Management Team

SurgiQuest’s management team has more than 125 collective years of both large company and start-up experience, in the development, manufacturing, marketing and sales of revolutionary technologies for MIS, many of which remain as market leaders today.

Kurt Azarbarzin — Chief Executive Officer & Founder Kurt Azarbarzin founded SurgiQuest, Inc. in the spring of 2005 and started operations in April 2006. Mr. Azarbarzin is an accomplished, senior medical device executive with a proven track record of leading the development of over 80 new products, resulting in annual sales of over $910 million during his 25-year career with SurgiQuest, U.S. Surgical/Tyco Healthcare (now Covidien), Spine Wave and Respimetrix. Kurt has gained significant and diversified experience in all facets of product design/enhancement, process/manufacturing engineering, team building, finance, vendor relations, regulatory requirements and quality assurance serving the surgical, cardiovascular, interventional, orthopedic and urological markets.
Christine Antalik — Chief Financial Officer Christine Antalik joined SurgiQuest in 2011 and brings more than 18 years of diverse financial management experience in the venture backed technology market with a focus in life sciences and software technology. Christine employs cross-functional expertise in operations, accounting and strategic planning to increase shareholder value. As such, she has led several successful transactions including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, equity financing and restructuring. In 2010, following a major acquisition, Christine led the financial efforts of a successful initial public offering for a financial services company on the NYSE. As Chief Financial Officer of Hematech, LLC, Christine formed a joint venture with a key services provider to mitigate business risk and ultimately steered the company to a successful exit, being acquired by a Japanese pharmaceutical company. Christine has also served as Controller for Tangoe, Inc., a pre-IPO telecommunications software service company, and as Controller and Senior Manager of Litigation Support and Business Valuation for a national accounting firm, where she provided expert witness reports in economic damages cases, business valuations and forensic accounting services. Prior to joining SurgiQuest, Inc., Christine consulted for several emerging technology companies, developing financial models and business plans to support equity financing efforts.
Carlos Babini — Senior Vice President of International Sales Carlos Babini, joining SurgiQuest in 2008, is an accomplished senior executive with more than 25 years of key leadership experience in sales, marketing, strategic development and distribution initiatives in highly competitive sectors of both the capital and non-capital medical device industry. Prior to joining SurgiQuest, Mr. Babini was the Executive Vice President and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer for both Vision Sciences and Curon, both public medical device companies. During his 20 year career at U.S. Surgical (now Covidien), Carlos was recognized for both his excellence in building high performance, globally minded, extremely disciplined, customer focused teams and for his hands on approach for driving revenue growth.
Daniel Donovan — Senior Director of Operations & Regulatory Affairs Dan Donovan is a founding member of the management team and brings 25 years of professional experience in medical device R&D and high-volume manufacturing to the Company. Since 1983, he has held management positions in medical devices, aviation and industrial products. In 1991, he joined the Suture Division at U.S. Surgical (now Covidien) and implemented Continuous Improvement methodologies in both manufacturing operations and the supply chain. In 1995, he created the Continuous Improvement Department at U.S. Surgical and it was in this role that he became an ardent student and practitioner of Lean Manufacturing. In 1996, he was recruited into the organization’s Research and Development group and three years later was promoted to Director of Technology Development for U. S. Surgical/Tyco Healthcare. In this role, he integrated acquired technologies as a member of the Tyco Healthcare M&A due diligence team. Prior to joining SurgiQuest, Inc., Dan consulted in Operations and R&D, and guided transformation efforts for dozens of mid to large cap organizations.
Chris Klecher — Vice President of Sales Chris Klecher, who joined SurgiQuest in 2011, is an accomplished sales and marketing executive with more than 22 years of sales and marketing experience in both large cap companies as well as venture-backed start-up organizations. Throughout his career, Mr. Klecher has held senior level sales and marketing positions within U.S. Surgical (now Covidien) as well as serving as a key member of seven medical device start-up companies: Microsurge (acquired by Richard Allan), Endonetics (acquired by Medtronic), Vascular Control Systems (acquired by Johnson & Johnson), Torax Medical, Solace Therapeutics, Venetec International (acquired by C.R. Bard). Over the course of his career, he has led hundreds of sales and marketing professionals and launched more than 75 products.
Gary Tegan — Senior Director, Strategic & Clinical Development Gary Tegan, who joined SurgiQuest in 2011, is an accomplished marketing executive with 19 years of substantial sales and marketing expertise in both start-up and large organizations. In 1993, Mr. Tegan began his medical device career as a Certified Stapling Technician for U.S. Surgical (now Covidien) and later joined the company’s marketing department as the Product Director for Access and Hernia Repair Products. In 1999, Gary was promoted to Senior Director of Marketing where he managed a team with more than $1 Billion in Global Marketing responsibilities, and initiated the acquisitions of several small companies to strengthen U.S. Surgical’s position in both the Access and Hernia markets. In late 2000, he left U.S. Surgical for the venture-backed start-up medical device industry, and has worked for Starion Instruments, Coalescent Surgical (acquired by Medtronic), Curon Medical, medicalCV, and Soft Tissue Science in a number of marketing leadership roles. Over the course of his career, he has successfully launched more than 100 new products, many of which remain as market leaders.
Bruce Reardon — Director of Human Resources Bruce joined Surgiquest in June of 2014. He brings with him over 30 years’ experience in Human Resources. He began his career with Texaco Inc. in their corporate Human Resources Department in New York. Later he moved into the healthcare setting with IPCO Corporation then U.S. Surgical (now Covidien), ultimately serving as VP of Human Resources. He then moved into health services, serving as AVP of Human Resources for Gentiva, the nation’s largest provider of home health and hospice services. Bruce has either held or had responsibility for virtually every aspect of Human Resources. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
Jane Marushak — Business Operations & Human Resources Manager Jane Ann Marushak is a founding member of the Leadership Team and brings 15 years of experience in business operations expertise to SurgiQuest. Prior to joining, Ms. Marushak worked for Fort James, formerly James River Corporation, and more recently at U.S. Surgical, now Covidien, where she led administrative teams in both the Engineering and Marketing departments. Jane brings to bear her knowledge and expertise in human resources and business processes that include budget planning, purchasing, facilities management, office services, and information technology. Her Six Sigma Certification and cross-functional supervisory experience in the medical device industry has prepared her well for her role as the organization's Business Operations Manager.

