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Leadership

Forrest R. Whittaker
Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Whittaker was named Chief Executive Officer of Avalign Technologies, Inc., in January 2007. Mr. Whittaker has company-wide responsibility, which includes the four operating divisions of Avalign:  Instrumed International, Advantis Medical, Nemcomed and NG Instruments.

Mr. Whittaker has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, having started as a sales representative with American Hospital Supply in 1977.  Prior positions held by Mr. Whittaker include President and COO, Teleflex Medical, 2003-2006; President, Respiratory Group, Tyco Healthcare, 2000-2003; President and CEO, Paidos Health Management Services, 1993-2000.  Prior to his tenure with Paidos, Mr. Whittaker served in a variety of management positions with both Baxter International and American Hospital Supply, including President at the V. Mueller division from 1989-1992. Mr. Whittaker serves as a Board Director for Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and HealthReach, Inc.

Mr. Whittaker received his M.B.A. from James Madison University in 1977, and his B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971.



Barbara Sullivan
Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Sullivan was named Chief Financial Officer of Avalign Technologies, Inc., in July 2007.  She has 15 years of experience in various finance roles, all within the healthcare industry.

Ms. Sullivan has spent the past eight years working with RoundTable Healthcare portfolio companies.  Prior positions held by Ms. Sullivan include Chief Administrative Officer of Instrumed International, Inc. and Chief Financial Officer of Vanguard Medical Concepts, Inc.  During her tenure at Cardinal Health and Allegiance, Ms. Sullivan held various accounting and finance positions in Respiratory Care, Southeast Region Distribution and Corporate Business Development.

Ms. Sullivan received her B.B.A., Magna Cum Laude, in Accounting from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. 

 

McNeil “Mac” Brown
Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Mr. Brown was named Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Avalign Technologies, Inc., in March 2011.  He has global responsibility for sales and marketing efforts for Avalign Orthopaedics.  Mr. Brown has over 30 years’ experience in the healthcare industry having started as a sales representative with American Hospital Supply in 1977.  Mr. Brown has spent the past 10 years affiliated with RoundTable portfolio companies.  Prior positions held by Mr. Brown include Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Ascent Healthcare Solutions, and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Vanguard Medical Concepts.  During his tenure at Cardinal Health, Allegiance, Baxter International, and American Hospital Supply Mr. Brown held a variety of sales and management positions.

Mr. Brown received his B.S. degree Cum Laude from Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA.

 

Scott Gareiss
Vice President, Research and Development 

Mr. Gareiss was named Vice President, Research & Development of Avalign Technologies, Inc., in June 2010. Mr. Gareiss has company-wide responsibility for new product development and engineering services which includes the four operating divisions of Avalign:  Instrumed International, Advantis Medical, Nemcomed and NGInstruments.

Mr. Gareiss has over 10 years of experience in the orthopedic industry, having started as a product development engineer with Zimmer in 1999.  Prior positions held by Mr. Gareiss include Senior Director, Professional Services with Symmetry Medical, 2004-2010; Senior Product Development Engineer with Medtronic, 2003-2004, and Zimmer, 1999-2003.  Prior to his career in orthopedics, Mr. Gareiss served as an officer in the U.S. Army, 1995-1999.

Mr. Gareiss received his M.B.A. from Ball State University in 2004, and his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 1995.



Mary Bixler-Wood
Vice President, Quality and Regulatory Affairs

Ms. Bixler-Wood has company-wide responsibility for Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs  which includes the four operating divisions of Avalign:  Instrumed International, Advantis Medical, Nemcomed and NGInstruments.

Ms Bixler-Wood has over 25 years of experience in the medical device industry.  She has held positions in both Quality and Operations with Boston Scientific Corporation primarily focused in disposable devices for Endosurgery applications.  Prior to this role, she held positions in Sales and Marketing and Quality with Van-Tech, Inc., which specialized in disposable medical devices for the treatment of Urological diseases.

Ms Bixler-Wood has a Bachelors Degree in Business from Indiana University and is completing a Degree in Engineering from Purdue University. 

 

Tony O’Neill
Senior Vice President of Operations

Mr. O’Neill was named Senior Vice President of Operations, for Avalign in Febuary 2012.  Mr. O’Neill has over 25 years’ experience in operations, procurement and materials management.  Tony started his career with American Hospital Supply in 1983.  His previous positions included Sr. Vice President, Operations, Ascent Healthcare Solutions, Inc., 2002-2011, Vice President, Manufacturing and Purchasing, Allegiance Healthcare Corporation 1998-2001, Director, Manufacturing and Purchasing, 1997-1998.  Previously, 1985-1997, Tony fulfilled a variety of manufacturing and purchasing responsibilities at both Baxter International and American Hospital Supply Corporation.

Mr. O’Neill received his B.S., Cum Laude, in Management from Florida State University in 1983.

 

Jeff  LaMontange                                                                                                                                                        Vice President of Operations for NGInstruments

 Mr. LaMontange  was named Vice President of Operations for NGInstruments  in December 2012.  Mr. LaMontange has responsibility for the NGI operating division of Avalign Technologies, Inc.

Mr. LaMontange has almost 30 years of manufacturing operations experience.  Mr. LaMontange started his career with PHD Inc as a General Foreman in 1984.  Prior positions held by Mr. LaMontange include Plant Manager, Athena Champion 2001-2004; Director of Operations, Senior Manager, Zimmer Inc., 2004-2011.

Mr. LaMontange received his B.S. in Business Accounting from Indiana University in 2001. 

 

Rick Link                                                                                                                                                                      Vice President of Operations for Nemcomed

Mr. Link was named Vice President of Operations for Nemcomed in July 2009.  Mr. Link has responsibility for the Nemcomed operating division of Avalign Technologies, Inc.

Mr. Link has over 20 years of operations experience with the last 12 years in the contract manufacturing environment serving the medical device industry.  Mr. Link started his career with Roadway Express as an Industrial Engineer in 1991.  Prior positions held by Mr. Link include Director of Operations, GammaStar Medical Systems, 2008-2009; General Manager, Norman Noble, Inc., 2005-2008; General Manager, Accellent, Inc., 2000-2005, and Director of Operations, Evenflo Company, Inc., 1994-2000.

Mr. Link received his B.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering from the Ohio State University in 1990. 

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