Our Team.
The core of Ceratek is our people.
We are a group of highly talented individuals bringing technical diversity from across the nation to make your designs and products become a reality.
Jake Conner
Founder & CEO
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Jake was the original founder and CEO for 14 years of U.S. Photonics. Holder of 30+ patents, 20 years of femtosecond and ultrafast laser technology. Former Engineering Fellow for Metronom Health, Inc.
Jake is an Adjunct Faculty member at Missouri State University in the Physics, Astronomy and Materials Science department.
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Jessica Crocker, CCRN, BSN
V.P. of Clinical Affairs
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Jessica is an ECMO specialist CVICU nurse that brings real world hospital experience to the team. Her experience with Impela, ECMO, perfusion/bypass, and cardiovascular surgical theater experience has been invaluable to our team. Her role as an in-hospital educator for advanced technology in cardiovascular equipment and surgical devices gives Ceratek a unique advantage in knowing what works and what doesn't for practitioners during crisis and emergent situations.
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Rohullah Latif
V.P. of Sales and Marketing​​
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Rohullah Latif is a proven leader in the MedTech, Biotech, and Healthcare sectors. He is adept at managing large-scale projects with budgets exceeding $200M, Rohullah has driven significant FDA remediation efforts. His expertise in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies enables him to lead large multidisciplinary technical teams to project completion Rohullah holds an MBA from Boston University, an MS in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, Fullerton.
Ted Yoo, Ph.D.
Physicist
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Ted is a computational scientist with over 14 years of experience in Python development. He has a broad range of experience ranging from multi-physics modeling, computational chemistry, and signals analysis with an emphasis on Machine Learning and AI.
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Robert Lahaderne
Quality/Regulatory Leader
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Robert Has extensive experience developing and managing Quality Systems for both start-ups and multinational companies. He has led technical and professional teams in developing tools that are right-sized for a business and achieve compliance with regulatory environments. He is a recognized technical leader in technical problem-solving and applying Six Sigma tools. His deep knowledge of ISO9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, and 21 CFR 820 has enabled him to provide valued guidance to success. Robert earned his M.B.A. from the University of San Francisco and his B.S. in Applied Physics from Sonoma State University.
Joshua Long
Process Engineer
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Josh is a new product development process engineer that has brought multiple medical devices to market. He is experienced in designing in-house and outsourced manufacturing options that are agile, validatable and effective at getting product built quickly and within budget. Additionally, he is well versed in process risk documentation, Quality documentation, IQ/OQ/PQ, Gauge R&R and process V&V. Josh has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, Fullerton and his MS in Mechanical Engineering Management from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Nikki Paulus
Laser Micromachining Engineer
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Nikki received her BS in bioengineering from Florida Gulf Coast University. Since graduating in 2021, She has primarily worked in Quality engineering related roles such as IQ/OQ of femtosecond laser machining system at Metronom Health (a continuous glucose monitor company) After beating bone cancer in 2021, Nikki has become an expert in machine vision automation, CMM measurement systems, inspection and measurement verification and development of femtosecond laser reel to reel processes. She is an expert in Matlab and Excel, and is a Solidworks certified Associate.