What services do you offer?
For more than 12 years, Escalate Life Sciences has been a global leader providing value-added consulting & staffing solutions to its clients within the life sciences industry. We support our clients with Talent Acquisition, Staffing, Contractor Support, Capital Projects, Project Management/Controls, Project Cost Management & Consulting in Scientific, Engineering & Quality Systems areas within the Life Sciences (Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Medical Devices) /FDA Regulated Industry.
We are a specialized in commissioning, validation, process engineering, automation, facilities/utilities, quality/regulatory systems, manufacturing & laboratory start up and technology transfer with the unique value-added proposition of providing hands-on expertise, staffing, consulting & turnkey project solutions to the regulated Life Sciences Manufacturing Industry (Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Medical Devices). Examples of our services include but are not limited to: Commissioning, Qualification & Validation (CQV), Facility Start-Up (Manufacturing & Labs), Facilities & Utilities, Process Engineering, Quality Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineers, Regulatory Affairs Specialists, Equipment Qualification, Process Validation, Automation/Computer Systems Validation (CSV), Controls Engineering, Project Management, Cost Management, Procurement, Project Controls, Construction Management, Packaging Validation, Analytical Method Transfer/Validation, Operational Excellence, Consent Decree Management, Remediation Plans, Maintenance and Reliability, Research & Development, Analytical Development, Cleaning Validation, Environmental Monitoring, Sterility Assurance, Process Development/Validation, Technology Transfer, Regulatory Filings, Inspection Readiness, Mock PAIs, Quality Systems/Quality by Design (QBD), Process Analytical Technologies (PAT), Process Excellence, Quality Risk Management and Scientific/Process Engineering Training & Certifications.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy developing value-added service solutions, alternatives and proposals to support our client challenges & needs while also developing, mentoring and motivating our employees. It is my strong belief that the success of any company lies in its capability to acquire, develop and retain dedicated professionals who work hand in hand toward common goals. We are doing this by offering Escalate resources and employees an environment of continuous learning, responsibility, appreciation and respect, enabling everyone to develop to their full potential. On the other hand, we are a client-oriented organization and we strive to provide excellent customer service, transparency and staffing/consulting solutions to our clients in a cost-effective way.
What inspired you to start your business?
I wanted to use my previous experience in the industry and academia to provide customized/specialized staffing and consulting services fitted to client needs in the Life Sciences Sector. I wanted to provide science-based consulting/staffing solutions to clients that needed specific expertise based on their innovative capital projects. Prior to launching Escalate Life Sciences, I worked for more than 12 years at J&J in Global R&D, Operations, Technical Services, Engineering, Operations teams responsible for technology transfers, facility start-ups, regulatory filing and registration & launching new products by integrating R&D, Analytical Development, Operations and Quality Multifunctional Teams in International Assignments. I was also a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and PMP Instructor. As part of my academic career, I earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmaceutical Sciences /Pharmaceutics from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia/Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Master of Engineering in Manufacturing Engineering and Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering (UPR). I had the opportunity to be a professor at Graduate Level (MS & PhD) teaching courses in Engineering Management, Project Management, Lean Six Sigma, Manufacturing Engineering, Validation, Packaging Technology, Six Sigma, Industrial Automation, Process Control, Process Measurements/Control Standards and Process Engineering courses.
These experiences in the industry and academia allowed me to provide tailored/specialized services to the Life Sciences industries and started providing services independently and then developing/training employees to increase our volume and areas of services. Being on the client side for many years in my career allowed me to understand the Voice of the Customer (VOC) and develop service solutions to major areas of needs & challenges within the Life Sciences industry.
What gets you out of bed every morning?
In addition to coffee & exercise J! I would say, a genuine “Sense of responsibility”. I feel motivated every day by the responsibility of serving my family, employees, clients and community. There is nothing more rewarding that being a value-added agent of change, service and motivation while contributing and being able to respond to any challenge with positive energy, emotional intelligence and team work. I enjoy developing value-added service solutions, alternatives and proposals to support our client challenges & needs while also developing, mentoring and motivating our employees.
What is your secret to making progress each day?
Time management. I always try to plan, prioritize, execute & leave room for unplanned daily challenges. As part of my every day planning/prioritization, I target 3 major deliverables/goals per day within the following areas (Family, Actual Clients, Potential Clients, Business Operations/Employees, Partners/Community) and leave some open space for unplanned daily challenges or requests. I monitor daily progress and then at the end a weekly progress to see if all deliverables were achieved and if there are activities to be re-scheduled and prioritized for next week. I highly value the meeting times, respect the time and effort that any person contributes and give all my attention to the person in front of me.
Tell us one thing people don’t know about you.
We relocated to Central Florida/Lake Nona in 2018 as part of a business continuity plan for my business. My family [Wife and 3 children] loved the area so much that we decided to stay. We are happy to call Lake Nona, Orlando home and appreciate the opportunity to be a client at the UCF BI soft-landing program. These offices are now our Global Headquarters to continue our expansion in Florida, USA and International markets.
A typical weekend for me is…
During weekends we like to go out to restaurants, do exercise, visit theme parks (Disney, Universal), spend time with friends, BBQ, pool, watch movies, family game nights and in general dedicate time to family to recharge for next week.
What will people get from your business that they won’t get anywhere else?
