Applied DNA Sciences Management Team

Dr. James Hayward

Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer

James A. Hayward, Ph.D., Sc.D.

Dr. James A. Hayward is Chairman, President, and CEO of Applied DNA Sciences. With over 20 years of experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life science and consumer product industries, Dr. Hayward is actively involved in the global effort to ensure the authenticity of products and the protection of global supply chains from counterfeiting and diversion. Patented and applied in over a billion products throughout the world, the Company’s SigNature® DNA tags are unique sequences that can help preserve the quality and integrity of products from pharmaceutics to cosmetics.

Dr. Hayward received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from the State University of New York at Oneonta in 1976, his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1983, and an honorary Doctor of Science from the same institution in 2000. He was one of the founding principals and research director of Europe’s first liposome company, Biocompatibles Ltd. From 1984 to 1989, he was responsible for product development at Esteé Lauder Companies.

In 1990, Dr. Hayward founded The Collaborative Group, a provider of products and services to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and consumer-product industries based in Stony Brook. For 14 years, he served as Chairman, President and CEO of Collaborative, spawning multiple businesses including The Collaborative BioAlliance, a contract developer and manufacturer of human gene products, that was sold to Dow Chemical in 2002, and Collaborative Laboratories, a service provider and manufacturer of ingredients for skincare and dermatology was sold to Engelhard (now BASF) in 2004.

Dr. Hayward has been twice named “Entrepreneur of the Year;” in 2002 by Inc. Magazine and in 2009 by the Long Island Technology Hall of Fame. In January 2014, Dr. Hayward was given the David Award by Networking Magazine as one of eight of Long Island’s most accomplished individuals.

Dr. Hayward has been a General Partner of Double D Venture Fund, a venture capital firm based in New York, New York.  Dr. Hayward has served on the boards of many companies, the Stony Brook Foundation, the Research Foundation of the State of New York, the Long Island Association, the New York Biotechnology Association, the Long Island Life Sciences Initiative and the Ward Melville Heritage Foundation.

Judy Murrah

Judy Murrah is responsible for information technology strategy and implementation, including operations support, customer-facing applications and development of the company’s underlying technology infrastructure.

Murrah comes to APDN from Motorola Solutions, which had acquired her former firm, Symbol Technologies. At Motorola, Murrah was Senior Director of Information Technology, overseeing financial operations, quality assurance, and IT governance of thousands of resources globally. At the data capture and wireless mobility pioneer, Symbol, Murrah established and led the IT Portfolio and Project Management Office and the company’s first cross-functional business Portfolio Review Board for governing investment spend and programs.

Ms. Murrah holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Industrial Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. She is the author of eleven U.S. patents.

In addition to the business world, Ms. Murrah has taken her expertise to the non-profit sector. She is co-founder and President of ConnectToTech, a recognized leader in programs to engage students in science, technology, engineering and math, known as the STEM disciplines. Recently, ConnectToTech was named a recipient in Computerworld’s 2013 Laureate Honors Program. Laureates were recognized at an awards gala in Washington, D.C. Ms. Murrah and her organization were presented with a medallion inscribed with the program’s mission: “A Search for New Heroes.”

Murrah was named to the 2005 and 2006 Top 50 Women of Long Island and received the inaugural 2001 Diamond Award for Women Leaders in Technology.

Judy Murrah

Chief Operating Officer

Beth Jantzen

Chief Financial Officer

Beth Jantzen

Prior to being appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Applied DNA Sciences, Ms. Jantzen was the Controller for the Company since May of 2013. Ms. Jantzen is a certified public accountant with over 15 years financial and accounting experience.

Prior to joining the Company Ms. Jantzen was a senior manager at Marcum LLP, since June 9, 2014, where she managed multiple engagements and specialized in SEC policies, practices and procedures, including Sarbanes-Oxley compliance as well as valuations involving acquisitions. Ms Jantzen was named Who’s Who in Accounting/Audits by Long Island Business News in 2012.

Clay Shorrock, Esq.

Clay Shorrock serves on the executive leadership team as Chief Legal Officer and Executive Director, Business Development. In this role, Mr. Shorrock leads Applied DNA’s legal, regulatory, IP, and business development functions.

Mr. Shorrock has over a decade of experience in intellectual property, patent law, and complex commercial transactions having represented clients, including Fortune 500 and development stage companies. He holds extensive legal experience in the areas of biotechnology, molecular biology, immunotherapy, and medical diagnostics. Prior to his current role, Mr. Shorrock served as general and IP counsel to Applied DNA from 2016 through 2021. Mr. Shorrock holds a B.A. in Biology from Franklin and Marshall College and a J.D. with a concentration in intellectual property from Seton Hall University Law School.

Clay Shorrock

Chief Legal Officer and Executive Director, Business Development