Karen Sommerhalder

• Diagnosed and resolved technical issues on diagnostic instruments in diverse clinical environments.
• Conducted preventive maintenance and quality control checks to ensure equipment reliability and performance.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop service strategies enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Trained and mentored junior technicians on best practices for equipment servicing and troubleshooting.
• Responsible for the states of Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky & Indiana
• Completed Repairs on all of Cepheid's rapid PCR instrumentation. Including small (approx 10lbs) & medium (Approx 100 lbs) sized table top units and the larger robotics system units (approx 1500lbs-2000lbs)
• Implemented process improvements resulting in reduced downtime and increased operational efficiency.
• Managed installation of complex systems, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and protocols.
• Supported sales partners by ensuring superior customer support service and satisfaction
• Assisted in growing territory by identifying opportunities for sales team to meet a customer need
• Performed onsite installation, modification and maintenance of systems and equipment.
• Developed detailed service reports documenting repairs, maintenance activities, and customer interactions for future reference.
• Provided on-site support during product launches, facilitating seamless integration into existing workflows.
• Streamlined workflow processes, introducing automation tools that reduced manual efforts and increased job completion rates.
• Reduced repeat service calls, meticulously identifying root causes of complex issues and implementing long-term solutions.

• Managed over 1500 account over 2 states
• Consulting with veterinary hospitals about revenue growth opportunities
• Discussed laboratory diagnostic testing and marketing
• Utilized several different online platforms, creating proposal paperwork for renewals and new business
• Identifying new business opportunities
• Maintaining/growing existing accounts
• Familiarity with reference laboratory analyzers (Beckman Coulter, Seimens, chemistry, hematology, urinalysis and Cellavision)
• Worked closely with Sound Eklin Ultrasound units
• Digital radiology
• Laser therapy and dental radiology units
• Assisted with demo's and sold these pieces of equipment to customers

• Family Pet Hospital – St. Louis, MO 2014 - 2016
• Elm Point animal hospital- St. Louis, MO 2010 - 2014
• Gateway Equine Hospital- Wentzville, MO 2008 - 2010
• Wentzville veterinary clinic- Wentzville, MO 2005 - 2008

All of the following skills applied to all the Veterinary Technician positions:

• (Provided emergent and routine nursing care to feline and canine patients Collect, process, and appropriately analyze and perform testing of patient laboratory samples Responsible for proper maintenance and quality control testing of in house laboratory analyzers Responsible for patient care as follows but not limited to: Checking patients in for surgery or hospital stay, placing IV catheters, calculating fluid rates, calculating medication, documenting any and all happenings within the patients hospital stay in the practice management software, assisting doctors with surgery, prepping patients for surgery, monitoring anesthesia, monitoring vital signs of patients, recovering patients from anesthesia, preparing take home documents for clients to follow after patient discharge, educating clients, restraining patients for routine exams, assisting doctors for routine exams and preparing all vaccines, medications and documentation that would be needed for each individual patient and client)

• Provided onsite and virtual/remote technical support to an install base of 518 accounts
• Performed installation of all chemistry, hematology, coagulation, and urinalysis analyzers Established integration with customer software for all supported diagnostic equipment
• Trained customer staff in proper operation of all supported diagnostic equipment
• Onboarded new reference laboratory customers to utilization of and sample submission process
• Supported sales partners by ensuring superior customer support service and satisfaction
• Assisted in growing territory by identifying opportunities for sales team to meet a customer needs