Sam Thomasson Email & Phone Number

Kalamazoo, Mi, Us

Us

I was inspired by my hearing-impaired daughter to develop advanced hearing technology. I hired and led a cross-functional team to develop a new generation of hearing aids and bring them to market. I functioned as the Chief Technical Officer to create sophisticated microphone array algorithms, feedback cancellation algorithms, noise cancellation algorithms, multi-bank compression and expansion algorithms, new superior filter designs and algorithms, new rechargeable battery design, new non-RF communication technologies. The system required over one million instructions per second and had to work all day on a rechargeable battery the size of a pencil eraser. Designed unique charging system to replenish ultra small battery that is fully depleted each day. Generated 17 patents from this effort. Functioned as the head of Quality to ensure our quality systems within our facility and our subcontract vendors were compliant with the FDA Quality System regulations for design, manufacturing and test. We passed an FDA audit the first time. Built corporate hearing centers and created team that was highly trained. Designed software to capture customer hearing loss characteristics to compare to algorithm settings to ensure products are programmed correctly and provide excellent customer experience. Grew to 80 company hearing centers and 230 franchise locations. • Developed business plan, wrote private placement memorandum, presented to investors, raised capital • Built multi-disciplined engineering team and led development of multiple innovations, 17 patents• Developed multi-national, FDA compliant supply chain and manufacturing operation• First time FDA audit success• Built retail distribution channel through corporate owned hearing centers and franchise hearing centers• Zounds sold over $200 million dollars in hearing aids

Focused on signal processing software and mixed-signal integrated circuits for the cellular and telecom industries.• Developed business plan, wrote private placement memorandum, and worked with investment bankers in raising capital to launch company• Developed signal processing software for cellular telephones and integrated circuits for the telecom industry. Designed and manufactured state-of-the-art acoustic echo cancellation, noise cancellation, and artificially intelligent, real-time adaptive technology. Generated 42 U.S. and international patents. Sophisticated software algorithm package had to be ported to multiple processors and integrated with customer algorithms on each of their chosen DSP cores• Built multi-national supply chain that met the requirements of demanding world class customers, which include Motorola, Samsung, LG, Nokia, Siemens, TomTom, British Telecom and Garmin• Sold company to Cirrus Logic

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Initially joined company as the Quality and Reliability Manager responsible for semiconductor devices. I then became an engineering manager for the mixed-signal wafer fabrication facility (Bipolar, CMOS, BiCMOS, SOI).• Specialized in low power medical device circuitry, as well as custom products for external customers• Developed special mixed-signal medical device semiconductor processes. Developed other special processes for stints and medical sensors. Developed thin films including chrome silicon and diamond coatings• Developed strategic silicon technology initiative to modernize the design methodology to develop technology block libraries and logic synthesis to improve first time design success. Worked with different divisions to teach them the new design methodologies and drive deployment. The Strategic Silicon Technology group was formed to support this initiative • Interfaced with ASIC and Foundry customers including Astec and Maxim.

• Worked for the CEO to drive best practice development methodologies throughout the organization• Managed development programs at VLSI and Intel (Intel owned 20% of VLSI). This development included handheld computing integrated circuits, systems and software. This program also included designing a custom low power Intel processor. Managed the relationship with Intel• Joined VLSI as a Quality Manager, responsible for major customers including Apple, IBM, Intel and HP. In this capacity I created a Customer Excellence organization with the President of the company and worked across all organizations (design, wafer fabrication, assembly, test, product engineering, marketing) to improve our vendor rating scores. Within 6 months we were ranked either #1 or #2 at all of our major customers, which made us eligible for more development contracts. Represented VLSI on JEDEC committee

Began working for Motorola as an operator and technician while attending college. I was promoted to an engineer two years prior to my graduation with a BSEE. I was then promoted to Government Liaison.• As the Government Liaison I was responsible for government compliance for 4 divisions (Power, RF, Small Signal, Zener) within Motorola. I worked with the divisions to make sure they passed government audits and continuously improve their processes. I was also responsible for negotiating with the government on specific product requirements. Represented Motorola on JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council)• As a Quality Engineer I focused on the internal compliance of government programs. This included documentation to make sure the organization was meeting it contractual requirements• Manufacturing technician for the Government Electronics division. Within this organization I focused on manufacturing military communication systems and satellites• Operator in diffusion and test in Bipolar II, and photolithography in MOS6

Bachelor Of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.), Electrical And Electronics Engineering

Master Of Business Administration (Mba)

Education record