Academic Background: Biomedical Engineering
Full Job Title: Vice President Global Strategic Portfolio
Employer/Name of Company: Permobil
Graduation Year from MSRT: 2003
1. What was your educational/professional background before coming to MSRT program?
I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering.
2. How has your career progressed since you graduated from the MSRT program?
Since graduating and leaving the Pittsburgh area, I’ve primarily worked for one company: Permobil. At Permobil I’ve held various leadership positions, at first within our regional production and manufacturing team (Production manager, Custom Fabrication Manager). For the last ten years, my primary responsibilities have been within the product development and product management teams within our Power Wheelchair Division. Today I serve as the Vice President of our Global Strategic Product Portfolio.
3. In your current employment, what are your duties and responsibilities?
In my current role, I have overall responsibility for the strategic product portfolio of Permobil Group, coordinating and aligning the group-wide product roadmaps in close collaboration with the Business Unit Product Management teams.
4. Is there any information you would like to share, or any advice you would like to offer current and future MSRT students?
After graduating, I accepted a position at Permobil that was a bit outside of my background in Bioengineering and MSRT. But I knew it was in the business area that I wanted to be in. So I was able to develop over a number of years and grow into a role where I have a significant influence on the products we develop at Permobil. So my advice would be to keep an open mind about where you may end up after graduating, and don’t be afraid to get your foot in the door somewhere you believe to be a great company or organization.