Get To Know Our Team
Stephanie WitteBuyer Planner
Will SmeltzerDesign Engineer Leader
Nathaniel Barcelo’Repair Techician
Sean HarrisAftermarket Leader
Kaitlin FarmerL3 Leader / Quality Leader
2017 H3 Award Winner
Ryan LeDesign Engineer Associate
Danny BogenVP, Sales & Marketing
Why do you feel passionate about your work?
“I have had an opportunity to be a part of over one hundred new and exciting medical device projects around the world. The best part is the feeling that I am a member of each customer’s team and having an opportunity to play an impactful role in creating innovative, helpful medical devices. “
Jonathan BodleAftermarket Sales Manager
Supporting Vante customers for 12 years.
Tell us about a time you went above and beyond for a Vante Customer?
“On top of always striving to make sure that customer demands are met on a daily basis, I always make sure that when we have customers in-house I make them feel welcome at Vante and here in Tucson. I’ve taken several customers out to the desert to explore local landmarks and enjoy the true beauty of the desert southwest.”
My history with Vante
Currently I am the Vante Aftermarket Leader managing all parts sales, repairs, upgrades, onsite services and contracts as well as over the phone trouble shooting and technical assistance. I began with Vante in product assembly and cross trained as a inventory controller. After a few months I was promoted to final product Quality Control technician which then introduced me to incoming QC inspecting all incoming parts from our vendors. Within a year of starting with SEBRA/VANTE, a position opened up in the sales department for a sales assistant. I jumped at the opportunity believing my assembly and QC experience would help me sell the products since I now had a good understanding of what went into them.
I spent a few years as a sales assistant growing to be solely responsible for the Medical Technologies Inside Sales for parts and duplicate off-the-shelf equipment. During this time, I was also the sole sales Leader for the Vante Bio Pharmaceutical products. More duties where given to me as I grew and then took on the logistics of organizing trade shows and marketing campaigns. My role then expanded to full inside and outside sales globally. Being the Customer Order and service manager I also spent a fair portion of my time assisting customers with the repair or re-certification of their products as well as onsite service and training visits.
With my long tenure at Vante I am very proficient at trouble shooting our equipment over the phone and identifying what equipment needs to come in for service. There are not many areas of the company I don’t know or haven’t been exposed to, so i’m used as a resource frequently when people internally and externally need to get something done right away.”
Kathy PearceCulture and People Development Leader
What makes you feel most fulfilled in your work at Vante/PWS
I enjoy coming to work every day because I love all the people I work with. Most of us have worked together for the last 10-15 years so we are like family. We have a lot of cultural diversity here and I like to hear all the interesting stories people share. It’s a fun place to work and if by the end of the day I have made someone laugh or smile with my corny jokes then I am happy.
Scott DeWittValue Stream Leader
Tell us about a time when you went above and beyond for a Vante/PlasticWeld Systems customer.
Several years ago, a PWS customer in Malaysia took delivery of a new machine and required training for their technicians. They could not send the tech to our facility in NY, so we arranged a series of late evening Skype conferences to take them through the training program. The training was successful and they continue to run the machine in their production department.
What makes you feel most fulfilled in your work at Vante/PWS
I get a real feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment when my team succeeds in meeting a difficult challenge brought by a customer.
Why do you feel passionate about your work?
Many years ago, I was a designer for a medical contract manufacturer. I was involved in developing a new device to measure endtidal C02 – which enabled paramedics to confirm proper insertion of an endotracheal tube. The customer relentlessly pushed us to get the job completed. After many months of work, we were able to meet our commitments and we celebrated as the first pallet of product was shipped. A few weeks later, I received a call from our customer’s VP. He wanted us to know that one of the devices from the first shipment helped save a young boy’s life. My own children were a similar age to that boy – and it became a very personal experience for me. I had the “the” epiphany and realized that our jobs – and how we performed them – could make a very direct, positive difference in peoples’ lives. I try to use that experience and knowledge as motivation every time I feel discouraged or unenthusiastic about completing a task.
How does your work improve Vante/PWS or Benefit our customers?
Part of my job is to be an effective communication channel between our customers and the rest of my team. Understanding what is really needed by our customers and translating that into actionable information for my team helps us identify where product and service improvements are needed.
Robert NaffDirector of Operations
2016 MSV Award Winner
What makes you feel most fulfilled in your work at Vante/PlasticWeld Systems?
Our people is what fulfills me most at work!! It is truly a pleasure and honor to be part of this outstanding team we have at Vante. We have the awesome responsibility as leaders to listen to their needs and implement change. That provides them with the confidence that they do matter and most important provides them the opportunity to own the process and become accountable to exercise responsible freedom.