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While I was attending theUniversity of Texas at Austin in2001, I also began my career atthe Blood Center of Central Texasas a Mobile Team Phlebotomist.After less than a year I was pro-moted to supervisor of a mobileteam. In December 2003 I wasgiven the opportunity to serve asacting Mobile OperationsManager for three months whilethe manager was on maternityleave. Upon her return I was pro-moted to Assistant MobileOperations Manager and workedclosely with the MobileOperations Manager to assistwith the tremendous growthexperienced by the Blood Centerof Central Texas. A little over ayear later the “Assistant” portionof my job title was removed and Ibegan co-managing with theMobile Operations Manager. In2008 I was offered and acceptedthe position of Logistics Manager.

My primary responsibility asLogistics Manager was to create

a Mobile Staging Department fordistributing clinical and canteensupplies to the mobile teams.The focus of this new depart-ment was to increase cost sav-ings by streamlining the processof supply distribution while low-ering the potential for supplyerrors. As Logistics Manager, Iled a group responsible for evalu-ating how additional cost savingscould be experienced with theimplementation of Lean and SixSigma Principals.

In September 2010 I was promot-ed to Logistics and ProjectsManager. In addition to my cur-rent responsibilities I will now bemore involved in the researchand implementation of newequipment and the creation oftheir respective SOPs and relatedtraining.

I have been a member of SCABBsince 2005. I met my mentorStephanie Babin at the 2006SCABB Conference in Arlington.Since our initial meetingStephanie has been an informalmentor by providing guidanceand sharing her wealth of knowl-

edge. Last year while Stephaniewas the Co-Chair of the DonorRecruitment and CollectionsCommittee, I participated as aprotégé in the Mentor/ProtégéProgram with Stephanie as mymentor. This year I am co-chair-ing the Donor Recruitment andCollections Committee withStephanie and I feel very fortu-nate to have my mentor workingwith me on this committee.

I have written four PULSE articlesduring the past two years in theProtégé program. I was alsoinvolved with a DRC presentationabout the aforementioned MobileStaging Lean Project at theSCABB Conference in SanAntonio. I am looking forward tocompleting the remaining proj-ects I have planned for theMentor/Protégé Program. Moreimportantly, I am excited aboutmy future contributions to SouthCentral Association of BloodBanks.

O Protégé Profile - Chris Ward