What Most Can Only Imagine, We Engineer

Robert (Bob) Treiber has been president of Boston Engineering since co-founding the company in 1995. His leadership and visionary thinking propels new technologies forward and ensures that a systems approach to engineering underlies all projects.

His expertise in embedded controls and product development provides an emphasis on precision and quality control throughout the company. Within his impressive career, Bob has designed, developed, and managed successful projects in circuit design, custom robotics, and electromechanical machinery.

Bob’s previous experience includes leadership roles at Herbst LaZar Bell, MPM Corporation, Foster-Miller, Inc., and Raytheon Company. Bob holds bachelor and master degrees in electrical engineering from Tufts University and an MBA from Babson College.

Bob serves as a director for the Tufts Gordon Institute’s Industry Advisory Council, the Tufts Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering External Advisory Board, the New England Business Association, and the National Small Business Association.

“Big ideas. Precise execution.”

Mark Smithers, a founding member of Boston Engineering, leads the company’s strategic development activities. He oversees the project management operation for the business and leads activities for the company’s technology/IP creations. Mark combines his experience as a systems engineer and innovator with business expertise to help guide customers towards commercialization success.

Mark’s previous experience includes serving as director of engineering for Herbst LaZar Bell, Inc., as program manager for MPM Corporation, as project design engineer for Foster-Miller, Inc., and as design engineer for Daymarc Corporation. Mark holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University in Boston.

He is a former chairman of the New England SEMI Group, a charter member of the MassTLC Robotics Cluster, a member of AUVSI New England, a member of the New England Innovation Alliance, and a member of the MassMEP board of directors.

“Our success is directly measured by client success and the impact we have on the world, on society, and on people.”

Paul O’Connor applies his product commercialization experience to advance new products and technologies for medical clients at Boston Engineering.  Paul has directed business strategy and product innovation for organizations including Smith & Nephew Orthopedics and a medical product design firm.

Notable achievements during his nearly two decades at Smith & Nephew Orthopedics include:

• Led 24% increase (CAGR) in new product revenues for the Smith & Nephew Orthopedics Tissue Repair Group during a five-year period
• Directed four major project launches within 18 months as the research & development director for Smith & Nephew Orthopedics Extremities
• Managed a prototype development team that fulfilled more than 1,000 proof-of-concept device requests annually
• Developed product portfolio and technology planning strategies as group director for Smith & Nephew Orthopedics Arthroscopic Repair
• Performed acquisition due diligence and technology evaluation
• Created and maintained relationships with surgeons and related key opinion leaders
• Served on the company’s compliance review board, and participated in FDA and ISO audits

Prior to joining Smith & Nephew, Paul led product development for TNCO Inc., a product engineering and contract manufacturing firm in Massachusetts. In this role, he developed medical devices used throughout the surgical suite, including laparoscopic, arthroscopic, thoracic, and spinal procedures.

Education

Paul received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering (BSME) from Northeastern University and a Master of Science in management from Lesley University. Additionally, he earned a certificate in strategy and innovation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and certificates that include Design for Six Sigma and change management from the Acuity Institute.

Professional Recognition

Paul holds four medical patents and has additional patents pending.

Kristin Treiber serves as Boston Engineering’s human resources manager. She oversees the recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new employees. Kristin also consults with senior managers on strategic planning, and serves as a link between the organization’s management and its employees.

Prior to joining Boston Engineering, Kristin served in senior finance and human resources positions for organizations including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Works and ASEC Corporation.

Kristin holds a bachelor degree in finance from Simmons College.

“Supporting our most valuable asset – our people.”

Michael Rufo joined Boston Engineering in 2007. He is the founder of the firm’s Advanced Systems Group (ASG). Michael spearheads the company’s R&D and military robotics programs including the development of platforms, sensing and payload systems, and modular control electronics and software. As a principal engineer, he also provides technical direction to government research and development contracts related to mobility and uncrewed systems, robotics, and related enabling technologies.

