CRITERION - Key Persons


Alex Cannas

Job Titles:
  • Senior Medical Equipment Planner
Alex joined the Criterion team in 2016 as a recent graduate of California State University, Fullerton and quickly became immersed in the many aspects of the medical equipment planning arena. Alex's responsibilities include submittal preparation and documentation, researching equipment and alternatives, tracking project schedules, attending design team and user group meetings, performing existing equipment inventories and leading significant logistics efforts.

Avantika Gurung

Job Titles:
  • BIM Designer

Charlie Cornaire

Job Titles:
  • Director of Procurement & Activation
Charlie began his procurement and logistics career while serving as Captain with the United States Army where he oversaw daily logistics operations including long-range strategic planning, equipment inventories, tracking, readiness and maintenance. His post-military career included several years as a Material Planner/Buyer, where he led the domestic and international movement of universal power systems and electronics. As Director of Procurement & Activation, Charlie oversees Criterion's Procurement and Activation service line to ensure quality and consistency across all projects. He maintains close involvement during Construction Administration, applying proven procurement strategies to leverage purchasing power and achieve best overall value for clients. Additionally, Charlie provides training and guidance to supporting team members.

Chris Riley

Job Titles:
  • Senior Project Manager
Chris is an accomplished veteran in healthcare facilities, biomedical and IT systems planning who offers over 21 years' experience in the healthcare industry. He is proficient in all phases of project design and delivery and is adept at leading teams from validation through close-out. Chris has a fervent affection for technology integration between medical equipment and Healthcare IT systems which, paired with his keen eye for details, makes him an exceptional project manager. He enjoys taking a proactive approach to addressing project challenges and offering "out of the box" solutions.

Christine Foley

Job Titles:
  • Finance Assistant
Christine participates in a broad range of Criterion's finance and operations activities, interacting regularly with in-house team members and external clients. On the finance side, she creates and analyzes custom reports, sets up new projects in Criterion's internal time tracking database, assists with monthly invoicing, reconciles financial accounts and maintains accuracy of financial and budget records. On the operations side, she creates and maintains SOPs, continually improves the efficiency of internal administrative systems and participates in the analysis of new software and equipment to enhance operations. Christine has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from University of California San Diego.

David Lin

Job Titles:
  • Senior Technical Lead / Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design - Columbia University
David brings over 20 years' experience in healthcare planning and design, where his career has been marked by an acute focus on medical equipment, imaging modalities and HCAI (formerly OSHPD) review projects. He is especially skilled with MEP/S and ADA coordination for HCAI projects and enjoys developing creative solutions in response to project challenges. Having spent over two decades working directly for prominent healthcare architecture firms, David blends his architectural perspective with the consultant role to provide optimal service that greatly benefits both the owner and design team.

Denise Blackwell

Job Titles:
  • Procurement & Logistics Specialist

Heather Porto - President

Job Titles:
  • President
Heather launched her career in the early 2000s as a laboratory planner, completing hundreds of projects in the medical, academic, research and biomedical fields both nationally and internationally. Since joining Criterion in 2016, she has applied her sophisticated blend of expertise and technical skills toward the delivery of countless more high-profile healthcare projects. As President, Heather is responsible for the overall guidance of Criterion, including oversight of company-wide operations, setting and meeting goals, establishing standards, building new business and maintaining existing client relationships. She is also closely involved in strategic partnership decision-making and considering new business opportunities.

Jasmine Bunning

Job Titles:
  • Medical Equipment Planner
As a procurement specialist, Jasmine spent five years performing purchasing and procurement for engineering, housing development and patient-monitoring medical equipment prior to joining Criterion in 2016. In her role, she solicits bids from vendors, tracks purchasing and delivery schedules, inputs requisitions and purchase orders, and provides delivery and logistics oversight during the move-in phase. She also participates in existing equipment inventories and meeting coordination.

Jennifer Ludlam

Job Titles:
  • Director of Medical Equipment Planning
Jennifer brings over 20 years of experience in medical equipment planning, healthcare architecture, project management and transition planning. This vast experience is marked by proficiency coordinating with all project team disciplines on the technical equipment details and an aptitude for reviewing vendor drawings. Jennifer is responsible for managing projects from inception through close-out, serving as the primary day-to-day client contact, leading user meetings, seeking opportunities for innovation, facilitating the procurement process and ensuring successful project delivery.

