Medical Design Excellence Awards.

Heather Thompson—Thompson is Editor-in-Chief for MD+DI. She joined the publication in 2004. Thompson holds a BA in English from University of California, Irvine. For the MDEA program, Thompson helps recruit and select the jury panel and manages the judging process. She also provides MDEA coverage in MD+D, which is the publication sponsor of the awards, and assists in coordinating the MDEA ceremony held in conjunction with MD&M East (www.MDMEast.com) at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Thompson can be reached via e-mail at heather.thompson@ubm.com.

Brian Buntz—Buntz has worked for UBM Canon since 2005 and currently works as the Managing Editor for MD+DI. Before beginning work on MD+DI this year, he worked as the Managing Editor of EMDT, a European publication also published by UBM Canon. For the MDEA program, Buntz helps recruit and select the jury panel and manages the judging process. He also provides MDEA coverage in MD+DI. Buntz holds a MA in German from the University of Oklahoma. Buntz can be reached via e-mail at brian.buntz@ubm.com.

Stephen Corrick—Corrick is Vice President and Executive Director of UBM Canon Publishing. Over more than 20 years, Corrick has had experience in all the event, print and digital business-to-business Channels in North America, Europe and Asia. For the MDEA program, Corrick and his sales team are responsible for acquiring sponsorships and increasing program awareness in the supplier community. Through generating continued advertiser support, their efforts help the MDEA program expand its offerings to the healthcare and medical device communities worldwide. Corrick can be reached via e-mail at stephen.corrick@ubm.com.

Joey Cruz—Cruz has worked in the trade show industry for nearly 22 years and joined the trade show division of UBM Canon in 2005 as senior operations coordinator. Cruz holds a certification in exposition management from the International Association for Exposition Management. He is involved with hotel, budget, and operational issues in support of the MDEA program. Cruz can be reached by phone at 310/996-9405 or via e-mail at joey.cruz@ubm.com.

Dan Cutrone—Cutrone has been with UBM Canon since 1993. He started as marketing manager in its trade show division, where he was instrumental in creating many of the strategies and action plans that remain the core of the company’s successful attendance promotions. For two years, Cutrone served as the trade show customer and media relations manager, where he was responsible for public relations and was actively involved in exhibitor communications. He is now the director of marketing for UBM Canon’s expanded and rapidly growing events division. Cutrone can be reached via e-mail at dan.cutrone@ubm.com.

Jamie Hartford—Hartford has worked for UBM Canon since April 2011 and currently serves as the associate editor for MD+DI and MED. For the MDEA program, she helps to manage the judging process and provides coverage of the awards for MD+DI. Hartford holds a BS in journalism from Ohio University. She can be reached via e-mail at jamie.hartford@ubm.com.

Donna Lawrence—Lawrence joined UBM Canon in 2007 in the trade show division. For the MDEA program, she assists in the creation of promotional materials and news releases, including the announcement of award-winning entries. She holds a BA degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MSc degree from the University of Alberta, Canada. Lawrence can be reached by phone at 310/996-9444 or via e-mail at donna.lawrence@ubm.com.

Richard Nass—Nass is the Director of Content, Medical Devices Group for UBM Canon. His key responsibilities include setting the editorial direction for all properties within the Medical Devices Group at UBM Canon. This includes MD+DI, QMED, MED, EMDM, CMDT, MPMN, and OrthoTec, as well the global DesignMED Conferences, and all custom properties and events. Nass has been in the Medical/Electronics OEM industry for over 20 years. Before taking on the his current role, he held a similar position at EE Times Group, handling the Embedded and Custom groups and the TechOnline DesignLine network of design engineering web sites. Nass holds a BSEE degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. For the MDEA program, Nass helps manage the judging process. He also coordinates MDEA coverage in MD+DI, which is the publication sponsor of the awards, and assists in coordinating the MDEA ceremony held in conjunction with MD&M East (www.MDMEast.com) at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Nass can be reached via e-mail at rich.nass@ubm.com.

Amanda O'Brien—O’Brien joined UBM Canon in 2010 and works as a Marketing Specialist for the Medical Device Media Group. For the MDEA program, O’Brien provides assistance with promotions and managing the ceremony, including audiovisual presentations and awards. She holds a BA in English from Biola University in Los Angeles. O’Brien can be reached at amanda.obrien@ubm.com.

Elizabeth Panzica—Panzica has worked for UBM Canon since 2008 and currently works as a Marketing Specialist for the Medical Device Media Group. For the MDEA program, Panzica assists with managing the ceremony, promotions, awards, and audiovisual presentations. She holds a BA in Communications and minor in Marketing from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Panzica can be reached at elizabeth.panzica@ubm.com.

Katie Pigott—Pigott joined UBM Canon in 2007 as operations coordinator in the trade show division. For the MDEA program, Pigott helps coordinate the hotel and travel logistics for the MDEA judging as well as other operational duties involved with MDEA events. Pigott holds a BA degree from Washington State University and can be reached at 503/236-3749 or via e-mail at katie.pigott@ubm.com.

Rick Rosenberg—Rosenberg has been a part of the MDEA program since its inception. He is responisible for the program's sponsorship sales as well as sales across UBM Canon's medical device brands. For information about sponsorship opportunities for the MDEA program, contact Rick Rosenberg by phone at 973/808-1221 or via e-mail at rick.rosenberg@ubm.com.