Manuel Tavarez

Vice President Global Operations, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Years in current role: 4

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I really enjoy leading a dedicated team of nearly 1,300 colleagues in Rochester who know that what we do locally serves the community, has a global impact around the world, and enables our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve dealt with over the past year?

Over the last year, the biggest challenge I’ve dealt with has been keeping our manufacturing sites running at full capacity to support our customers while maneuvering through COVID-19, labor shortages, and supply chain constraints. I’m proud of what the Rochester site achieved amid these challenges and how we worked shoulder-to-shoulder to battle a global epidemic.

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

When the pandemic hit, the colleagues here leaped into action when society needed us most. We rallied and stayed laser-focused on the critical job before us, expanding our capacity with speed and urgency. I think we proved to the Rochester community and the world that we’re ready to serve and meet our mission, regardless of any challenge.

What do you see as the biggest changes in the technology industry over the next year?

I think new strategies will be needed to address technology supply chain consistency. Many component parts for technology, like computer chips, are in high demand and have risen to more than 500 times the cost of before. As a result, technology availability is a constraint impacting many industries.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 50 Technology list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.