RICHARD M. EATON
**** ********** *** ***: 703-***-****
Alexandria, VA 22310 abpjfg@r.postjobfree.com evening: 703-***-****
ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL
LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY ADVOCACY INDUSTRY STANDARDS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Seasoned trade association manager with successful track record in regulatory advocacy of member
interests with federal agencies, member-driven program management, and industry meetings / conference
management. Catalyst in development of technical performance measurement standards for industry. Team
player and consensus builder in advocating industry positions to government.
Juris Doctor with prior law background. Dedicated and conscientious program administrator with talent for
juggling multiple projects on technical and regulatory issues. Member of ASAE. NEMA Award Winner 1999.
KEY COMPETENCIES
Strategy & Mission Planning Regulatory & Legislative Affairs Member Relations
Professional Development Member Development & Retention Industry Advocacy
Administration & Reporting Industry Standards Development Educational Programs
Strategic Partnerships Strategic & Tactical Planning Special Events
Regulatory Compliance Policy Development PC Literate
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (NEMA), Rosslyn, VA 1988 to present
Oldest and largest US trade association serving the electrical industry, structured in industry-specific subdivisions.
Association benefits: member interest advocacy, educational programs, technical standards development, and networking.
Industry Manager Diagnostic Imaging and Therapy Systems Division
Increased scope of responsibility and stewardship in response to ever-expanding technical and regulatory
issues facing industry. Key player in administration, strategic planning, program management, communications,
government affairs, and program / service development for division.
Regulatory / Legislative Advocacy & Member Support: Represented industry to federal agencies,
including FDA, CMS, and NRC. Supported 45-50 association members (US and multinational manufacturers of
diagnostic ultrasound, nuclear medicine imaging, magnetic resonance, and other medical devices) in providing
government-affairs technical assistance.
Advocacy Leadership: Spearheaded advocacy efforts on issues affecting members. Analyzed proposed rules,
regulations, and statutes involving diagnostic imaging and therapy systems industry, establishing advocacy
positions and strategies. Worked with members to direct and implement government relations workplan.
Medicare Coverage & Reimbursement: Won NEMA Award (1999) for pioneering leadership role in critical area
affecting membership base. Established strategic federal legislative and regulatory advocacy program which
encompassed Medicare coverage and reimbursement policy issues.
Private Payor Advocacy: Led efforts to reverse private payors (Aetna and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of
Illinois) non-coverage policy on reimbursement of computer-aided detection (CAD) with full-field digital
mammography (FFDM). Successfully refuted established policies by citing studies and medical literature
highlighting CAD s and FFDM s success rates.
Government Relations: Secured agreement from Veteran s Administration regarding need to streamline
and standardize VA s policy on IT / security requirements for 170 VA hospitals nationwide. Built consensus
among NEMA members on recommended revisions.
FDA Advocacy: Collaborated with FDA and manufacturer members to develop FDA marketing-approval
guidance documents for ultrasound products. Streamlined new-product marketing approval process.
Developed similar guidance document with Health Canada (Canadian FDA-type government agency).
Government Affairs Liaison: Promoted association involvement in advocacy of more efficient processes and
procedures to VA and Department of Defense (DOD) for streamlining equipment acquisition process. Recognized
opportunity for proactive response to federal legislation mandating federal agency move to commercial practices in
acquisition process.
RICHARD M. EATON Resume Page Two
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Program / Project Management: Acted as a catalyst in spearheading and managing long- and short-term
research programs on complex, potentially industry-altering issues such as Medicare Reimbursement and
emergence of radiology benefit management (RBM) companies. Engaged outside experts and law firms in
support of research efforts, and served as key administrator.
FDA Approval Study: Successfully administered 8-year FDA post-market approval study for lithotripter
manufacturers ($1 million budget). Approached by manufacturers to oversee clinical study, and coordinate
logistics and budget disbursements.
- Developed, negotiated, and executed project contracts involving NEMA and manufacturers. Established
scheduling and procedures for payment to study center and study advisors, and tracked disbursements.
- Coordinated reporting to FDA, and organized and managed conferences with FDA to review findings.
- Achieved continued regulatory approval for marketing of lithotripsy devices by manufacturers.
Special Research Project: Responded to members requests for research into radiation benefit management
companies and their impact on industry. Collaborated with industry members to engage research company to
investigate issue. Coordinated communications with member-funded research company and association.
Industry Technical Standards Development: Managed and directed development of technical
performance measurement standards for diagnostic ultrasound and nuclear medicine imaging products.
Monitored and maintained standards compliance with antitrust laws.
Industry Leadership: Collaborated and communicated with International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) in development of standards adopted worldwide for diagnostic imaging and therapy system products
as Technical Advisory Group Administrator for two technical committees. Representative IEC members
include US, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, and South Korea.
Committee Management: Oversaw and managed three workgroups tasked with developing new and more
advanced standards for digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) to enhance capabilities
in communication of medical data.
Conferences & Educational Programming: Planned, organized, and oversaw all aspects of industry
meetings and conferences attended by membership base, regulatory officials and agents, and/or
manufacturers representatives.
Conference Management: Served as central management hub in planning, organizing, coordinating, and
managing one-day regulatory-topic conference. Generated more than $1,000 profit for event with 100 attendees.
- Drew conference participants from FDA and association membership with educational programming
geared to new regulatory requirements for diagnostic ultrasound product applications.
- Determined and managed conference agenda, event venue, logistics, and technical equipment. Recruited
informed speakers from relevant manufacturing and industry players.
- Taped presentations for after-market sales to ensure ongoing revenue stream and to provide non-
attendees with up-to-date regulatory information.
Vendor Expo Management: Arranged and directed manufacturer-member vendor day held on-site at FDA
(per FDA s request). Members educated FDA attendees on technical aspects of ultrasound devices,
enhancing FDA s knowledge about diagnostic ultrasound.
Analyst, BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, Florham Park, NJ 1981 to 1988
Strategic Planning & Marketing: Managed strategic plan development for departments within Blue Shield.
Coordinated development of marketing strategies and campaigns.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Attorney engaged in general practice in two law firms.
EDUCATION
J.D., Law Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
B.A., Political Science The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD