Experience

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  Van Andel Institute

  • United States
  • Research
  • 500 - 600 Employee

  • Director

    • Jul 2022 - Present

  • Training Coordinator

    • Aug 2021 - Jul 2022

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  The University of Toledo

  • Toledo, Ohio Area

  • Associate Director

    • May 2017 - Apr 2022
    • Toledo, Ohio Area

    As the Associate Director (AD) I oversee more than 51,000 ft2 of animal facility/research space on 3 campuses and coordinate responsibilities with the veterinarian, veterinary technicians, technical staff, husbandry staff, and staff and managers of satellites facilities. This includes the development, enhancement, and implementation of animal husbandry, breeding colony support and research services to the research community. A key component of my job it to engaging the researchers, faculty, chairs, and departments as it relates to overall continuity in operations of their research. Partnering with facility operations teams to ensuring all utilities for the vivarium spaces are operating correctly and within compliance. In my role as AD it’s my responsibility to manage the overall budget for the department. This includes capital equipment, calculation of per diem rates, expenditures, and forecasting. Working closely with Human Resources, Health and Safety, and University administration is critical to the success of the department, faculty recruitment and retention. This involves over 500 faculty, researchers and students who are on approved animal protocols. Together with the Director, we ensure compliance with all pertinent regulatory agencies and accrediting agencies.

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  Broad Institute

  • 74 Ames Street, Cambridge, Ma

  • Vivarium Lead

    • Apr 2014 - May 2017
    • 74 Ames Street, Cambridge, Ma

    •Coordinating animal facility operations and staff work assignments. •Mentor and guide in the areas of compliance with local, state and federal regulations, with specific attention to OLAW requirements. •Works with staff to maintain required attendance levels and adherence to work schedule in accordance with required staffing levels in order to ensure that assigned duties are completed. •Mentors and supports vivarium staff.•Assists in on-going training/orienting new personnel.•Oversees consistent practices of general safety policies and procedures, including those related to biohazards and radioactive substances and ensures compliance with standard operating procedures. •Maintains data and provides input to laboratory animal software systems, including animal housing/census records.•Assists the attending veterinarian by performing animal health tasks such as daily monitoring of animal health status, collecting diagnostic samples/specimens, administering medications/treatments and maintaining health records. •Oversees the animal health surveillance program. •Schedules and provides research support to investigators including transporting animals, weighing animals, collecting samples/specimens, identification and genotyping, dosing and breeding.•Ensures proper sanitation and operation of all facility equipment and documentation of such.•Performs husbandry as needed, including feeding/watering animals, cleaning of animal cages/pens/rooms/equipment.•Performs custodial and maintenance tasks including housekeeping of animal facility areas and equipment preventive maintenance. •Oversee the animal/supply inventories, shipping/receiving of supplies and animals. •Performs other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the Broad Institutes vivarium.

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  New England Branch of the American Association For Laboratory Animal Science

  • New England

  • Branch President

    • Sep 2014 - Sep 2015
    • New England

    *Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization's vision, mission, and overall direction.*Leading, guiding, directing, and evaluating the work of other leaders on the Board of Directors*Formulating and implementing the strategic plan that guides the direction of the New England Branch.*Overseeing the branch in accordance with the direction established in the constitution and outline in the By-laws.

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  Pfizer/Charles River Laboratories

  • 1 Burtt Road, Andover, MA 01810

  • Contract SABR/Project Coordinator

    • Jan 2013 - Apr 2014
    • 1 Burtt Road, Andover, MA 01810

    In the contract role of SABR/Project Coordinator for a client in Andover I have an extremely diversified role. It involves the coordination and/or managing of the alignment of key business and operational capabilities (capital purchases and space/FTE resource management/planning). Tracking allocated resources including labor based on drug development in order to align and coordinate with global continuous improvements. The managing and conducting of global budgetary reports in reporting efficiencies based on the research needs. Influence and ensure overall success of continuous improvements with the client’s local standing as well as global standing as they compare to other sites with the clients portfolio.

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  Harvard University, Cambridge Campus

  • 16 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

  • Senior Manager of Lab Animal Services

    • Jan 2009 - Dec 2012
    • 16 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

    Responsible for managing and overseeing the day-to-day operations of two state of the art animal facilities that total more than 34,000 square feet with a $3.8M budget. Restructured the department with updated job descriptions and training program for union employees. Designed and implemented in house training program for AALAS certification with 100% of the current employees now certified at one of the levels of AALAS certification. Decreased employee turnover, increased productivity, and secured more accurate research data by creating and implementing a unique approach to staffing. Created the ability for animal care technicians to more than just general husbandry by giving them the opportunities to get involved with technical services “research support”, breeding colony management, and clinical care. Key in managing the onboarding of the Stem Cell group from the Alston CampusOverseeing the remodeling of the animal facility space to fit the needs of the facultyAssessing the needs for space and allocating appropriate space to support the faculty’s research.

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  Allentown, Inc

  • Allentown, NJ

  • Technical Sales Consultant

    • Aug 2007 - Oct 2009
    • Allentown, NJ

    Allentown Inc. 2007 to 2009 Technical Sales ConsultantI am responsible for direct sales in the territory of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. I have an in-depth understanding of product and application of every item sold within Allentown Inc’s product line as well as the regulations that affect the design and utilization of the product for each and every client’s facility. • Assist with facility planning and design as it relates directly or indirectly to the equipment being purchased for the facility. • Offer insight to new product lines that may help clients in their existing facilities.

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  Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics

  • Cambridge, MA

  • Associate Director

    • Jan 2003 - Jul 2007
    • Cambridge, MA

    Novartis Pharmaceuticals 2003 to 2007Associate DirectorResponsible for directing and overseeing the day-to-day operations of two state of the art animal facilities that totaled more than 60,000 square feet with an $18M budget. • Conducted a market-based evaluation of staff salaries in research.o Enabled Novartis to become the leading employer in the Boston metropolitan area, which resulted in adjustment of salaries by as much as 18%. • Designed and constructed one of the latest state-of-the-art animal facilities and assisted in the design and construction of the other. o Helped design and commission a Biohazard level 2 & 3 facility in Singapore according to European regulation as well as United States regulations. • Decreased employee turnover, increased productivity, reduced FTE’s, and secured more accurate research data by creating and implementing a unique approach to staffing. o Charged animal care technicians with four-faceted responsibility: general husbandry, technical services “research support”, breeding colony management, and clinical care. • Directed the training and certification of personnel dealing with bio-hazards in research animals. • Networked globally within Novartis to centralize some operations. o Facilitated the streamlining of research mouse models and embryos between sites.

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  University of Michigan Medical School

  • Ann Arbor, MI

  • Manager

    • Aug 1994 - Dec 2003
    • Ann Arbor, MI

    Operations ManagerDirected the overall operation of an AAALACi accredited animal care facility. Held responsibility for budgets, setting per-diems rates, processing payroll, coaching, and mentoring. • Designed two multi-species animal facilities over 40,000 square feet each. • Developed a new watering valve for Edstrom Industries.o Valve is now one of the leading valve used in automatic watering of rodents.

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  Ferris State University

  • Supervisor

    • Jan 1991 - Jan 1994

    University in Northern Michigan.Supervisor, Animal CareSupervised overall operations. Maintained the inventory of all research animals including the detailed records of the breeding colonies. Assisted the program in their teaching and research projects. Conducted employee training, scheduling, and payroll auditing for the department.Instrumental in bringing on board antibody producing rabbit colony for teaching. Server as instructor in Pharmacy PhD program.