Jennifer Poncin

Job Titles:
  • Operations Assistant

Jessica Vivas

Job Titles:
  • Laboratory & Medical Equipment Planner

Kari Seekatz

Job Titles:
  • Director of Marketing & Strategy
Kari joined the AEC industry in 2002 as a project assistant and transitioned to professional services marketing in 2005. She has dedicated the last 17 years to working with nationally renowned consulting and architectural firms, enabling her to successfully develop and implement marketing strategies. In her role at Criterion, she is responsible for responding to proposal requests, developing both written and visual content, client relations and general marketing communications. Additionally, she oversees proposal, qualification and presentation timelines, performs updates to the sales forecast to ensure accurate workload predictions and resource allocation and works with Criterion's Finance department on predictive business analytics.

Katie Weber

Job Titles:
  • Procurement & Logistics Lead
  • Procurement and Logistics Specialist
Katie is a seasoned procurement and logistics specialist who has worked directly in the field since 2005. Her considerable level of experience issuing purchase orders, collecting and analyzing bids, processing credits and rebates, managing change orders and providing on-site delivery and logistics expertise and support make her a valuable resource to healthcare systems. Katie is proficient in many procurement-related programs and is adept at representing a wide variety of end users and stakeholders, developing consensus and executing goals in a collaborative and organized manner. In her role, she is responsible for soliciting quotes, developing and tracking purchasing and delivery schedules, inputting requisitions and purchase orders, and providing delivery and logistics oversight during move-in.

Laura Parkins

Job Titles:
  • Procurement & Logistics Lead
Laura is a seasoned procurement specialist with over 14 years of experience in medical equipment planning and procurement. Laura plays an integral role in the implementation and transition process. Her typical duties include soliciting vendor quotes, developing bid packages, reviewing procurement packages, assisting in equipment evaluation review and selection, communicating with project team members, researching equipment alternatives, reviewing submitted drawings, coordinating approval, performing on-site punch lists and providing oversight for installation and logistics teams.

Meisha Brady

Job Titles:
  • Senior Medical Equipment Planner
Meisha joined Criterion in 2017 after receiving her Council for Interior Design Accredited Bachelor of Science from Texas' Baylor University where she studied interior design. She provides support for both planning and Revit consulting services and is a regular face at user group meetings, design team coordination meetings and on project sites. Meisha's regular responsibilities include assistance with equipment list development and modifications, equipment research, performing existing equipment inventories and Revit equipment placement drawings.

Mindy Nickerson

Job Titles:
  • Director of Marketing & Business Development
Mindy is a tenured services marketing professional with over 15 years' experience in AEC industry marketing. Her primary responsibilities include marketing strategy, proposal writing, development of qualifications packages, copywriting, communications, client interface and special projects. Prior to joining Criterion in 2016, Mindy's professional background included over a decade with architecture and engineering firms where she was responsible for assembling proposal responses, submitting projects for awards, website content development/maintenance, and public relations, including securing feature editorials as well as writing and distributing press releases.

Molly Chesbro

Job Titles:
  • Senior Medical Equipment Planner

Nancy Heung

Job Titles:
  • Medical Equipment Consultant
Nancy is credited with the implementation and evolution of Criterion's BIM and Revit services, which have grown exponentially in both scale and demand since she joined the firm in 2015. With a robust architectural background and over 15 years' industry experience, Nancy offers the tenacity and know-how needed to tackle even the most challenging of projects. Nancy stays up-to-date on code and HCAI (formerly OSHPD) compliance changes to safeguard against delays in the permitting process. Recognizing that growth and improvement are ongoing facets of any successful enterprise, Nancy continually couples lessons learned from past projects with current planning innovations to deliver exceptional quality service.

Natalie Boyett

Job Titles:
  • Medical Equipment Planner

Nicole Blaes

Job Titles:
  • Operations & Talent Specialist
In her role with Criterion, Nicole is responsible for ensuring the continuity of the company's daily operations, from recruiting exceptional candidates to assisting with human resources, operations and finances. She also manages lunch and learn presentations, internal team member development, and conference and workshop attendance. With a sincere passion for serving others, Nicole champions Criterion's numerous volunteering engagements and interfaces directly with representatives from a multitude of non-profit organizations, including Kids Around the World, Better Together Ministries, Boys & Girls Clubs, United States Marine Corps and Family Assistance Ministries.

Nisha Nigegowda

Job Titles:
  • BIM Specialist

Norm McCollum

Job Titles:
  • Logistics & Procurement Manager
Norm joined Criterion after serving 17 years in a variety of procurement and logistics roles with Apria Healthcare where he was responsible for logistics management, profit centers, strategic planning, operational procedures, client relations, training and more. As Procurement & Logistics Manager, he coordinates several critical project components such as comprehensive site logistics and schedule, staging plans, receiving plans and procurement best practices. Norm manages the end-to-end supply chain process, including equipment validations, RFQs, PO issuance and vendor follow-up. He is also a regular on-site face, providing oversight to the logistics field team, warehouse and dock team members throughout construction.

