Stephen Gaines

I have held both laboratory management, quality management and Lean/Six Sigma related positions over 22 years with Vitalant (BSI) Reliable business professional with experience in project management, process improvement and financial analysis. Proven track record of successfully streamlining business operations and reducing costs. Adept at analyzing data to identify trends and developing strategies to improve efficiency. I have currently expanded knowledge of Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) by completing MS degree in MLS. My goal is to grow myself and the company that I work with.

Resourceful Compliance Auditor offering 15+year background conducting internal/external audits and thoroughly reviewing records to verify compliance to state and federal regulations. Systematic and moral professional with expertise identifying and documenting internal strengths and weaknesses and developing recommendations and corrective action plans. Strong communicator possessing clear, concise writing skills and proficiency in Microsoft Word.

• Supervised multiple teams with staff members between 5-30 staff members.
• Achieved reduction of expenses by completing projects which improved accuracy and efficiency. One project saved the company one million annually.
• Achieved redesign of multiple laboratories and quality function through effectively helping standardizing and lean local processes.
• Achieved improved quality by introducing software for equipment management and temperature monitoring for the company as the subject matter expert in maintenance and monitoring.
• Documented and resolved multiple site specific and Vitalant wide quality issues which led to less compliance concerns.
• Collaborated with team of 15+ in the development of internal auditing process development..

• Registered Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)
• Member of the South-Central Association of Blood Banks (SCABB)
• Member of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
• Member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ)
• Certified Black Belt in 6 Sigma
• Certified Lean Facilitator
• Member of Thrombosis & Hemostasis Societies of North America (THSNA)

Vitalant:  Leader in experience, practice and application of transfusion medicine.

• Cellular Therapy Laboratory (CTL): TNC, CD3, CD34, CD45, Colony Forming Unit.
• Other Laboratory: Immunohematology Reference Laboratory (IRL), Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA), Coagulation studies and support.
• Cell Sourcing: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Collection (HPC), Cord Blood processing and storage.
• Research: Immunology, Molecular Transfusion, Viral Laboratory & Repository, Cell Therapy, and Epidemiology.
• Blood Products: Whole Blood, Platelets, Plasma, and Cryoprecipitate. The second largest blood services provider in the nation, Vitalant distributes a variety of blood components and products to our healthcare partners around the country for transfusion

• Certified Medical Technologies, - American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).
• Certified Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt- American Society for Quality (ASQ)

I enjoy traveling and as an auditor I have visited over 100 hospitals and blood collection facilities in 38 states.  We own a 5th wheel camper and try to spend 1-2 weekends at the lake each month.  We support the local school by volunteering during games.  We served as foster parents and adopted a child.  Prior to that we hosted an exchange student from Russia.  I served on the city council for 3 years and was elected to the county chair.