WSBA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

 Arleen Thukral, MS, CCE, CHTM (VA Medical Center)

Arleen Thukral is a VISN 20 Network Operations Biomedical Engineer. She is currently Acting Chief Biomedical Engineer at Puget Sound VAMC. She began her tenure with the Department of Veteran Affairs through the Technical Career Field (TCF) program and became the Chief Biomedical Engineering in 2014 at Fresno, CA, VA hospital. In 2017, she served as President California Medical Instrumentation Association, San Joaquin Valley Chapter. Originally from the east coast, Ms. Thukral graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering.

 

Dennis McMahon (Virginia Mason & North Seattle College, Retired)

 

Dennis McMahon: Now retired, Dennis worked primarily in the surgical setting both at Harborview Medical Center and at Virginia Mason for almost 40 years.  He was an Anesthesia Technician for 15 years, and certified as a Biomed Tech in 1980.  He has a degree in Chemistry from Seattle University. Dennis instructed the Biomed courses at North Seattle college from 2002 to 2014. He volunteered for 7 different Operation Smile missions in 4 different countries.  Dennis has been a WSBA member for over 20 years, and has served on the board since 2014.

 Jim Kenyon, CBET (Sacred Heart, Pullman WA)

Jim Kenyon: I grew up in Eastern Washington and graduated from the Spokane Community College Biomedical Technician program.  I began my career at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, WA and stayed there for 17 years, the last six as Supervisor.  Moving back to Eastern Washington in 2004, I joined the Engineering Services Dept. at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane, WA as a Field Service Engineer.  I have been in Pullman, WA since that time.  I served the WSBA  in many positions while at Good Samaritan over the course of eight years.  I have served as the WSBA's Eastside/East Cascades representative for several years.  We envision bringing more education opportunities to Eastern Washington and enhancing the profession for all who work in its varied settings.

 

Glen Steele (Multicare, Tacoma) 

 

Glen Steele: Glen has been in the medical equipment repair field for 36 years. He served in the United Sates Navy as a Fire Control Technician for ten years. He is an avid road biker (pedal kind) averaging>1000 miles a season. Glen is active in the United Food and Commercial Workers local 21 as a union steward and numerous community outreach organizations such as Movement Builders. Glen has stated, “Being a WSBA board member allows me to contribute to my life’s vocation”. “I especially feel new people entering this field benefit from the WSBA in a very tangible way.”

Stevie Schmidt (General Manager, Interstate All Battery Center)

Stevie Schmidt:  General Manager of Interstate All Battery I’ve worked in a number of fields, during my life including making drapes, building long line fishing gear for commercial fishing boats and for 20 years selling Marine and Diesel parts to the Ballard Fishing Fleet. I love the technical aspects of batteries, they keep me challenged and learning. Helping to solve a problem for a customer or find a battery for a custom application is something I enjoy. Most of all, I am a slave to my grandchildren who are two of the cutest little terrors I have ever met.

 

Anantharaman (Andy) Veeriah  (Yesmar Global Solutions LLC)  

Anantharaman, aka Andy, Veeriah, has been working in the Biomedical field since 1983 currently owns a startup business providing technology management consultancy with the motto to help deliver healthcare to all in safe, efficient and sustainable way. He has Bachelor’s degree in Electronics engineering and completed MBA in 2010. He held different roles, from field service engineer to national service manager for multinational companies such as GE, Bayer and ARAMARK in addition briefly worked as production and design engineer in the beginning of his long and rewarding career.

Andy states he loves working in Biomedical field mainly because it is a profession in a constant flux “there is no end to learning here and no two work days are the same”.  He started participating in WSBA activities since 2005 but decided to learn more about the organizing and to actively contribute accepted the honor to serve in the WSBA board in 2015. At present the top three motivators for him are, giving back to the community by being a good Samaritan, mentoring young graduates and help shape the healthcare landscape through active professional engagement.

Bradley Gray, BMET2 (Swedish Hospital First Hill, Seattle) 

Bradley has been working in the Biomedical Field for 6 years.  

Russell Elledge (GE Healthcare)
Greg Smith (Northfield Instrument Services)

Kyle Grozelle (Manager of Global Education & Training, Summit Imaging)