Meet Our Team

A few VATA team members shared a little bit about themselves. Learn more about a few of our team members below.

Brandi Rogers

Inside Sales & Account Manager

When did you join VATA? April 2019

What do you enjoy most about each workday? My favorite part of the day is first thing in the morning when I go through my email inbox. Since we’re in the Pacific Standard Time zone, our day starts later and many of our customers have already had a chance to email responses, requests, etc. And I thoroughly enjoy catching up on these communications and feeling connected with people from all over the country and the world.

What is something that your coworkers would be surprised to learn about you? I’m an Elton John fanatic! I own all of his albums and have seen him in concert 14 times. The first was in 1998 when I was 15 and I was definitely among the younger of his fans at many of the shows.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I enjoy live music, board games, trivia nights, ping pong, and traveling.

 

Mary Nizich

Office Manager

When did you join VATA? April 2008

What do you enjoy most about each workday? I enjoy the variety of my work, the people I work with, and helping our customers. I am never bored and take on the challenge of juggling many tasks.

What is something that your coworkers would be surprised to learn about you? I was born in Heidelberg, Germany, my dad was in the army and stationed there when I was born.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Spending time with my family: camping, hiking, going to the beach, playing games. Working in my yard and gardening, especially growing fresh veggies. I love cooking and trying new recipes.

What is something that people would be surprised to learn about your job? How complex and challenging it is to ship VATA’s medical skills trainers to remote hospitals around the globe. We have a map of the world in the office and like to flag the different countries we ship to each week.

 

John Moran

Director of New Product Development

When did you join VATA? September 2018

What do you enjoy most about each workday? Collaborating with the R&D team on developing new products

What is something that your coworkers would be surprised to learn about you? That I used to work off-shore and would spend up to two months on a boat without seeing land.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Spending time with my wife and dog, cooking, and fixing up a 95-year-old house.

What is something that people would be surprised to learn about your job? How much new technology we use to develop products. We utilize the newest technologies in 3D modeling, 3D scanning, and 3D printing to develop lifelike products.

 

Alfredo Martinez
Production

When did you join VATA? November 2004

What do you enjoy most about each workday? Learning new things in wound care and how to produce new products.

What is something that your coworkers would be surprised to learn about you? Did bull riding several times around the age of 15.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Playing with my kids and riding my bike.

What is something that people would be surprised to learn about your job? That all the products we produce are made and painted by hand to get the level of detail we want.

Cristina Cruz
Production

When did you join VATA? May 2010 (just had 10-year anniversary)

What do you enjoy most about each workday? I enjoy the people; everyone is very friendly and feels like family.

What is something that your coworkers would be surprised to learn about you? That I like watching basketball, especially the Trail Blazers.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Playing with my kids and I love to paint.

What is something that people would be surprised to learn about your job? The amount of time spent on each product and that all products are tested before being shipped.

 

Miriah Stuart

Purchasing and Accounting

When did you join VATA? July 15, 2015

What do you enjoy most about each workday? I love the variety of my job. I love to buy what we need and not run out of materials. I enjoy my tasks in the production area with keeping inventory accurate and assisting with receiving challenges. I really love discovering an inventory or accounting problem, and going to any lengths to sort it out.

What is something that your coworkers would be surprised to learn about you? I’m a great horse trainer.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Reading, seeing friends, walking my dog, keeping my yard nice, road trips to the beach.

What is something that people would be surprised to learn about your job? Sometimes I work really hard to keep the supply chain from coming apart.