Experience

EAR COMMUNITY INC

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder and Executive Director

  • May 2010 - Present

  Ear Community is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps individuals who are born w/congenital Microtia (underdeveloped or missing ears) & Aural Atresia (hearing loss due to the absence of ear canals), including individuals born w/Hemifacial Microsomia (HFM)/Craniofacial Microsomia(CFM). Our website offers a portal of information for both families & medical professionals, helping provide helpful resources, advocacy & education about Microtia & Atresia. Visitors to our website will learn about surgical options, hearing devices, prosthetic options, read about life stories, learn about IEP & 504 plans, genetic research & so much more! Our organization awards newly donated hearing devices to the needy w/Microtia & Aural Atresia & awards college scholarships. Ear Community also hosts family events around the world welcoming medical professionals so families can learn about the facts & options that can help their loved ones live better quality lives. In September of 2016, Ear Community established National Microtia Awareness Day, taking place every November 9th (think 9 is the shape of an ear). On December 18th, 2019, Ear Community had national bipartisan legislation introduced that would help children & adults have better access to BAHA & CI hearing devices through private insurers (H.R. 477/S. 41) - also known as Ally's Act, named after Melissa's daughter, Ally). Original bill Sponsors/co-Sponsors include: Congressmen Joe Neguse, David McKinley, Mike Thompson & Senators Shelly Moore Capito & Elizabeth Warren. EC was featured at the Stanford Medicine X Change Conference (2019) & has been on many news networks over the years. Melissa Tumblin is an active advocacy/advisory board member of the FCHHC - Friends Congressional Hearing Health Caucus, NIDCR - National Institute for Dental & Craniofacial Research, the CARE Team with Seattle Children's Hospital, ACPA - American Cleft Palate Association & EHDI - Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Organization. Show less



Independently Owned

• Australia
• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Marketing Consultant

  • Jan 2008 - Present

  Marketing Consultant for the medical & surgical device industry. Marketing Consulting Services: - Trade show management - Product launch planning - Market research - Sales support - Marketing support - KOL development - Clinical trial assistance - Testimonials/brand & image development/ photo shoot assistance - New product development/upstream marketing - Product end of life management/downstream marketing * Experienced with working on teams including engineering, quality, finance, clinical, legal, creative and leadership. Show less



Vanderbilt University Medical Center

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Project Manger

  • Jan 2017 - Dec 2020

  Recruited to launch the microtia & atresia clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Worked closely with ENT/Otolaryngology/Neurotolgy, & facial & plastic reconstructive surgeons, including audiology at the Bill Wilkerson Center. Launched the first all options Microtia & Aural Atresia clinic at VUMC - offering all auricular surgical options including rib graft ear reconstruction, porous polyethylene ear reconstruction, soft tissue repair, preformed ear molds, 3D printed options & otoplasty including hearing restoration surgery through atresiaplasty/canalplasty & CAM, BAIs/bone conduction hearing solutions & prosthetic ear options. Responsible for the business development of the Microtia & Atresia clinic, design, creation & launch of the MicrotiaandAtresiaCare.com website, clinic marketing collateral, advertising, conference/meeting/event planning, technical research on specialty diseases/disorders & forming strategic partnerships. Co-investigator on a whole genome sequencing grant for Microtia & Aural Atresia with VUMC/Harvard/MIT Broad Institute/Gabriella Miller Kids First Foundation. Collaborating on 3D printed regenerated ears with Vanderbilt. The microtia & atresia clinic at Vanderbilt is recognized as a center for excellence for the medical center bringing in international patients as well as local patients. Achievements: Developed a specialty clinic that has become an international center for excellence at VUMC. Contributor who collaborated on genetics research helping provide new findings for what causes microtia and atresia, but also a collaborator with 3D printing of regenerated ears with VUMC and a biotherapeutics company behind this program. Focused on educating & informing about microtia & aural atresia, craniofacial microsomia, hearing restoration & reconstructive options for the outer ear for clinic families. Show less



Encision Inc.

• United States
• Consumer Services

• Marketing Consultant

  • Jan 2008 - Apr 2015

  Encision Inc. is a Manufacturer of Laparoscopic Instruments and ACTIVE ELECTRODE MONITORING equipment in Boulder, CO USA. Marketing Duties: - Product launch/sales team planning - Trade show management - Marketing collateral revision/photo shoot management/product catalog revisions - Annual report/PR announcements - Misc. marketing duties * Experienced with working on teams including engineering, quality, finance, clinical, legal, creative and leadership. Encision Inc. is a Manufacturer of Laparoscopic Instruments and ACTIVE ELECTRODE MONITORING equipment in Boulder, CO USA. Marketing Duties: - Product launch/sales team planning - Trade show management - Marketing collateral revision/photo shoot management/product catalog revisions - Annual report/PR announcements - Misc. marketing duties * Experienced with working on teams including engineering, quality, finance, clinical, legal, creative and leadership.



