SUMMARY:

Customer - focused quality assurance and laboratory operations leader with 20 years of hands-on analysis and leadership experience within an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. Proven ability to successfully lead multiple laboratory accreditations, evaluate employee performances, lead quality management operations, analyze unknown samples and determine identity. Demonstrated strength in fostering positive morale in demanding environments. Record of accomplishment in building productive relationships with internal and external partners at every level of organization. Solid analytic and technical skills in laboratory operations, quality assurance, ISO accreditation, and chemical analysis.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Scientific Operations Audits & Inspections Budgeting Resource Allocation Human Resources
• Quality Management Facilities & Equipment Maintenance Cost Efficiency Waste Reduction
• Lean Techniques Process Optimization Continuous Improvement Hazardous Materials
• Training Performance Management Bids & Proposals Contract Negotiations Communications

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook)
• Justice Trax Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Confidential, Abilene, Texas

Regional Laboratory Manager & Quality Manager

Responsibilities:

• Spearheaded laboratory operations, quality assurance management, and personnel development functions.
• Developed and controlled annual budgets.
• Conducted employee performance appraisals, provided training and development for each member, enacted employment disciplinary procedures, and provided counseling and direction for both scientific and non-technical personnel.
• Crafted quality assurance (QA) documents including corrective actions root cause determinations, quality control (QC), security and operations policies.
• Performed analysis on blood as well as other biological fluids in addition to analyzing unknown substances utilizing scientific instrumentation including the Confidential, GCFID, GCMS, FTIR, HPLC, UV-VIS, polarimeters, microscopes, etc. Established a local quality management system (QMS) and customer management system (CMS).
• Reviewed laboratory reports issued to customers for quality and accuracy.
• Boosted efficiency and customer satisfaction by leading numerous excellence through quality (ETQ), lean manufacturing and continuous improvement (CI) initiatives.
• Managed capital projects and preventative maintenance programs for laboratory facilities, instruments, and equipment.
• Negotiated supply and service contracts. Delivered testimony as an expert witness in courts over 300 times.
• Maintained exceptionally low rate of customer-requested sample reanalysis by ensuring rigorous compliance with all quality assurance (QA) policies and procedures.
• Consistently delivered budget surpluses by concluding favorable negotiations with third-party service and supply vendors as well as other Confidential departments.
• Reduced backlog of analysis cases to within acceptable levels by optimizing processes to strengthen output, authoring and adopting new policies, coaching employees and providing hands-on assistance as needed.
• Solidified relationships by visiting each customer across 39-county area at least twice annually to gauge satisfaction and solicit feedback.
• Earned Confidential Chief’s Award for Outstanding Service.

Regional Laboratory Manager & Quality Manager

Confidential

Responsibilities:

• Successfully orchestrated 4 major accreditation projects including 2 rigorous ISO 17025 accreditations.
• Expanded Abilene laboratory from 1.8K to 7.5K square-feet over 3 years and directed multiple building renovation and addition projects.
• Championed process and service improvement projects later implemented statewide based on demonstrated local gains.

Confidential, Austin, Texas

Forensic Scientist

Responsibilities:

• Performed chemical analysis and comparisons on physical substances which included interpreting the raw data gained from scientific instrumentation, prepared lab reports based on data, and released lab reports to customers.
• Operated, maintained, calibrated, and validated analytical laboratory instrumentation including the GCMS, GCFID, FTIR, UV/VIS, GC Headspace, LCMS as well as other instrumentation. Served as relief manager in the absence of the section manager.
• I testified in county, district, and federal courts of law as an expert witness.
• I interpreted the local, state, and federal laws governing statutory rules to the judicial, enforcement, as well as public entities.
• I attended numerous training opportunities in leadership, operations, quality assurance, root cause analysis, and human resource management.
• Assisted in an advisory capacity in authoring quality assurance, quality control, and operation management policies which aligned to ASCLD/LAB accreditation standards.
• Practiced Continual Improvement Processes in both operations and quality management practices.
• Initiated, investigated, and completed quality assurance and non-conformance policy documentation for the agency when QA operational policies were not followed.
• Developed materials for seminars and presentations and delivered presentations as well as training events for law enforcement, school programs, district attorneys, and members of the State of Texas legislative members.

Confidential, McAllen, Texas

Forensic Scientist

Responsibilities:

• Performed chemical analysis and comparisons on physical substances which included interpreting the raw data gained from scientific instrumentation, prepared lab reports based on data, and released lab reports to customers.
• Operated, maintained, calibrated, and validated analytical laboratory instrumentation including the GCMS, GCFID, FTIR, UV/VIS, as well as other instrumentation.
• I testified in county, district, and federal Courts of Law as an expert witness.
• I interpreted the local, state, and federal laws governing statutory rules to the judicial, enforcement, as well as public entities.