Your Partner From Product Research to Production
Bell International Laboratories is a unique R&D and manufacturing company providing cutting-edge, innovative, and high-quality solutions for personal care and consumer health brands. We are a privately-owned family business that’s been based in Minnesota’s Twin Cities for more than 25 years, a large metropolitan area known as a hub of scientific thinking.
Industry Leader in Product Development & Innovation
As a leader in the industry for over two decades, we have grown steadily and are now equipped to serve partners of all sizes. While we have grown, we will never outgrow our commitment to supplying you with industry-leading products.
VERTICALLY INTEGRATED TO MEET ALL OF YOUR NEEDS
Bell International Laboratories isn’t your standard contract manufacturing company. Everything you require to develop your product is available through our expertise, from research and development to testing through our on-site laboratories.
Whether it’s formulating from scratch or perfecting an existing formula, Bell International Laboratories has the scientific expertise and infrastructure to support you in reaching your goals.
300+ Employees & Growing
Today, our team is composed of more than 300 employees and we’re still growing. If you are searching for challenging, rewarding work, we encourage you to view our Careers to discover opportunities that may be a good fit for you.
Meet Our Leadership Team
The Bell International Laboratories leadership team brings to the table a powerful blend of scientific and business expertise. Fostering a culture of innovation and focused on sensible, strategic growth, our leaders have positioned the company to deliver for our partners now and for years to come.
Mo Saremi
CHAIRMAN & CEOMo Saremi founded Bell International Laboratories in 1996 and today serves as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Mo Saremi
CHAIRMAN & CEO
Mo Saremi founded Bell International Laboratories in 1996 and today serves as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Born in Iran, Mo immigrated to the U.S. in 1979 to study chemistry. Before founding Bell International Laboratories, he held a variety of roles including managing a chemical engineering lab at the University of Minnesota and working as a consultant.
An expert in the business of science and manufacturing, Mo has led the company’s growth from a handful of employees to more than 300. He also defined the company’s commitment to green chemistry, organic compounds, and doing away with aerosol sprays.
This environmentally conscious approach put Bell International Laboratories ahead of the curve and the company has remained a leader in this regard. Mo’s business acumen has helped Bell International Laboratories cater to client needs very efficiently, and his scientific knowledge has helped our company impact the health and beauty industry via unique formulations.
Mo holds a Master of Arts in Analytical Chemistry from Minnesota State University, Mankato and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.
Dr. William Christopfel
Executive Director of Scientific AffairsDr. William Christopfel (Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Illinois) serves as Executive Director of Scientific Affairs for Bell International Laboratories.
Dr. William Christopfel
Executive Director of Scientific Affairs
Dr. William Christopfel (Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Illinois) serves as Executive Director of Scientific Affairs for Bell International Laboratories. In this role he oversees many aspects of scientific operations and development within the company. Dr. Christopfel has worked with Founder Mo Saremi and our company since 2000.
Dr. Christopfel possesses a deep understanding of chemistry and extensive knowledge of the chemical foundations of the personal care industry. He has created numerous innovative personal care products in addition to developing a multitude of original assay methods for the analysis of active ingredients. In addition to his other responsibilities, Dr. Christopfel spearheads our long-term exploratory research program.
Before arriving at Bell International Laboratories, Dr. Christopfel was a Senior Research Chemist at Monsanto Corporation working on catalytic asymmetric synthesis with Nobel Prize-winning chemist Dr. William Knowles.
Prior to Monsanto, he worked as a Research Associate in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Christopfel has been published numerous times in leading scientific journals and has obtained several patents on compounds and methods that have proven highly useful in the industry.
Natasa Saremi
Human Resources DirectorNatasa Saremi serves as Human Resources Director for Bell International Laboratories.
Natasa Saremi
Human Resources Director
Natasa Saremi serves as Human Resources Director for Bell International Laboratories. She joined the company in 2009 and has since played an integral role in growing the company from approximately 50 employees to more than 300. To put it simply, Natasa takes care of what makes our company great: our people.
Natasa manages all human resources activity and initiatives at the company. Her responsibilities include management of:
Recruiting and staffing
Compensation and benefits
Organizational learning and development
Employee orientation, training, development, and retention
Performance and talent management
Prior to joining Bell International Laboratories, Natasa progressed through a variety of roles at ING, Wells Fargo and Capella University. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Twin Cities Human Resource Association.
Natasa holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Hamline University. She also holds a graduate certificate in human resources from Capella University.
Kevin Lawrence
Chief Financial OfficerKevin Lawrence serves as Chief Financial Officer for Bell International Laboratories.
Kevin Lawrence
Chief Financial Officer
Kevin Lawrence serves as Chief Financial Officer for Bell International Laboratories. With more than 30 years of experience in finance and taxation at both public and private companies, Kevin’s vast knowledge plays a major part in our success.
Kevin’s responsibilities include leading a strong team of finance and accounting professionals; overseeing all aspects of our financial forecasts, budgets and reporting; and working collaboratively with other members of the executive team to develop and execute on long-term business goals.
