Laerdal director heads to SynDaver Labs
TAMPA, Fla. – SynDaver Labs, a manufacturer of synthetic humans, has hired the outgoing director of U.S. government sales for Laerdal Medical to serve as vice president of global sales and business development, SynDaver announced Tuesday.
Mark R. Owens, a resident of Orlando, Florida, began working at SynDaver Labs, headquartered in Tampa, Monday.
Owens is also a U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel, who has served over 30 years in various leadership capacities including combat operations with 3rd Armored Division during Operation Desert Storm. In his current role as a reservist, he coordinates and oversees the Mission Command Training incorporating the Live-Virtual-Constructive training models.
Owens has provided training direction to over 7,500 war-fighters in the past decade. Owens also brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to SynDaver Labs in the medical sales market. He was former vice president of North American sales for CAE Healthcare and has held senior sales management roles with Pfizer, Merck and Baxter Healthcare.
“We’re proud to be able to bring on such a valued asset like Mark here at SynDaver Labs,” said Dr. Christopher Sakezles, founder of SynDaver Labs. “His expertise in the medical field and extensive experience in medical sales will take us to the next level, as we continue to expand our operations in Asia, Europe, and South America.”
Owens will manage and execute the SynDaver Labs global sales plan. He plans to expand the modeling and simulation market in the medical training and education field, and seeks to build strategic partnerships in the US alongside market expansion in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Owens will also expand the SynDaver Labs current presence in growth markets such as Asia Pacific, and will lead the focus on developing global partners through a long-term growth plan.
In addition to global growth, Owens will redefine a sales staff to develop and cultivate relationships with clinical experts, teaching colleges/universities and government agencies, in an effort to improve healthcare education and patient safety. The company looks to train its sales force on the many ways SynDaver can support faculty and institutions as they implement simulation-based training.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to join the team at SynDaver,” said Owens. “This company has been expanding at an astounding rate and the future is very promising.”
Besides medical-use applications, SynDaver has been extremely popular in Hollywood. The company’s products have been featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, Grey’s Anatomy, AMC’s Shipping Wars and Discovery Channel’s MythBusters. Most recently, one of SynDaver’s Synthetic Humans was featured in the CSI series finale on CBS Sept. 27.
About SynDaver Labs
SynDaver Labs manufactures synthetic humans for training in schools, hospitals and military installations. SynDaver has the world’s largest database of live-tissue properties and all SynDaver tissues are made from water, salts, and fibers. The company currently has 10 patents on these materials, processes, and related products. SynDaver Labs is headquartered in Tampa, Florida and employs more than 100 people. The company also has an advanced research facility located in Phoenix, Arizona and is planning additional facilities in the U.S., China, Europe, and Latin America.
