Connect with the Avicenna Culture.

All employees at Avicenna recognize that we play an integral role within the framework of customer stewardship, and that this concept of stewardship impacts virtually every aspect of our daily jobs. We consistently strive to demonstrate, through our actions and our decisions, the three core values we advocate: stewardship, determination, and innovation. These values are inherent within the management team and they assimilate throughout the whole Avicenna culture. Please meet our management team:

Chad Carson, President

As one of the original managers of Avicenna, I’ve had the opportunity along with Mike McCormick and Bev Olson to help guide our organization from its very beginning. My primary contribution is to exemplify and promote our core values of stewardship, determination, and innovation. I strive to foster an organizational culture that is honest and accountable to both customers and the marketplace. And I view stewardship as a moral obligation. The true test of stewardship is when we face trying times. Such times are opportunities for Avicenna to prove to its customers that we are truly a valuable partner by bearing the brunt of the difficulty and shielding the customer from undue harm. It’s a great privilege to lead Avicenna and its talented team of managers as we endeavor toward turning customer ideas into products that change the world.

Member of Paradigm Group: President’s Best Practices Roundtable
Member of Enterprise Minnesota: CEO Peer Council

Mike McCormick, Vice President, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Technology

During my years of experience in the manufacturing and medical industries, I’ve come to learn what’s really important. Starting at the very beginning of the process, I work to make certain we’re developing the right technology solution for each customer product. I see my position as the key to connecting all the dots, so to speak. From design, to processing, to delivery, it’s about making certain that we’ve developed the best approach to fulfill the customer’s expectations and delivered the best solution to advance the customer’s marketplace success. Through it all, perhaps the most important thing is our role of stewardship...that unique ability of Avicenna’s to really connect with the customer in relevant ways. That’s what drives our enduring partnerships. That’s what matters.

Member of Laser Institute of America
2006 Nominee for Southwest/Central Minnesota Entrepreneur of the Year

Andrew Stenson, Sales Manager

Within my role as sales manager, I am responsible for identifying new product and market opportunities, but I see my greater responsibility as being the enhancement of the value we deliver to the customer throughout any given project. Through my deep understanding of Avicenna’s solution and service offerings, I am able to present innovative ideas to the customer. Through my awareness of development cycles in the medical device industry, I am able to suggest customized approaches for each customer.

The bottom line is that the customer’s experience is what matters most. It’s up to us to deliver high value throughout the process and to make sure the customer is heard and respected.

Member of the United Sales Professional Association
Member of Paradigm Group: Customer Service Best Practices Roundtable

Bev Olson, Quality Manager

My purpose at Avicenna is to manage the quality department and thereby ensure the best quality process and solution for each customer product. I oversee inspection procedures and standards, sampling techniques and sample size, as well as our Material Review Board program. I also serve as Avicenna’s ISO Management Representative responsible for internal and external audits. Ultimately, the piece of the process I am responsible for may not be a piece at all, but rather the template that holds all the pieces in place. Quality impacts every step of the process, from development to delivery. What matters most to me is making sure every aspect of the complex system is of the highest quality. That not only includes, but also features as its most important component, the notion of customer connection. When we achieve that high level of customer collaboration, we know we’ve delivered on quality.

Member of American Society For Quality

Jim Hayden, Plant Manager

A big part of my role at Avicenna is to establish a relationship with our customers to understand the critical requirements for their products. Our understanding of the customer’s requirements and expectations drives our ability to mate engineered solutions to a knowledgeable and motivated production staff, in order to provide the best possible customer experience. My focus is on creating an energized and reliable manufacturing platform, by introducing sound processes, new technology, and talented people to contribute to the efficient and accurate fulfillment of each customer project. I help fulfill the customer’s expectations with the Avicenna solution.

Member of Society of Manufacturing Engineers

Ian Smith, PC/MC Manager

It’s up to me and our talented production team at Avicenna to make sure that products are delivered on time, that the supply chain is well leveraged, that packaging solutions are implemented, and that shipping options are well managed—all on behalf of our customers. We enable the right component to be built from the correct material at the proper time using vetted and approved processes. The most important aspect of the process is the underlying concept of stewardship. I believe that it’s easy to be good stewards when everything is going well. True commitment is tested when challenges or problems arise. Being a true steward of the customer relationship means doing the right thing even when it’s detrimental or costly to one’s self or the company. This notion truly drives the culture at Avicenna. It’s why customers come to us and why they come back to us time and again.

Member of American Production and Inventory Control Society

Dan Stacken, Controller

As the leader of the accounting and finance areas, I have direct involvement with customers on the backside of the invoicing and payment process. For our suppliers, I ensure proper payment is made for all products and services supplied, within the terms of the agreement. I work with our management team to develop accurate operational costs. These costs are used to drive changes that ensure operational excellence, and are used by our sales personnel to establish a fair price for our products so that both the customer and Avicenna realize a financial value from the relationship. As I manage the financials, I’m also highly aware that the numbers are only a part of the picture. The relationships that sustain those financials are paramount. I seek to be diligent and honest in all my interactions. It’s important to me to do the right thing at all times—no short cuts and no excuses. I know this philosophy helps create a culture of stewardship throughout our organization. And because of that culture, which is so core to the leadership team, I’m proud to work at Avicenna.

Certified by the Minnesota State Board of Accountancy