SAN DIEGO, May 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MVPvets, a
501c(3) nonprofit organization that assists and prepares
transitioning military veterans for meaningful employment in life
science companies, announced the appointment of new Chairman of its
Board of Directors, Capt. Derek
Herrera, USMC (Ret.). Herrera has been actively involved as
an MVPvets board member since early 2019. He succeeds outgoing
Chairman Michael R. Minogue, the
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Abiomed, who has
provided leadership as the co-founder of MVPvets since 2012 and
will continue to serve as a board member.
Herrera is a graduate of the United States
Naval Academy and served as a Marine Infantry and Special
Operations Officer for eight years. In 2014, he was medically
retired following an injury sustained during combat operations in
Afghanistan. Since his injury, he
has earned an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and
founded a medical device company, Spinal Singularity. Herrera
started Spinal Singularity to develop devices that improve the
quality of life for people with spinal injuries. He also serves as
President of the Board for the Marine Raider Foundation and Board
Member of the American Technion Society – Western Region.
"I am thrilled to find new ways to support transitioning
military veterans. As I left the military I found meaning and
purpose in the medical device industry. I am so excited to help
veterans make meaningful connections to explore industries that are
focused on improving patients' lives," said Herrera.
"Derek is an inspiration to so many communities, especially
military veterans re-careering into the medical device industry,"
said Michael R. Minogue, MVPvets
co-founder and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Abiomed. "We are proud to have such a passionate leader and
entrepreneur help further the mission of MVPvets, which is now more
important than ever for our transitioning veterans."
"Mike is without a doubt leaving big shoes to fill as outgoing
chairman of MVPvets, and there's no question that Derek is the
right choice to fill them," President and CEO of AdvaMed Scott
Whitaker said. "MVPvets does such a terrific job connecting those
who have served and sacrificed for our country with an industry
whose number one priority is saving and improving lives. Thanks to
Mike's leadership, so many veterans have found meaning and purpose
in our patient-centered medtech community. I know we'll be
able to say the same about Derek's time as chairman."
Herrera is joined on the MVPvets leadership team by Victoria Hathaway, who joins as operations
manager. Hathaway has spent her career in higher education helping
graduate students across colleges and universities achieve their
educational and professional goals. Previously, she worked to
increase access to postgraduate education for military veterans as
Assistant Director of Diversity Recruitment. She graduated from the
Student Affairs Program at the UCLA Graduate School of Education.
She also serves as a volunteer for a veteran-focused nonprofit
organization.
"My career has been spent recruiting, supporting, and
celebrating student veterans, and I now have the privilege of
helping military veterans secure meaningful employment
opportunities in a rapidly emerging industry," said Hathaway.
"Victoria's background in education, with a focus on veterans,
will help fulfill the mission of MVPvets," said Minogue. "We are
thrilled to have Victoria join the MVPvets team and look forward to
her help expanding the impact our program has on the lives of
veterans."
Together, Herrera and Hathaway will help lead the organization
in its mission to connect military veterans with engaged mentors
and careers in the medical device and life science industries.
MVPvets is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization connecting life
science companies with talented veterans ready to serve a purpose,
with a broad bandwidth of skills, and an extraordinary focus on
achieving goals. MVPvets' network has grown to nearly 100 life
science and medical device companies, hundreds of mentors, and
thousands of veterans. For more information, visit www.mvpvets.org.
MVPvets is endorsed by the Advanced Medical Technology Association
(AdvaMed).
AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic
products and health information systems that are transforming
health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive
procedures and more effective treatments. AdvaMed members range
from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and
companies. For more information, visit www.advamed.org.
Media Contact:
Victoria
Hathaway
619.483.7420
240343@email4pr.com
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SOURCE MVPvets