Covidien (Medtronic Minimally Invasive Therapies Group)

• United States
• Medical Equipment Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Sr. Global Product Manager

  • Jul 2007 - Jan 2008

  Global Product Manager for the EMEA region (trained US marketing) responsible for electro-mechanical surgical devices including electrosurgical generators (ESUs) Force Triad & Force 2/Force FX, smoke evacuation systems (Valleylab smoke evacuator) & monopolar & bipolar accessories (Bovie pencil/TriVerse, LigaSure, ablation, ENT research, & cart accessories). Key focuses: product development focusing on design for surgical devices that meet & exceed surgeon & perioperative nursing staff needs, including multilingual updates to SW & revising IFUs. Upstream and downstream markingeting of product lines. Conducted GAP analysis. Responsible for multi-million dollar products. Marketing responsibilities: product development, field research, pricing establishment, assigning clinical trial teams, commercialization, launch, product evaluations/surveys, & product placement/promotion. * Product designed for sale in both domestic & international markets. * Experienced with working on teams including engineering, quality, finance, clinical, legal, creative and leadership. Show less

• Marketing Manager

  • Feb 2005 - Jul 2007

  Managed the Marketing Department for Encision Inc. which is a laparoscopic instrument manufacturer with a unique patented technology for monitoring & preventing the risk of stray energy burns due to capacitive coupling (AEM - Active Electrode Monitoring). Launched EnTouch, AEM shield & second generation of AEM monitor. Managed communications & PR including trade shows (AORN, SAGES, SLS, AAGL, ACS, Joint Commission). Responsible for product development & management for all laparoscopic instruments & AEM Monitor. Responsible for upstreaming & downstreaming products, forecasting, pricing & planning, sales team training on marketing opportunities for the company, networked within the industry to bring more visibility to the company & form partnerships/KOL, conducted product trials, product surveys & competitive research. Branded & launched the enTouch line of laparoscopic (35cm/45cm) abdominal surgical handle along with launching & managing multiple SIE, sheath, monitoring and accessory products. Achievements: *Secured a NY Times article for the company on the risk of capacitive coupling and stray energy burns that gained business for the company and rocketed the stock short term. Increased product sales during 2005 through 2007 & again while consulting from 2008 - 2015. Gave all marketing collateral/literature a much needed facelift, including the website & KOL testimonials. * Experienced with working on teams including engineering, quality, finance, clinical, legal, creative and leadership. Show less



Baxa Corporation

• Product Development Liaison - R&D/Marketing

  • Oct 2002 - Feb 2005

  Focused on bringing new product to market (pharmaceutical pump and compounder medical devices and disposables - tubing, caps, syringes, TPN bags for the patient bed side). Worked closely with R&D - reported to Engineering, communicated with Marketing and MarComm, researched cost savings, researched potential new product opportunities, conducted field validations and product surveys, supplier audits and selection, worked closely with purchasing and manufacturing, revised technical documentation, traveled domestically and internationally. Conducted GAP analysis on RoHS strategy for the company. * Recruited by customer to come work for them as I previously was their sales account manager and managed their accounts on a regional basis. Achievements: Awarded the "New Kid on the Block" award for saving the company over 1.5 million dollars recurring annually through supplier consolidation. Show less



Newark InOne

• Regional Sales Manager - Western Territory

  • Sep 2001 - Sep 2002

  Managed the western territory on a regional basis - CA, WA, OR, AZ, WY, NM, UT, NV and CO. Focused on value -added services for specialty accounts with kitting and turnkey products for Felxtronics, Wytan and Celestica. Managed electrical components, sold display technology (TFT/LCD/Plasma and touch screen systems) along with all active and passive components (resistors, capacitors, cable, wire, memory, PCBs/PCBA, etc...), on company line card. Increased sales by 20% in region, secured new business with medical accounts such as Baxa, Surgical Navigation (Medtronic), ConMed and Baxter. Achievements: Top 10 sales representative seven times and sales person and sales team member of the month three times. Show less



All American Semiconductor

• Product Manager

  • May 1999 - Sep 2001

  Managed over 60 electronic component product lines including TFT, LCD and flat panel displays with touch screen systems, LEDs, actives, passives and memory). Focused on promoting feature product lines and increasing branch sales monthly. Focused on design-win products for value added service accounts. Worked closely with Medtronic on display designs for the SNT (spinal) division (Surgical Navigation). Managed product promotions and new and discontinued lines. Managed product pipeline and forecasting. Trained sales team on product lines and traveled with field sales team to sales accounts. Conducted product surveys. Managed sales territory awards and recognition for the sales team. Conducted competitor research on distributor line cards from (Arrow Electronics, Avnet Electronics and Future Electronics). Achievements: Awarded various rewards and awards while in product management for excellent customer service to accounts and for technical field sales support. Proudly part of the team that reached our first million dollar sales month. Show less