By Jan Rasmussen
CUPERTINO, Calif. (June 12, 2007) – Vocera Communications, Inc., developers of the Vocera Communications System, the only wearable, hands-free instant voice communication system available on the market, today appointed Robert J. Zollars as Chairman and CEO of the company.
“I’m thrilled to join this talented team who has driven exciting product innovation and, as a result, is adding customers at a record pace,” said Chairman and CEO Robert J. Zollars. “These customers have a real passion for Vocera’s technology and how it improves their productivity. Vocera is one of the most exciting companies I’ve come across.”
Zollars brings more than 28 years of healthcare and technology experience, gained through his leadership of several top-tier healthcare organizations. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of Wound Care Solutions, the leading operator of outsourced chronic wound care centers serving 275 hospital customers nationwide. Before joining Wound Care Solutions, he was Chairman and CEO of Neoforma, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEOF), a leading provider of supply chain services to more than 1,200 hospitals and 465 supplier customers. Prior to his tenure at Neoforma, Inc., he was Executive Vice President for Cardinal Health, Inc., a $75 billion healthcare products and services company, where he was responsible for five wholly owned subsidiaries, including Pyxis Corporation, Medicine Shoppe, Owen Healthcare, Cardinal International, and Cardinal’s Information Technology business.
Zollars also served as President of five different divisions at Baxter International, ranging in revenue from $100 million to over $5 billion. He began his career at American Hospital Supply Corporation, which was acquired by Baxter in 1985. He has an M.B.A. in Finance from John F. Kennedy University and a B.S. in Marketing from Arizona State University. He has received numerous awards and has served on more than 10 private and public company boards.
The Vocera Communications System combines Wi-Fi, voice over IP (VoIP), and speech recognition technologies to deliver an innovative system designed to provide rapid communication for mobile workers in mission critical environments. Vocera is comprised of the Vocera System Software and the Vocera Communications Badge, a hands-free, lightweight, and wearable device that enables the wearer to communicate with colleagues over a wireless LAN within a facility. Using simple voice commands, mobile workers are able to access the resources and people needed to complete tasks up to five times faster than other means of communication.
Vocera recently shipped its 100,000th Badge and was awarded the Wireless Broadband Innovation Award for Best VoIP Product or Service. Since the company first began shipping Badges in 2002, Vocera Communications has installed its System in nearly 400 facilities, including leading organizations in the healthcare, retail, hospitality, government, manufacturing, and corporate services industries. Vocera also has continued to make strides in the wireless communication industry, including the establishment of partnerships with companies such as Sprint, Nuance, and Motorola, to enhance the functionality of the System and extend its reach for customers.
About Vocera Communications
Vocera Communications provides wireless communication systems enabling instant voice communication among mobile workers for leading institutions and companies requiring enhanced customer service, productivity, and teamwork. Vocera is installed in more than 20 percent of the “Most Wired and Most Wireless” hospitals. The company, based in Cupertino, California, sells to customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. For more information, please contact the company at 408-790-4100, or visit the Web site at www.vocera.com