Michael contributes extensive experience involving underwater, uncrewed and autonomous systems, and automation equipment. His experience includes serving as principal investigator and project manager of systems for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Michael is a member of IEEE Robotics and Ocean Engineering societies. Michael holds bachelor and master degrees in mechanical engineering, and a certificate in project management from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Since joining Boston Engineering in 1999, Gaetano Fichera has led the successful design, development, and integration of numerous products for clients. His efforts involve developing and overseeing programs with an industrial and electronics focus. Guy’s career has been centers on custom circuit design involving analog and digital circuitry. He provides an in-depth knowledge of power supply, temperature and motor control design, and embedded systems. Guy is skilled in developing innovative, economical solutions that meet or exceed customer needs.

Guy also developed the FlexMC Motor Control Development Platform™, a rapid development system for any motor control solution. Boston Engineering is Analog Devices’ exclusive motor control design partner in North America and Europe.

His previous experience includes providing hardware design for Sanders, a Lockheed Martin Company (now BAE Systems). Guy holds an electrical engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and an MBA in technology management from Babson College.

“Guy takes pride in developing innovative, economical solutions that meet and exceed client needs.”

Heather Moyer applies product development and commercialization experience that spans applied R&D, engineering and system integration, testing and validation, and iterative product/process improvement. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with significant experience in leading complex projects and collaborating with technical teams to deliver value and achieve tangible outcomes.

In her previous roles, Heather was the Managing Director of a small engineering firm providing custom hardware and software solutions for data acquisition, signal processing, automation, and process monitoring and control. Heather secured and led a successful Phase II Small Business Innovation Research project to develop a biofidelic slip tester to meet a new standard for measuring shoe-floor coefficient of friction and inform interventions to mitigate slips and falls. Prior to that, Heather served as the Program Director for the National Defense Center for Energy and Environment. In this role, she managed a portfolio of projects focused on the development, evaluation, and transition of emerging technologies and sustainability solutions to the defense industrial base. She has also provided leadership for various strategic initiatives in additive manufacturing, augmented/virtual reality, energy storage, and cybersecurity in advanced manufacturing.

Education

Heather received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Design from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. She also received an Executive MBA from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA.

John directs product development activities that include industrial design, human factors, user research, and preliminary engineering concepts across the firm’s vertical business units. John transitions product concepts effectively to ensure the design intent is achieved, verified, and validated.

Prior to joining Boston Engineering in 2012, John served as director of engineering at Eclipse Product Development, as director of engineering at Herbst Lazar Bell, Inc., and as a mechanical engineer at Bayer AGFA Corporation and Wang Laboratories.

John attended the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and has been trained in the Design for Manufacture, Boothroyd-Dewhurst Methodology. He contributes extensive experience in plastic molding technologies and processes. John holds more than 60 U.S. utility and design patents across medical, consumer, and industrial products.

John’s professional recognition includes:

• Winner of “Good Design 2005” and an IDEA award sponsored by BusinessWeek for Ethicon, Inc.’s Embrace Heart Stabilizer
• Winner of “Good Design 2001″ for an American Safety Razor multipurpose utility knife
• Winner of “Good Design 1998″ for a Gilbarco Veeder-Root automated gasoline dispenser

“Transform aesthetic, safe, and user-friendly concepts into fully engineered products ready for manufacture.”

Jose Vazquez’s public sector career includes nearly 15 years leading technology development programs that advance capabilities for U.S. soldiers and first responders. The commercialization of more than a dozen defense and security products reflects Jose Vazquez ’s ability to combine product innovation and usability.

As a director at both the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), Jose Vazquez drove rapid spiral technology development and worked closely with users to optimize new products for their operational requirements.

During his two decades of U.S. Navy service, Jose Vazquez held engineering and weapons systems responsibilities that culminated as second in command of an AEGIS cruiser. Jose also operated, maintained, and fielded engineering, communications, and advanced computer systems during his U.S. Navy career.

Jose holds a B.S. degree in physical science from the U.S. Naval Academy, and an M.S. degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in applied science (underwater physics).

His professional recognition includes receiving the secretary of Homeland Security Excellence Award for fielding technologies.