As the founding CEO of Alcanza Clinical Research, Carlos Orantes provides leadership and strategic direction for site network. With over 31 years of experience within the life sciences industry, his career has included executive leadership, operational management, LEAN Six Sigma process improvement, as well as systems and technology deployment.  In 2021, Alcanza was launched to create a truly integrated platform of best-in-class clinical research sites that are properly supported to reach and engage the patients in the communities surrounding the research site locations.  The name Alcanza means “Reach” and that name was deliberate to keep the company mission front and center.

Prior to Alcanza, Carlos served as Executive Director, Site Operations for Accelerated Enrollment Solutions, a business of PPD and ThermoFisher Scientific where he led the site operations for over 65 locations for the Americas site operations in support of the company’s vast global clinical trial network.  Prior to joining PPD, Carlos served as Chief Executive Officer of Amplify Clinical (formerly known as Meridien Research) and Accel Research Sites, where he developed the business strategy to effectively compete in Phase II-III clinical research involving multi-therapeutic trials and specialty vaccines.  Prior to joining Accel, Carlos served as the Chief Operating Officer at Frontage Laboratories focusing on the US operations growth and optimization that ultimately ended in a successful sale to a larger CRO.  Earlier career positions included several years of operational, quality assurance, process improvement and laboratory management roles of increasing responsibility at Covance (part of LabCorp and spun off as Fortrea).

Carlos earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Old Dominion University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from George Washington University. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Six Sigma Academy.