Kurt Azarbarzin

— Chief Executive Officer & Founder

Kurt Azarbarzin founded SurgiQuest, Inc. in the spring of 2005 and started operations in April 2006. Mr. Azarbarzin is an accomplished, senior medical device executive with a proven track record of leading the development of over 80 new products, resulting in annual sales of over $910 million during his 25-year career with SurgiQuest, U.S. Surgical/Tyco Healthcare (now Covidien), Spine Wave and Respimetrix. Kurt has gained significant and diversified experience in all facets of product design/enhancement, process/manufacturing engineering, team building, finance, vendor relations, regulatory requirements and quality assurance serving the surgical, cardiovascular, interventional, orthopedic and urological markets.

Christine Antalik

— Chief Financial Officer

Christine Antalik joined SurgiQuest in 2011 and brings more than 18 years of diverse financial management experience in the venture backed technology market with a focus in life sciences and software technology. Christine employs cross-functional expertise in operations, accounting and strategic planning to increase shareholder value. As such, she has led several successful transactions including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, equity financing and restructuring. In 2010, following a major acquisition, Christine led the financial efforts of a successful initial public offering for a financial services company on the NYSE. As Chief Financial Officer of Hematech, LLC, Christine formed a joint venture with a key services provider to mitigate business risk and ultimately steered the company to a successful exit, being acquired by a Japanese pharmaceutical company. Christine has also served as Controller for Tangoe, Inc., a pre-IPO telecommunications software service company, and as Controller and Senior Manager of Litigation Support and Business Valuation for a national accounting firm, where she provided expert witness reports in economic damages cases, business valuations and forensic accounting services. Prior to joining SurgiQuest, Inc., Christine consulted for several emerging technology companies, developing financial models and business plans to support equity financing efforts.

