C.), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, where she specialized in SEC reporting and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. 

Ms Jantzen holds a B.S. in Accounting from Binghamton University (SUNY) and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Shorrock was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2025 following the announcement of the Company’s pivot to a digital asset treasury strategy centered on BNB, a native cryptocurrency of the Binance blockchain ecosystem. He previously served as Chief Legal Officer and Executive Director of Business Development (April 2021-September 2025) and as President of LineaRx, the Company’s biotherapeutics subsidiary (December 2024-September 2025). During his tenure, Mr. Shorrock has led the Company’s legal, regulatory, risk mitigation, intellectual property and business development functions and has been instrumental in the development of the Company’s LineaDNA and LineaIVT platforms. Mr. Shorrock previously served as general and intellectual property counsel to the Company (November 2016-April 2019).

Prior to rejoining the Company in 2021, Mr. Shorrock practiced in the intellectual property groups at Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A. (2020-2021) and Allen, Dyer, Doppelt & Gilchrist, P.A. (2019-2020). Earlier in his career, he was an associate at New Jersey law firms focused on intellectual property and complex commercial transactions. 

Mr. Shorrock holds a B.A. in Biology from Franklin and Marshall College and a J.D. from Seton Hall University Law School with a concentration in intellectual property.