AtriCure’s management team consists of proven leaders, respected innovators and caring, compassionate individuals.

Executive Management Team

David J. Drachman

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

David J. Drachman has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director since October 2002. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Drachman served as President of Impulse Dynamics N.V., a development stage medical device company focusing on implantable electrical solutions for the treatment of heart failure, diabetes and eating disorders. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Drachman served in a variety of positions, including Vice President of Strategic Development at Biosense Webster, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson, Inc. subsidiary that designs and manufactures diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheters. In addition, Mr. Drachman has also served in a variety of positions at Ventritex, Inc. and Boston Scientific Corporation. Mr. Drachman received his B.A. from the University of Louisville and holds North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology certification in Electrophysiology, Cardiac Pacing and Defibrillation.

Julie A. Piton

Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer

Julie A. Piton, CPA has served as our Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer since January 2007. From 1999 to 2007, Ms. Piton held various financial executive positions with School Specialty, Inc., a publicly-held supplier, publisher and manufacturer of educational products to the pre K-12 market, including Vice President of Finance and Investor Relations, Corporate Controller, Vice President Finance and divisional Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining School Specialty, Ms. Piton held various financial management positions with Sensient Technologies and Schneider National and was a Senior Auditor for Deloitte & Touche LLP. Ms. Piton received her B.A. and her Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin.

James L. Lucky

Vice President, Regulatory, Clinical Affairs and Quality Assurance

James L. Lucky was named Vice President, Regulatory, Clinical Affairs and Quality Assurance in February 2008 having previously served as our Vice President, Quality Assurance and Healthcare Compliance since January 2004. From 1997 to 2004, Mr. Lucky served as Vice President of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs for the medical segment of Teleflex, Inc., a publicly-held designer and manufacturer of specialty engineered devices for various industries. Prior to that position, Mr. Lucky held a number of quality assurance positions in the medical device industry, including at Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Parker Hannifin Corp. Mr. Lucky received his B.S. from Western Michigan University, his M.S. from North Carolina State University and his M.B.A. from Duke University.

Frederick Preiss

Vice President, Operations

Frederick Preiss has served as our Vice President, Operations since May 2005. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Preiss served as Vice President of Operations, OEM of Teleflex Medical, a medical device manufacturer and subsidiary of Teleflex, Inc., a publicly-held designer and manufacturer of specialty engineered devices for various industries. From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Preiss served as Vice President of Operations of Regeneration Technologies, a tissue-based biotechnology company. Prior thereto, from 1971 to 1998, Mr. Preiss held a number of responsible positions relating to operations, manufacturing, engineering and purchasing at various companies, including Wright Medical Technology, United States Surgical Corporation and Cyromedics Inc. Mr. Preiss received his B.S. from the University of New Haven.

Salvatore Privitera

Vice President, Business Development and Research

Salvatore Privitera has served as our Vice President of Business Development and Research since May 2007, previously serving as our Vice President, Product Development since October 2003, and in the same capacity from 2000 to 2001. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Privitera served as Director of Product Development for Ethicon Endo-Surgery, a developer and manufacturer of minimally invasive surgical instruments. Mr. Privitera has 15 years of medical product development experience and has been associated with the release of over 30 medical devices in the fields of cardiac surgery, laparoscopic general surgery, breast biopsy, and sedation. He is a named inventor on over 20 issued and filed U.S. patents. Mr. Privitera received his B.S. from the University of Buffalo and his M.B.A. from Xavier University.

Jonathon A. Sherman

Vice President, Product Development

Jonathon A. Sherman has served as our Vice President of Product Development since May 2007, previously serving as our Director of Engineering since October 2005. From 1995 through AtriCure’s acquisition of Enable Medical Corporation in August 2005, Mr. Sherman served as Vice President of Engineering for Enable. Mr. Sherman has over 30 years of medical product development experience and has been involved in the development and release of a broad range of medical products for both the diagnostic imaging and surgical device markets. He is the named inventor on 6 issued and filed U.S. patents and has served as the principle investigator on NIH grants. Mr. Sherman received his B.S. from the University of Toledo with additional post graduate work in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration at Cleveland State University.

Sales Management

Stewart W. Strong

Vice President, United States Sales

Stewart W. Strong has served as our Vice President, United States Sales, since June 2007 and previously served as the Vice President, Eastern United States Sales and Northeast Area Sales Director. Mr. Strong has over 10 years of cardiac and general surgery sales experience. Prior to joining AtriCure, he held sales positions with the Cardiac Surgery Division of Medtronic, Inc. and Johnson and Johnson's Ethicon Endo-Surgery division. Mr. Strong is a graduate of The University of Connecticut.

Join the Team!

AtriCure is always interested in finding dedicated individuals to join the fast-paced team to fill challenging positions both in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in the field. If you have a desire to make a difference in the work of surgeons and the lives of patients, we want to hear from you.