Olivia Jones

Job Titles:
  • Operations Assistant
  • Procurement & Logistics Specialist
Olivia joined Criterion as an Operations Assistant and quickly demonstrated her impeccable organizational skills, prompting her to join the production side of medical equipment planning and procurement. In her role as Procurement & Logistics Specialist, Olivia supports Criterion's Procurement and Delivery teams through product research, soliciting quotes, inputting requisitions and purchase orders, collecting and analyzing bid packages, and coordinating with vendors.

Orley Frost

Job Titles:
  • Medical Equipment Planner

Rene Zarate

Job Titles:
  • Medical Equipment Planner
Rene's professional experience includes technical coordination spanning all phases of design and construction for healthcare and mixed-use projects. His primary responsibilities consist of Revit technical coordination, development of Revit families, understanding architects' Revit model requirements, MEP discipline drawing coordination and performing quality control. Also included among his responsibilities is the researching and testing of new technologies prior to introducing them firm-wide, such as virtual reality platforms like Fuzor, Enscape and Iris VR. Rene's experience represents a wide variety of project sizes and types, ranging from minor tenant improvements to major, ground-up facilities.

Samantha Reyes

Job Titles:
  • Procurement & Logistics Specialist
Samantha joined Criterion with several years' experience in logistics management where she gained vast experience in creating standard operating procedures, participating in inventory control and reinforcing quality control procedures. She supports Criterion's procurement and logistics activities in the development of comprehensive site logistics, scheduling, staging plans, tracking equipment deliveries and returns and ensuring on-site readiness. As a regular on-site presence, she also addresses on-site changes, coordinates equipment testing and commissioning prior to final acceptance and assists with final punch lists and corrective action plans. Samantha holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Management and Human Resources from CSU Dominguez Hills and is also licensed to operate a forklift!

Shawn Montieth

Job Titles:
  • Logistics & Construction Specialist
Shawn is a seasoned professional who takes ‘attention to detail' to a new level. In his 15+ years' experience, he has placed great focus on delivering projects in a timely manner with accuracy, improving processes and procedures along the way. Shawn has an affinity for ‘enjoying the ride'; while he loves the sense of accomplishment that comes with delivering a successful project, he is equally enamored with participating in the process. Shawn has an affinity for design-related programs like Revit and Bluebeam and is also passionate about video production.

Siera Kegel - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Finance & Operations
Siera joined Criterion with over 16 years of experience in professional finance and accounting. As Director of Finance & Operations, she is responsible for ensuring the successful growth of the company through establishing and maintaining a series of strategic financial plans, ensuring proper support for growth and stewarding charitable giving donations in alignment with giving goals. Siera oversees all aspects of Criterion's Finance and Operations departments, including accounting, payroll, contract review, human resources, recruiting, professional insurance management, contract negotiations, professional development and general company operations.

Sunday Morris

Job Titles:
  • Senior Project Manager

Suzanne Kowarsch - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer
Suzanne joined Criterion in 2005 and transitioned to the role of Owner/Principal five years later. With a strong background in Fortune 500 Account Management and an enthusiastic focus on business leadership, she has channeled her strengths toward the more than 500% growth in Criterion's overall team size and revenue in recent years. In her role as Chief Executive Officer, Suzanne stewards the strategic visioning of Criterion, articulating core values and maintaining sustainable growth of both the company and within the team. Additionally, she continues to champion Criterion's philanthropic activities, committing a dedicated portion of profits to giving back and involving team members in ample, diverse opportunities to participate in local and global service throughout the year.

Sysouk Vongphasouk

Job Titles:
  • BIM Manager
Sysouk is a drawing and coordination ninja with robust experience integrating technology into the planning and design process. His 20-year background is marked by significant experience working directly with internationally renowned architects and engineers, making him a dynamic asset to any project team. Highly skilled in BIM 360, Sysouk is a LEED Green Associate who holds both an Advanced Communication Bronze and an Advanced Competent Leadership Toastmasters Certification. He is currently in progress to become a Revit Architecture Certified Professional. Sysouk brings a passion for exploring various avenues that contribute to production efficiency and quality delivery both within Criterion and as a member of project teams. He champions embracing emerging technology and exploring opportunities for enhanced innovation and integration with Criterion's architectural partners.

Travis Ward

Job Titles:
  • Medical Equipment Planner

Vince Edson

Job Titles:
  • Director of Medical Equipment Planning
Vince has over eleven years of experience in materials management and healthcare operations. He regularly serves as the key point of contact for projects and offers the skills and experience to oversee a project from inception through move-in. His professional strengths include medical equipment planning, Revit modeling, asset management, budget and cost analysis, and negotiating supplier contracts and purchase agreements. Having served in various roles on both the planning and internal/clinical side of projects, Vince brings a unique perspective to every project.