Quality Engineer Business Development

Ikenna Ekelem

937-***-**** ******.******@*****.***

PROFILE

Business development professional with a proven track record of negotiating and executing licensing agreements.

Quality engineer with expertise in spearheading root cause analysis and implementing corrective/preventive actions.

Skilled in IP management, market analysis, startup formation, and cross-functional collaboration.

ASQ-certified and driven to translate research innovations into impactful market solutions.

EXPERIENCE

Business Development Associate

Columbia Technology Ventures – New York, NY 09/2022 – Present

Negotiated and executed 50+ licensing agreements across life sciences, engineering, and physical sciences.

Manage 100+ technology assets; perform market analysis and IP due diligence to identify commercialization strategies.

Support startup formation, business plans, and investor outreach.

Create marketing materials and outreach campaigns to engage licensees and partners.

Coordinate patent filings with legal counsel and inventors and organize training workshops for researchers.

Quality Engineer

SPS Technologies – Philadelphia, PA 09/2019 – 08/2022

Supervised 15 machine operators and improved workflow efficiency by 10%.

Led product validation and launch, ensuring quality and regulatory compliance.

Applied SPC tools (Cp, Cpk) and analyzed KPIs to drive process improvements.

Led internal audits and enhanced SOPs through 6S initiatives.

Quality Engineer

Faurecia Interior Systems – Saline, MI 10/2018 – 07/2019

Directed failure investigations, implemented corrective actions, and conducted internal audits.

Delivered training programs and enforced safety/quality standards.

Quality Engineer

Jac Products – Saline, MI 06/2018 – 10/2018

Conducted inspections, root cause analyses, and supported continuous improvement activities.

Teaching Assistant

University of Dayton, OH 2015–2017

Supported instruction by assisting with material generation, lesson plan development, class preparation, scheduling, exam distribution and student mentoring.

Conducted individualized instructional sessions of core concepts and principles in two courses: "Applied Mathematics for Chemical Engineers" and "Transport Phenomena.".

Quality Assurance Assistant / Manufacturing Engineer

Pal Pharmaceutical Industries, Nigeria 2013–2015

Carried out lab test procedures and readings and analyzed results using mass spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy machine, and x-ray diffraction machine.

EDUCATION

M.S., Chemical Engineering

University of Dayton – Dayton, OH, 2017

Graduate Certificate, Engineering Systems Management

University of Dayton – Dayton, OH, 2017

B.Eng., Chemical Engineering

Nnamdi Azikiwe University – Awka, Nigeria, 2011

SKILLS & CERTIFICATIONS

Licensing, Negotiation, IP Management

Market Research & Startup Support

Strategic Partnerships & Business Planning

Data Analysis SPC Risk Management

Microsoft Office MATLAB Chemcad SPSS GAMS Tora Polymath

ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)

ASQ Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB)

Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

American Society for Quality (ASQ)

Contact this candidate