Prior to joining Bell International Laboratories, Kevin worked at several CPA firms as a Tax Manager reviewing corporate and individual tax returns along with preparing financial statements. His earlier career also included overseeing the tax departments at National City Bank, M & I Bank and U.S. Bank.
Kevin was previously the CFO of a public company and has assisted several individuals in taking companies public.
A Minnesota resident for most of his life, Kevin holds a senior accounting degree from the University of Minnesota.
James Pleis
Financial ControllerJames’ responsibilities include leading the finance and purchasing teams, financial forecasting and analysis, risk management, and working across the organization to improve financial reporting processes and support our continued growth.
James Pleis
Financial Controller
James’ responsibilities include leading the finance and purchasing teams, financial forecasting and
analysis, risk management, and working across the organization to improve financial reporting processes
and support our continued growth.
James’ joining Bell International Labs after more than 20 years at Cargill in finance and accounting roles
at locations in the United States, Canada, and Europe. James began his career in public accounting
where he led audit, tax, and consulting engagements across a variety of industries.
James holds a bachelor’s degree from Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska and an MBA from the
University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.
Robert Waters
Vice President of Sales and Business DevelopmentAs Vice President of Sales and Business Development for Bell International Laboratories, Robert Waters plays a pivotal role in developing and maintaining relationships with new and existing partners.
Robert Waters
Vice President of Sales and Business Development
As Vice President of Sales and Business Development for Bell International Laboratories, Robert Waters plays a pivotal role in developing and maintaining relationships with new and existing partners. He leads a sales team that is focused on earning long-term relationships through excellent service.
Robert has more than 25 years of experience helping personal care and beauty brands develop their product assortments and achieve their performance expectations.
Prior to joining Bell International Laboratories, Robert held customer marketing, sales, and business development positions with Unilever and Revlon. In his roles with those leading brands, Robert managed a diverse product assortment and customer base. His understanding of both brand development and production is an asset to many of our partners.
A native of Boston, Robert holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University.
Eric Yarnell
VP of OperationsEric Yarnell is the Supply Chain Manager for Bell International Labs. He plays an important part in maintaining the day-to-day operations of the company.
Eric Yarnell
VP of Operations
Eric Yarnell is the Supply Chain Manager for Bell International Labs. He plays an important part in maintaining the day-to-day operations of the company. Eric is a seasoned and versatile professional with a strong background of over 10 years in personal care/OTC manufacturing. Eric started his career in a personal care manufacturing facility in Florida and worked his way from the bottom up, exposing him to several facets of the company. Having worked in many departments, including R&D and Quality, Eric has come to take his experiences and bring important insights into each department’s day-to-day responsibilities.
In his role as Supply Chain Manager, Eric oversees a large team including purchasing, planning, inventory, shipping, and project management. Eric and his team are responsible for taking a product from inception to shipment, and everything in between. To support Bell’s continued growth, Eric is also responsible for continuous improvement in our company processes and practices.
Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with a focus in supply chain management from Daytona State College in Daytona Beach, FL.
David Vesledahl
Director of OperationsDavid Vesledahl serves as Director of Operations for Bell International Laboratories.
David Vesledahl
Director of Operations
David Vesledahl serves as Director of Operations for Bell International Laboratories. In this role, David oversees all operational aspects of our company strategy, plays a major part in setting our overall direction, directs and motivates our operations staff, and helps nurture a company culture that encourages employees to generate innovative ideas and exceed goals.
A seasoned operations professional, David has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the personal care and food industries. He is an expert in efficiency, lean manufacturing, cost control, quality control, and employee safety. Passionate about customer service, David enjoys building and leading teams that are always focused on our partners.
David joined Bell International Laboratories in 2017 after serving six years as Manufacturing Manager at a contract manufacturer of personal and home care products. Earlier in his career, David held roles as Operations Supervisor and Senior Manufacturing Manager for Nestlé Health Science and spent six years as Operations Manager at Kraft Foods.
David holds a degree in business from the University of Minnesota-Crookston and a degree in economics from St. Cloud State University.
Vladimir Adamović
Director Of Operations Europe DivisionAs the Director of Operations, EU Division, Vladimir Adamovic is responsible for establishing Bell International Laboratories in the EU market.
Vladimir Adamović
Director Of Operations Europe Division
As the Director of Operations, EU Division, Vladimir Adamovic is responsible for establishing Bell International Laboratories in the EU market.
Prior to working at Bell, Vladimir worked in the banking industry with Wells Fargo. He’s now worked at Bell for over 10 years in various capacities and departments. From production to finance, he’s seen Bell grow into the company it is today. Vladimir’s goal is to continue growing Bell’s EU Division.
Born in Bosnia and internationally educated, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Physical Education from ECPD International Faculty of Sport and Physical Education in Belgrade, Serbia.
Vladimir also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Metro State University in Minneapolis. He also earned his Master’s degree in International Finance from Geneva Business School in Switzerland.
