We believe by combining analytical expertise and methods, advanced technology and employee dedication to excellence, we can provide the highest quality of service and consumer safety.
Our team is here to work with you to support the evolving and expanding cannabis business. We know that each sample is critical to success and requires accurate and reliable testing results delivered on time, every time.
Greg Frasco, Laboratory Director/ Operations Manager
Greg graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, before receiving a Master’s of Science in Medical Laboratory Science and Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. During his time at ASU, Greg cultured and maintained HeLa cell lines for research projects and studied T-cell development using flow cytometry. As a researcher at the University of Arizona Basic Medical Sciences in Phoenix, he investigated microbiome cytokine interactions in the female reproductive system.
Following graduation from ASU, Greg was a certifying scientist/technical supervisor for the toxicology department of a clinical reference laboratory providing drug compliance reports for pain management patients. He was responsible for LC/MS/MS method development and validation in compliance with regulatory agencies such as COLA and the Joint Commission. He believes in utilizing his analytical chemistry skills and background to provide safe cannabis products for medicinal and recreational use. Greg is committed to interprofessional communication within the cannabis industry to ensure product safety and advancements in testing standardization.
Austin Abney, Laboratory Director/ Quality Assurance Manager
Austin graduated with honors from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a Master’s Degree in Medical Laboratory Science and Leadership from the University of Cincinnati with a concentration in molecular diagnostics. During his undergraduate studies, Austin spent many hours in the operating rooms of the Urology Department of the Mayo Clinic and at the Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital shadowing various procedures, including nephrectomies with robotics. Austin was previously a Medical Laboratory Technologist and the Technical Supervisor for the hematology, blood chemistry, and microbiology departments of a CLIA-certified clinical reference laboratory. He was responsible for the day-to-day supervision, oversight, and quality assurance of the laboratory operations.
Austin admires the effort that the cannabis safety testing industry and those committed to it, put forth to ensure that recreational and alternative medicinal products are safe for their consumers. He also appreciates the creativity applied to the plethora of products that are used to benefit the patient or consumer. When away from the laboratory, Austin enjoys spending time with family and religiously cheering for ASU athletics.
Cami Crane, Director of Client Relations
Cami has been in the cannabis industry since 2015, beginning her career in retail, she later advanced to a compliance officer for large manufacturing and cultivation facilities, helping them launch and get through the inspection process. Cami has a grasp on the products that not only consumers are looking for but processes that it takes for the product to get to the consumer through cultivation, manufacturing, testing, wholesale distribution, down to the education that is needed for associates to sell product retail effectively. During her time in retail, she put out some educational materials she felt could benefit consumers, as she noticed that there is a lack of information regarding the things that cannabis can assist with.
Outside of her career here at Flower Scientific, Cami is a mother and spends lots of time outdoors camping and kayaking with family. She also does charity work for cancer patients helping organize events that raise money/product to provide medical grade cannabis and guidance to those effected and their families.
Katie Payan, Laboratory Analyst
Katie is a graduate of Arizona State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science and an Arizona native. Her passion for chromatography led her to working as a general supervisor in the toxicology department of a CLIA laboratory regulated by The Joint Commission. Katie joined the chemistry team at Flower Scientific and is excited to apply her skills with HPLC and LC/MS while acquiring new knowledge within her field of study.
Katie’s interest in cannabis testing has grown over the last year as she has learned about the instrumentation and different ways to test the cannabis and compounds. When Katie is not working in the lab, she is spending time with her husband, son, dog and two cats. She enjoys listening to music, reading, and playing video games
Ian MacPherson, Laboratory Analyst-Microbiology
Ian was born and raised in Massachusetts and moved to Phoenix in 2021. He worked in a clinical lab for 4 years’ experience and before starting his career in the cannabis industry at MCR Labs in Framingham, Massachusetts as lab technician. MCR Labs opened in 2013 and were the pioneers in the cannabis testing industry. Ian worked in the microbiology department, testing a variety of contaminants, including salmonella and E. Coli using a qPCR robot. After 2 years in the microbiology department, Ian progressed to other analysis throughout the lab, including residual solvents/terpenes on GCMS and heavy metals using an ICPMS.
Ian has additional experience in the clinical laboratory space working for a company that does research and development for pharmaceutical companies on how their vaccines and medications interact with PBMC blood cells. He also worked for a medical technology company that generated skin grafts from donated placental tissue.
Ian has a huge passion for cannabis testing and the safety of cannabis products recognizing the importance of providing peace of mind for recreational users and medical users alike.
In his spare time, he likes to spend time outdoors: snowboarding, hiking, playing frisbee and golf. Most importantly he likes to go on adventures with his girlfriend and 2 pugs.
Vanessa Martinez, Laboratory Technician
Vanessa has over 10 years’ experience in the medical/laboratory industry. She has worked as a clinical laboratory assistant, laboratory technician and phlebotomist. Most recently she has worked for a CLIA clinical reference laboratory as a laboratory resolution specialist. Vanessa is excited to work in the cannabis industry, as she likes all the health benefits that it offers. She is excited to learn all facets of the industry. Vanessa loves spending time with her husband, three children, her two American Bullies and Yorkie. She also loves going on outings with her family and having movie nights.
Linda Ruggiero, Executive Assistant
Linda grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from Thomas Jefferson University with a Bachelor of Science in Textile Management & Marketing. Linda has over 25 years’ experience as an executive assistant/operations manager. She was the operations manager for a medical research and development company that produced focused ultrasound devices. While working for the medical device company, Linda successfully opened a company in the UK to market a new device for the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Most recently she was the executive assistant/account manager for a CLIA clinical laboratory, where she orchestrated the daily smooth operation of both the office and the company accounts. Linda has witnessed the benefits of cannabis firsthand, as it has greatly helped several family members with chronic pain issues. In her spare time, Linda and her husband love spending time with their two children and two grandchildren. She also loves daily walks with her dog, reading and trips to San Diego for her “beach fix”.