Welcome Winston Wedge and Punam Verma
We are thrilled to announce two exceptional additions to the Companis team! As we continue to grow and strengthen our organization, we are delighted to welcome both a new board member and a new staff member, each bringing unique talents and dedication to our mission.
Welcoming our newest Board Member Punam Verma, Ph.D.
We are honored to introduce Punam Verma, Ph.D., as the newest member of our board. Punam is a resident of Edmonds, and a clinical microbiologist who recently retired after more than 18 years of service as the Director of Clinical Microbiology at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. During her tenure, she was instrumental in spearheading modernized molecular and mass spectrometry testing for bacterial identification and sepsis treatment, greatly enhancing patient survival and safety. Additionally, Punam is a leader in antimicrobial stewardship.
Prior to her role at Virginia Mason, she served as the Assistant Director of Clinical Microbiology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. A Kaizen Fellow graduate in the Virginia Mason Production System® (VMPS), Punam has led numerous quality process improvement initiatives since 2015. She is also a Distinguished Toastmaster, the highest level of educational achievement in Toastmasters International.
Punam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology and a doctorate in Clinical Microbiology from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship training in clinical microbiology at the University of Utah and is a diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology.
Punam enjoys gardening, being outdoors, reading, and spending time with her son. We are grateful to have her expertise and passion on our board, our third Snohomish County board member.
Meet Winston Wedge, Administrative Manager
We also welcome Winston Wedge to Companis as our first-ever Administrative Manager. Winston joined us in January and brings a wealth of experience from his previous role managing the SuperCopy print shop at Seattle University. Having been familiar with Companis for many years, Winston was inspired to join our team after volunteering at our Showcase event in October. Winston is a Seattle University graduate, and holds a Masters in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati.
“What I have found fun in joining the team is the community Companis creates with its partner agencies, and most importantly the volunteers,” says Winston.
In his new role, Winston supports our financial operations, office and data management. Additionally, his skills enable us to bring all our printed collateral needs in-house. His enthusiasm and commitment to community service make him a valuable addition to our staff.
Please join us in welcoming Punam Verma and Winston Wedge to the Companis team!Â