Erin Richards
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGERErin Richards is an accomplished cosmetic chemist with 15 years of experience in personal care contract manufacturing.
Erin Richards
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Erin Richards is an accomplished cosmetic chemist with 15 years of experience in personal care contract manufacturing. Within her positions as a formulation chemist, she developed new hair and skin care products, including OTC and natural products that have lined the shelves of national retailers to local salons for a variety of customers.
In her role as R&D Manager, Erin oversees a team of cosmetic chemists and engineers who develop a vast array of personal and home care products for Bell International Laboratories and our partners. Erin and her team are responsible for carrying products from concept to execution and ensuring that all applicable quality and stability testing requirements are met.
Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.
Dr. Curtis Payne
Quality Control ManagerDr. Curtis’ role is to oversee all testing that Bell offers to our clients while directly working with the QC team to ensure products are within specifications and of high quality.
Dr. Curtis Payne
Quality Control Manager
Dr. Curtis’ role is to oversee all testing that Bell offers to our clients while directly working with the QC team to ensure products are within specifications and of high quality. He also implements new testing methods and instrumentation as part of our lab services.
Dr. Curtis has a Doctorate Degree in Physical Organic Chemistry from University of Minnesota Twin-Cities. He has broad analytical instrumentation experience with four publications in peer review journals. He received a Bachelors in Biochemistry from Saint Cloud State University and completed the synthesis of novel chemotherapeutic agent, which was also published in a peer reviewed journal.
Dr. Curtis previously oversaw a synthetic chemistry team as a natural product isolation manager, which synthesized and/or extracted compounds for R&D labs across the world.
He is still chasing the dream of playing in the NHL.
Timothy Webb
Regulatory and Compliance ManagerTimothy Webb has worked in quality compliance for 17 years. His experience ranges from large corporations to small privately held firms in the fields of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and health and beauty products.
Timothy Webb
Regulatory and Compliance Manager
Timothy Webb has worked in quality compliance for 17 years. His experience ranges from large corporations to small privately held firms in the fields of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and health and beauty products.
As the Regulatory and Compliance Manager, Tim’s role is to evaluate, improve, and manage the regulatory requirements and requests of our clients. He establishes processes and workflow to ensure quality through all of Bell’s operations.
Tim’s expertise lies in the implementation and improvement of the quality system. Along with his ability to coach, he actively fosters a quality mindset within the company structure.
Timothy is an alumnus of Iowa State University. He enjoys Formula 1 racing, fostering Doberman Pinschers, and spending time with his wife and two children.
Eliza Vintimilla
Project Manager IIEliza is a seasoned project manager with more than 10 years of experience in personal care, nutraceuticals, and OTC manufacturing in both CMO and Private Labels.
Eliza Vintimilla
Project Manager II
Eliza is a seasoned project manager with more than 10 years of experience in personal care, nutraceuticals, and OTC manufacturing in both CMO and Private Labels.
She has deep expertise in leading the innovation and market trends of new product launches. Eliza’s passion lies in beauty and skincare. She’s dedicated to collaboration, open communication, and a goal-oriented approach with our clients.
Eliza graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology.
Maureen Johnson
PROJECT MANAGERMaureen Johnson is an accomplished Project Manager who has built a 15-year career in project management and sales.
Maureen Johnson
PROJECT MANAGER
Maureen Johnson is an accomplished Project Manager who has built a 15-year career in project management and sales. In her role, Maureen manages a team of project coordinators who together build successful partnerships and guide projects from conception to launch. Partners love working with Maureen because she is highly organized, responsive, and solutions-oriented.
Maureen has been with Bell International Laboratories since 2017. Prior to joining us, she worked in business development for Oracle, the world’s second-largest software company, where she helped grow the company’s enterprise resource management (ERP) unit. Maureen also spent nearly 10 years in retail, working in sourcing and merchandising for Target and The Buckle, roles in which she gained valuable experience in training team members and working with vendors to keep projects on track.
She holds a marketing degree from University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.
Kurt Shearer
Engineering and Plant ManagerKurt Shearer serves as Engineering and Maintenance Manager for Bell International Laboratories.
Kurt Shearer
Engineering and Plant Manager
Kurt Shearer serves as Engineering and Maintenance Manager for Bell International Laboratories. In this role, Kurt directs and coordinates the repair, maintenance and installation of machines, tools and equipment throughout the Bell International Laboratories facility. He is also responsible for the maintenance of all buildings, grounds and utility systems.
Kurt joined Bell in 2008 and has been an integral part of the expansion of our facility and production capabilities, thanks to his ability to bring engineering plans from concept to completion. His work helps ensure that our facilities are operating at full capacity.
Earlier in Kurt’s career, he worked at several factories where he maintained a wide range of equipment, including mobile and high-speed factory production lines in industries such as food, paper, consumer goods, medical devices and cosmetics.
Kurt holds a degree in fluid power technology and machine tool practices from Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. He also holds a service technician degree for construction equipment from John Deere University.