Random Line Break?

I built a quick plugin to display author bios under each post, and for some reason the code is inserting a line break for no apparent reason, and it’s messing up my styling. I’m not having any luck resolving the issue. Wondering if anyone has any idea how I can remove the break?

It’s inserting the break (br) immediately between the image and the bio text.

Here’s the code:

if (get_the_author() == "Tim Culver") {
			$imgsrc = "/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/CulverT.jpg";
			$authorname = "Tim Culver";
			$biotext = "Tim Culver is a vice president at Noel-Levitz and is the firm/'s leader in student retention planning.  He has consulted with more than 50 two-year and four-year campuses on retention planning, developmental education, student services, and Title III and Title V grants. Reach him by e-mail at <a href='mailto:[email protected]'>[email protected]</a>.";
			$biolink = "https://www.noellevitz.com/higher-education-consultants/full-time/timothy-culver";
			$bio_box =
			'<P><strong>About the author</Strong></P>
			<div class="authorsection">
			<img class="size-full wp-image-23 alignleft" title="'.$authorname.'" src="'.$imgsrc.'" alt="'.$authorname.'" width="50" />
			'.$biotext.'
			<div class="clearer"></div>
			<p><a href="'.$biolink.'" alt="'.$authorname.'\'s Full Bio">Read more about '.$authorname.'\'s experience and expertise &raquo;</a></p>
			</div>';
			}

URL: https://blog.noellevitz.com/2011/01/21/6-keys-setting-realistic-student-retention-goals-developing-successful-student-retention-strategy/