Vidal Smith Email & Phone Number

Glenview, IL

Develop and implement project management processes. Manage new product development projects as well as shorter-term projects for customized products. Provide technical and managerial support throughout the quotation to after-sales support life-cycle for custom equipment.

Downers Grove, IL

Plan, manage and execute projects to deliver custom, integrated solutions for laboratory automation and high throughput liquid handling applications in genomics, drug discovery and forensics.Delivered, installed, and supported several major integrations worth over $10M in the last two and a half years

• Managed programs to develop new products and provide life-cycle management of current products for cell-based therapies.
• Headed cross-functional teams to develop two program charters
• Directed technology assessments and technology road mapping efforts
• Led product definition and concept generation activities
• Developed integrated program plans and budgets

• Developed comprehensive plans and managed projects to develop custom products for a diverse set of client firms in the biotech, biomedical, and defense industries.
• Sample projects: real-time biological agent detection and alert system for Department of Homeland Security; helmet-mounted system for communications and navigation controls for paratroopers; third-party audit of.
• Assessed clients’ technologies and product visions and developed appropriate project plans
• Managed cross-functional teams to execute product development plans
• Allocated and managed engineering resources for multiple, concurrent projects
• Performed budgeting, scheduling, expense management and client liaison

• Led and directed a team of engineers and technicians in the field of micro-capillary cytometry.
• Developed three flow cytometry systems, on separate platforms; all enjoying market success.
• Coordinated design and development of a wholly new signal processing and instrument control board and associated firmware at an external firm.
• Refined optical configuration to enable performance of DNA cell-cycle analysis on the non-sheath fluid system.
• Implemented ingenious and cost-effective optical design to improve fluorescence sensitivity 3-fold.
• Advanced company’s efforts from early-stage prototypes to product launch in six months.

• Led an international team that developed an automated microplate sampling system for flow cytometry applications in the drug-discovery and screening market
• Orchestrated company-wide acceptance of new technology from a small firm for the new platform of products.
• Coordinated alpha testing of new devices at two customer sites.
• Planned and directed design and development of hardware and software by two contract design firms.
• Managed collaboration and transfer of technology from a small German firm.
• Contributed heavily to the definition of system architecture and design realization.

Enhanced engineering team with new hires and quickly developed their cytometry capabilitiesSuccessfully managed collaboration and transfer of technology from a university research center. Improved reliability of existing clinical systems and got clinical trials back on track within 4 monthsDeveloped next generation stem cell harvester with a 50% lower cost.

• Managed projects to develop IVDP devices, instrumentation and software
• Led a cross-functional team that developed and built the FACSLoader, a random-access sample positioning and loading device.
• Stemmed the loss of company’s market share to a competitor, by taking product from concept to market in 20 months.
• Originated concepts for on-the-fly identification of test-tube racks and detection of test tubes.
• Optimized drive mechanisms for required performance in a tight space.
• Designed the sealing mechanism for a reciprocating tube-lifter shaft.

Mba, Business Management

Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Ms, Energy And Resources