board of directors

Thomas A. Trite is a Senior Executive with extensive experience in business planning, development, and operations management, particularly within the hospital, health care, and pharmaceutical industry. Since 2015, the company has been working closely with Penn State on non-cannabis related research to explore the medical and industrial properties of hemp and flax. This experience led Tom to recognize the vast potential of the industrial hemp and plant biotech industry, resulting in the founding of Vytal Plant Science Research (VPSR) in 2022.

 Dr. Peck has been board certified in OBGYN since 1986 and now board certified  in Addiction Medicine since March 2021. Dr. Peck is currently practicing all addiction medicine and medical marijuana. 

Recently, she stopped practicing OBGYN formally in January 2022.  Dr. Peck is certied in medical marijuana and works with patients with medical marijuana to improve quality of life and decrease the number of prescription drugs needed. Medical director for Open Arms Drug and Alcohol Recovery Center since July 1, 2016. Run their MAT (medically assisted treatment program) Board member of PA Options for Wellness, a medical marijuana organization dedicated to research and growing and dispensing medical marijuana. Both of these jobs are volunteer, so no conflicts of interest 

are involved. 

Dr. Peck is currently employed by UPMC as an addiction specialist working in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Dr. Peck has prior experience at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine as an Instructor from 1984-1988, an Assistant Professor from 1985-1988, and a Clinical Professor from 1988-1999. She also has prior experience as a staff physician with Fulton County Medical Center in 1988. Extensive speaking and teaching experience for students, community groups, and physician groups.

Mr. Jeffrey Lewis received his Juris Doctorate from Northwestern School of Law Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR in 1989. He serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for Legacy Health Endowment and the EMC health foundation. Mr. Lewis is extremely passionate about accessing health care to all citizens, regardless of age, income, race, and immigration status. Among other noteworthy accomplishments, Mr. Lewis served as President and Chief Operating officer for over 20 years with Heinz Family Philanthropies/ Heinz Family Office and managed multi-million-dollar family philanthropy. He also served as Senior policy advisor to US Senator John Kerry. Mr. Lewis has published extensively in newspaper op-ed pages and professional, public policy and law journals. He is the recipient of Golden Thinker Award North American Precis Syndicate in 2018.

Ivanhoe N. Smith is a Founder and Managing Director of Coral Island Group, LLC. Mr. Smith is responsible for the General Management of Coral Island Group which includes but is not limited to strategic direction, compliance, investment and asset management, capital accumulation, fund and portfolio creation, customer relations, finance and legal efforts. Mr. Smith is also a member of the management committee. 

Mr. Smith’s past experience includes the founder and Managing Partner of the Ivanhoe Group, a Philadelphia based venture capital and investment banking firm specializing in the emerging domestic market.  Mr. Smith is skilled in securing private and institutional investment capital as well as originating structuring, evaluating and managing investments. Mr. Smith is the chief architect of the completed revitalization of Progress Plaza and a founding member of the Faith Community Development Corporation Board of Directors. 

Prior to being Managing Partner of the Ivanhoe Group, Mr. Smith was cofounder and Managing Director of Smith Whiley a Hartford, Connecticut based Private Equity asset management firm. 

Mr. Smith began his investment career as an institutional bond salesman for Morgan Stanley and Company, operating out of the New York and Chicago offices.  Mr. Smith is an expert in derivatives, foreign currencies, non dollar bonds, unconventional custom securities, private placements, junk bonds, and corporate and government bonds. 

Ivanhoe N. Smith holds a B.S. in chemistry from Cheyney University, and a MBA from the Harvard Business School.   

Thomas A. Trite is a Senior Executive with extensive experience in business planning, development, and operations management, particularly within the hospital, health care, and pharmaceutical industry. Since 2015, the company has been working closely with Penn State on non-cannabis related research to explore the medical and industrial properties of hemp and flax. This experience led Tom to recognize the vast potential of the industrial hemp and plant biotech industry, resulting in the founding of Vytal Plant Science Research (VPSR) in 2022.