Our broad service portfolio/solutions, resources, extensive experience, effective project/cost management, value added approach, customer service, transparency and exceptional cost effectiveness, have already proven to be a winning combination for global corporations, as well as small and medium sized companies. We are a client-oriented organization and we strive to provide excellent customer service and customized staffing/consulting solutions to our clients in a cost-effective way. Our consultants and expert staff have consistently enabled rapid global deployment of customized consulting solutions, well-organized project teams anywhere our clients require the services. Also, we are a preferred Quality and Compliance Solutions Provider for our clients – Complete Quality Solution Provider for our Customer’s GCP, GLP, GMP & GDP.
During client visits, we obtain VoC (Voice of the Customer) for continuous performance management of our resources. We provide continuous direction on technical performance management of our resources/projects and financial performance, cost management reviews with our clients to ensure that business deliverables/goals are met within financial budget commitments. We Provide Complimentary Lunch & Learn trainings and certifications (1hr) courses, according to client’s needs and requests. This is to provide training and education to client’s staff and groups to assure knowledge transfer. We focus on being a partner and a science-based consulting/staffing firm, with presence at the site, engagement and accountability. We will not focus on just placing a resource at your facility to perform a job; we will focus on integrating consultants/staff to your team, be responsible for your turn-key projects and become a value-added long-term business partner to your organization with common purpose, goals and direction.
Have you won any awards or had any special recognition or acknowledgement of your business?
- 40 under 40, Caribbean Business 2015
- Entrepreneur of the Year 2017, INTECO PR
- Successful Entrepreneur 2017 Imagen Magazine
- Ranked Top 3 Major Validation Consulting companies in the Caribbean (2019-2022)
- Escalate Life Sciences: A Key Provider of Validation Services for Covid-19 Vaccine Manufacturing Operations, Top Caribbean Companies, Feb 24, 2022, Caribbean Business 2022
What are your plans for the future of your business?
- Use our offices at UCFBIP Lake Nona as Headquarter for our Global Operations
- Expand our services footprint in Florida, US and International Markets in Biotech, Pharma and Medical Devices.
- Be a Contributor/Value Added Partner to Train and Develop Resources in our Region to attract Life Sciences Industry.
- Be a solution provider of staffing/resources for Turn Key Projects that will enable start up, R&D, manufacturing operations of new facilities, products and services in FDA Regulated Sectors.
- Contribute to attract Life Sciences to Central Florida through Strategic Partnerships.
- Drive our Business Growth in Central Florida
- Partner with UCFBIP & OEP to support training/development in specific areas related to our Life Sciences certification programs.
- Global launch of our new service platforms from Central Florida.
What’s your secret talent no one knows about?
I am a runner and love to participate in all available Disney run marathons, with my wife and 3 children!
What did you want to be when growing up?
I was always interested in Sciences. Since I was in high school I developed a natural biodegradable insecticide and participated in International Science Fairs, I also wanted to be an Engineer to develop new products and processes. I followed that dream/path and was able to complete my BS in Chemical Engineering and MS in Manufacturing Engineering. Then I earned a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Therefore, I feel that I fulfilled my academic career and professional dreams and I studied and actually work in what I wanted when growing up.
What is your favorite thing to do in the wonderful area of Central Florida?
Before relocating to Lake Nona, we always came to Orlando for vacations, mostly to visit the theme parks. Now that we live here we love so many things about Central Florida, of course the theme parks (Disney, Universal), outdoor activities, running, nearby beaches, springs, social/cultural events, restaurants, shopping/outlets, entertainment for children, health & wellbeing places, universities/education, great area to raise a family and a very friendly place to conduct businesses. We love the area and are happy to call Central Florida Home.
What would people never guess you do in your role?
I spend a good amount of time in relationship management and resource and business development. For that purpose, I study new business trends, technologies that could help our clients. I also conduct research of our resources career paths and our potential clients in order to understand their needs and be able to propose areas of opportunities, service solutions or career development initiatives.
What do you love most about your industry?
I love that we work to support our clients in developing, manufacturing and launching new drug substances and drug products that will contribute to the health and wellbeing of many patients. It is very rewarding to work in projects where new manufacturing facilities, technologies and products are launched for the benefit of patients, healthcare, treatments and cure of many medical conditions. As a recent example during the Covid-19 pandemic, we were a value-added service provider of CQV services to validate and contribute towards the launch and approval, in record time, of Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing operations for our clients worldwide. This opportunity allowed Escalate’s resources to serve in qualifying Covid-19 vaccine novel manufacturing platforms, equipment and operations around the world (US, Spain, and Switzerland). We are humbled by the opportunity of being able to continuously serve our clients and consequently patients with our exceptional staff/resources during the Covid-19 worldwide pandemic. I feel very proud of our team, our client/patient-oriented approach and our contributions during these unprecedented times. It was a historic challenge but a rewarding effort to be a key contributor to support launching a Covid-19 vaccine available for the benefit of many patients and for all of us to be safe and resume life as we knew it.
How have you advanced professionally since starting your business?
I have been very fortunate/blessed with my professional career but it is a reflection of constant learning, respect for our team, clients and directly correlated to my personal growth and development. When you care and are passionate about what you do, that reflects in every aspect of your life. For the past 12 years, we have consistently advanced and demonstrated our work ethic, expertise, quality driven service and track record within the life sciences industry by providing specialized services in engineering, validation and quality systems, which have allowed our company to expand worldwide. But it is the human factor, the continuous learning attitude, humbleness and care for our main values (family, employees, clients and community) the real reflection of our advancement in life. The pursuit of business results and success should never supersede core values, integrity or ethical behavior.
