08-23-2008, 08:30 PM
Rayford Johnson named director of Innovation Laboratory
Thursday, August 14, 2008
JOHNSON CITY – Rayford G. Johnson is the new executive director of the East Tennessee State University Innovation Laboratory.
Johnson attended ETSU on a football scholarship and received his B.S. degree in microbiology from ETSU in 1990, followed by an additional degree in respiratory therapy. He is the founder and president of Huedo Diagnostics Sleep Management Services, which has six sleep labs in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. He developed and expanded all aspects of the company, including business and marketing strategies, return on investment (ROI) measurements, market research, risk assessments, action planning, and technical policies and procedures. This high-technology sleep diagnostic venture began in 2000 and exceeded annual projections within the first year of operation. Revenues for 2007 approached $1 million.
During his seven-year tenure with Eli Lilly and Co., Johnson began as a primary care sales representative and subsequently assumed a managerial role, where he was responsible for 286 employees and more than $40 million in sales.
In addition, he has provided leadership in developing partnerships and alliances for the Legacy Leadership Initiative (LLI), a non-profit organization that provides mentoring and other services for at-risk and under-resourced African American youth.
“The Innovation Laboratory has already been the hub for many significant advances in technology and research, and Mr. Johnson’s experience in a leadership position in a large pharmaceutical corporation and his success as an entrepreneur in starting his own business will be an asset as we continue to provide the foundation for new companies that will further enhance the economic climate of this region,” said Dr. Michael L. Woodruff, vice provost for Research at ETSU.
Established in 2000, the ETSU Innovation Laboratory is a full-service small business incubator that houses a number of technology-based startup companies. These companies have created over 60 jobs and added approximately $2.6 million annually in payroll. The lab is housed on West Market Street at the former Marine Corps training facility.
Johnson replaces Dave Lawrence, the founding director of the lab, who is retiring.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
JOHNSON CITY – Rayford G. Johnson is the new executive director of the East Tennessee State University Innovation Laboratory.
Johnson attended ETSU on a football scholarship and received his B.S. degree in microbiology from ETSU in 1990, followed by an additional degree in respiratory therapy. He is the founder and president of Huedo Diagnostics Sleep Management Services, which has six sleep labs in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. He developed and expanded all aspects of the company, including business and marketing strategies, return on investment (ROI) measurements, market research, risk assessments, action planning, and technical policies and procedures. This high-technology sleep diagnostic venture began in 2000 and exceeded annual projections within the first year of operation. Revenues for 2007 approached $1 million.
During his seven-year tenure with Eli Lilly and Co., Johnson began as a primary care sales representative and subsequently assumed a managerial role, where he was responsible for 286 employees and more than $40 million in sales.
In addition, he has provided leadership in developing partnerships and alliances for the Legacy Leadership Initiative (LLI), a non-profit organization that provides mentoring and other services for at-risk and under-resourced African American youth.
“The Innovation Laboratory has already been the hub for many significant advances in technology and research, and Mr. Johnson’s experience in a leadership position in a large pharmaceutical corporation and his success as an entrepreneur in starting his own business will be an asset as we continue to provide the foundation for new companies that will further enhance the economic climate of this region,” said Dr. Michael L. Woodruff, vice provost for Research at ETSU.
Established in 2000, the ETSU Innovation Laboratory is a full-service small business incubator that houses a number of technology-based startup companies. These companies have created over 60 jobs and added approximately $2.6 million annually in payroll. The lab is housed on West Market Street at the former Marine Corps training facility.
Johnson replaces Dave Lawrence, the founding director of the lab, who is retiring.