Carlos Babini

— Senior Vice President of International Sales

Carlos Babini, joining SurgiQuest in 2008, is an accomplished senior executive with more than 25 years of key leadership experience in sales, marketing, strategic development and distribution initiatives in highly competitive sectors of both the capital and non-capital medical device industry. Prior to joining SurgiQuest, Mr. Babini was the Executive Vice President and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer for both Vision Sciences and Curon, both public medical device companies. During his 20 year career at U.S. Surgical (now Covidien), Carlos was recognized for both his excellence in building high performance, globally minded, extremely disciplined, customer focused teams and for his hands on approach for driving revenue growth.

Daniel Donovan

— Senior Director of Operations & Regulatory Affairs

Dan Donovan is a founding member of the management team and brings 25 years of professional experience in medical device R&D and high-volume manufacturing to the Company. Since 1983, he has held management positions in medical devices, aviation and industrial products. In 1991, he joined the Suture Division at U.S. Surgical (now Covidien) and implemented Continuous Improvement methodologies in both manufacturing operations and the supply chain. In 1995, he created the Continuous Improvement Department at U.S. Surgical and it was in this role that he became an ardent student and practitioner of Lean Manufacturing. In 1996, he was recruited into the organization’s Research and Development group and three years later was promoted to Director of Technology Development for U. S. Surgical/Tyco Healthcare. In this role, he integrated acquired technologies as a member of the Tyco Healthcare M&A due diligence team. Prior to joining SurgiQuest, Inc., Dan consulted in Operations and R&D, and guided transformation efforts for dozens of mid to large cap organizations.

Chris Klecher

— Vice President of Sales

Chris Klecher, who joined SurgiQuest in 2011, is an accomplished sales and marketing executive with more than 22 years of sales and marketing experience in both large cap companies as well as venture-backed start-up organizations. Throughout his career, Mr. Klecher has held senior level sales and marketing positions within U.S. Surgical (now Covidien) as well as serving as a key member of seven medical device start-up companies: Microsurge (acquired by Richard Allan), Endonetics (acquired by Medtronic), Vascular Control Systems (acquired by Johnson & Johnson), Torax Medical, Solace Therapeutics, Venetec International (acquired by C.R. Bard). Over the course of his career, he has led hundreds of sales and marketing professionals and launched more than 75 products.

Gary Tegan

— Senior Director, Strategic & Clinical Development

Gary Tegan, who joined SurgiQuest in 2011, is an accomplished marketing executive with 19 years of substantial sales and marketing expertise in both start-up and large organizations. In 1993, Mr. Tegan began his medical device career as a Certified Stapling Technician for U.S. Surgical (now Covidien) and later joined the company’s marketing department as the Product Director for Access and Hernia Repair Products. In 1999, Gary was promoted to Senior Director of Marketing where he managed a team with more than $1 Billion in Global Marketing responsibilities, and initiated the acquisitions of several small companies to strengthen U.S. Surgical’s position in both the Access and Hernia markets. In late 2000, he left U.S. Surgical for the venture-backed start-up medical device industry, and has worked for Starion Instruments, Coalescent Surgical (acquired by Medtronic), Curon Medical, medicalCV, and Soft Tissue Science in a number of marketing leadership roles. Over the course of his career, he has successfully launched more than 100 new products, many of which remain as market leaders.

Bruce Reardon

— Director of Human Resources

Bruce joined Surgiquest in June of 2014. He brings with him over 30 years’ experience in Human Resources. He began his career with Texaco Inc. in their corporate Human Resources Department in New York. Later he moved into the healthcare setting with IPCO Corporation then U.S. Surgical (now Covidien), ultimately serving as VP of Human Resources. He then moved into health services, serving as AVP of Human Resources for Gentiva, the nation’s largest provider of home health and hospice services. Bruce has either held or had responsibility for virtually every aspect of Human Resources. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Jane Marushak

— Business Operations & Human Resources Manager

Jane Ann Marushak is a founding member of the Leadership Team and brings 15 years of experience in business operations expertise to SurgiQuest. Prior to joining, Ms. Marushak worked for Fort James, formerly James River Corporation, and more recently at U.S. Surgical, now Covidien, where she led administrative teams in both the Engineering and Marketing departments. Jane brings to bear her knowledge and expertise in human resources and business processes that include budget planning, purchasing, facilities management, office services, and information technology. Her Six Sigma Certification and cross-functional supervisory experience in the medical device industry has prepared her well for her role as the organization's Business Operations Manager.