• First non-founding employee at Tepha is the sole producer of an FDA approved absorbable biomaterial with unique superiority in biocompatibility, strength, flexibility, and resorption kinetics.• Enabled medical device innovation and development through assessment of competitive landscape, legacy products, and market viability, directed equipment re-engineering, prototypes, and pre-clinical activities to spearhead new product initiatives. • Transformed a 5-year-old, no facilities, zero revenue early-stage biomaterial startup into a cutting-edge, 50+ employees, medical device company with domestic and international presence. The company was acquired by Becton Dickenson Corp in July 2021. • Moved the operation to 5,000 sqft in Cambridge MA, found specific product targets to be made then designed, and built appropriate processing equipment for the biomaterial, hired necessary staff and expanded to a new 40,000 sqft facility in Lexington MA. • Created 17 product platforms, successfully secured regulatory approval and generated revenue stream through licensing and strategic partnership.• Created fiber technology for MonoMax® monofilament sutures licensed to and sold by B. Braun Surgical for abdominal closures, Phasix® monofilament mesh licensed to and distributed by BD for hernia treatment, BioFiber® tendon scaffold and PhantomTM sutures for shoulder repair licensed to Tornier (subsequently acquired by Wright Medical, now Stryker).• Expanded the application of monofilament meshes to the plastic and reconstructive surgeries through Galatea Surgical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tepha. Developed specialty mesh thermoforming, 3D printing processes to adapt the two-dimensional plane GalaFLEX® mesh to human anatomy and created the GalaSHAPE®, GalaFORM® product lines, a $20 million and growing revenue source.• Steered the development of ultra-high strength 9gpd braided sutures thus created very strong and flixable absorbable product for orthopedic surgeries.

Managed all operational aspects of a customer service unit focused on helping client companies achieve goals and implement new process technologies in third world medical device companies in collaboration with Applikon - Netherlands for bioreactors, Westfalia - Germany for filtration and Steris-Finn-Aqua - Finland for clean room aseptic systems.• Implemented contract to upgrade diphtheria vaccine production facility including purchase and installation of bioreactors, harvest, ultrafiltration and CIP equipment.

• Directed Pilot manufacturing, process / product engineering including process and provided around the clock engineering support to manufacturing.• Spearheaded an operation to produce finished sutures and another to manufacture surgical needles, thus enabled the company to be a formidable suture producer and capture 10% of market.• Developed and implemented various techniques, tooling and equipment to tip braided suture with cyanoacrylate “super glue spray”, attach surgical needles, wind in suture cards, package in foil in class 100 cleanroom and make ready for sterilization. • Acquired knowledge to make surgical needles, built 30,000 sqft “The Mars Facility”, hired staff, designed and built specialty equipment for handling, grinding, cutting, laser drilling, forming. Successfully ran pilot manufacturing and met volumes required for plastic and cardio surgeries. • Supported the extrusion of suture fiber, developed, and implemented processes to stabilize the extruded fiber and prevent formation of voids. Voids causes premature failure of monofilament sutures.• Developed collaborative relationship with Sandvik - Sweden to develop new hardened and toughened stainless alloy specific for surgical needles. • Introduced world’s first technique for continuously drilling micron size axial blind holes using laser.• Used emerging technology of ion deposition to impart desirable properties and shapes on various substrates.• Interfaced with surgeons to view surgical procedures, evaluate products, and identify opportunities.

• Headed an R&D department responsible for process / equipment development, transfer of technology to new sites and pilot manufacturing of new products, including capital expenditure, safety, preventative, predictive maintenance and instrument calibrations. • Developed and built an extrusion pilot line for the moisture, oxygen and light sensitive PDS absorbable monofilament including in-process packaging and vacuum storage. Ran pilot production for two years to meet forecast then transferred validated turnkey operation to an external manufacturing site.• Developed technology for 1dpf polyester yarn extrusion, including twisting, texturing, braiding, scouring, hot stretching, and coating. • Developed specialty orientation, dyeing, steam conditioning and equipment for production of ultra-fine polyester, nylon, and polypropylene for ophthalmic sutures. This led to the penetration of cardiovascular and ophthalmic suture market.• Built pilot production facility within R&D to process material without interrupting manufacturing schedule in Georgia. • Developed and implemented extrusion and co-extrusion of fluoropolymers. • Upgraded all manufacturing lines with closed loop feedback control computerized systems.• Member of facilities steering committee, managed relocation projects and construction of new sites.• Witnessed various surgical procedures to evaluate new and existing products.