Mike Tomas (BA ’90), chair of the advisory board of the Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center at Florida International University (FIU), has been appointed president, chief executive officer and member of the board of directors at Bioheart, a company that helps monitor, diagnose and treat heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases.

“Mike is an extraordinary leader who has been instrumental in the development and growth of the center,” said Irma Becerra-Fernandez (PhD ’94), director and fellow of the Pino Center. “Since the inception of our advisory board, he has played a significant role as chair. He is always ready to support the center and FIU in any way he’s needed, and that includes his time, talent and treasure. Through his leadership and vision, I am certain that Bioheart will be able to grow to the next level.”

“I’m confident that Bioheart’s products will save the lives of thousands of people with congestive heart failure, and it is my mandate to bring these to fruition,” Tomas said.

For the past nine years, he has been president of The ASTRI Group, an early stage private equity investment company in Florida with an investment in Bioheart since 2001. From 2003 to 2008, he served on Bioheart’s board as the independent representative of The ASTRI Group.

In the College of Business Administration, he currently is also actively involved in the advisory boards for the Americas Venture Capital Conference, which the Pino Center will host on November 17-18, 2010 and the center’s Venture Mentor Service.