WHO WE ARE
SME Solutions is built from talented individuals with the experience and passion to not only meet, but exceed our clients’ needs. These qualities are what propel our company forward. Each member brings something unique to the table, but we share a commitment to providing high-quality services.
WHO WE ARE
SME Solutions is built from talented individuals with the experience and passion to not only meet, but exceed our clients’ needs. These qualities are what propel our company forward. Each member brings something unique to the table, but we share a commitment to providing high-quality services.
MEET OUR TEAM
Joe Santinoceto
Project Manager
Joe Santinoceto is a Project Manager (PM) for Strategic Medical Equipment Solutions, LLC (SME Solutions). As a PM, Joe successfully leads his project team through planning and development, acquisition, delivery, installation, transition, and activation for clients striving to be on time and within budget.
Joe received his undergraduate degree in Business from Case Western Reserve University and his Master’s in Business Administration with Health Care concentration from Wright State before commissioning as an Officer in the U.S. Navy. During his military career he obtained his Project Management Professional (PMP) Member # 2560744 and green belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Joe spent the majority of his 13-year military career as a Health Facility Planning and Project Officer working for Navy Medicine West, Navy Medicine East and Defense Health Agency Design, Construction and Activation branch managing medical projects from coast to coast along with remote overseas locations. He has worked two separate Global Pandemics: 2015 Ebola outbreak in Liberia and 2020 COVID operations for East Africa. In addition to coordinating, overseeing, and being personally involved in numerous transition activities, his career experiences working within military healthcare facilities and organizations, spending years side-by-side with medical professionals and support staff, have given him a tremendous understanding and appreciation for typical climate and culture within the walls of a clinic and the interrelationships and workflows that tend to define operations, processes, and procedures.
Outside of his work life, Joe enjoys spending time traveling to new locations, hiking, playing with his mini asussie-doodle Moxie, trying new restaurants, or staying at home cooking or smoking on the grill with his friends and family. Feel free to reach out to him at [email protected]
Christine Stamets
Interior Designer
I am an interior designer specializing in healthcare design.   I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Design from Eastern Kentucky University. I was blessed to spend 28 years at Geisinger Health System in central Pennsylvania. At Geisinger I became passionate about healthcare design, focused on creating nurturing spaces for patients, staff and care providers.  At SME Solutions, I look forward to helping create beautiful, safe, and caring environments for those who have who have given so much to our great country.
Feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Jennifer Lieb
Senior Equipment Planner
With a diverse background as a senior medical equipment planner and supply chain manager to include approximately 10 years of medical equipment planning and implementation experience, I bring vast knowledge and experience in cultivating customer relationships and managing multiple projects on both healthcare greenfield and renovation projects. I enjoy working with my teammates and clients to research and offer solutions to resolve complex issues in a timely and effective manner. I have been recognized for my effective communication, motivational, and interpersonal skills.
Feel free to reach out at [email protected].
Charity Franco
Sr. Transition Planner
I proudly served in the United States Army for 20 years as a Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic). Throughout my career, I was deployed multiple times and had the privilege of fulfilling various critical roles in both medical and operational capacities. Whether on the front lines or behind the scenes, I dedicated myself to ensuring the health and well-being of our troops. My experiences taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of teamwork.
Beyond my military service, I transitioned into civilian life and worked as a transition planner for several government agencies. Specifically, I contributed to projects at both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). My role involved strategic planning, process optimization, and facilitating smooth transitions during organizational changes. I collaborated with diverse teams to implement effective strategies that improved efficiency and outcomes.
With SME Solutions, I serve as a transition planner with recent projects contracted to the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, where I continued my commitment to service. I participated in multiple projects aimed at enhancing patient care and operational effectiveness. Notably, I assisted with relocations, ensuring seamless transitions for both staff and equipment. Additionally, when medical equipment needs arose, I stepped in to provide support. My passion for improving healthcare delivery remains unwavering, and I take pride in contributing to the well-being of our Veterans.
I can be reached at [email protected]
Kevin Smith
Sr. Logistics Manager
I came to SME Solutions after working 11 years at the Lebanon VAMC Fleet and Grounds Department. There I supervised a staff of 15 and operations managers, directing work product that included clinic activations. I managed and maintained over $1 million in equipment including purchasing, evaluating suitability, and service provider contracts. I led two departments overseeing grounds maintenance for a 400+ acre medical campus and managed a fleet of 150+ vehicles.
Prior to that I was in the U.S. Coast Guard for ten years. Some of my assignments included the USCGC Alex Haley, a ship home ported in Kodiak Alaska, where I was part of the engineering dept that kept the ship operating smoothly, prior to that I was stationed at CG Air Station Atlantic City where I provided daily ground support to repair equipment for 9 HH-65 helicopters. My first unit after basic training was the Presidential Honor Guard where I worked daily at the White House, Pentagon, and Arlington National Cemetery.
I’m excited to be part of the SME Solutions equipment planning and logistics teams. Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
Nina Ciarla
Project Manager
Nina has over 16 years of design experience, including over 13 years specialized in healthcare planning, design, and equipment planning. Holding an MBA focused in Healthcare Management and a BFA in Interior Architecture and Design, Nina is also a National Council of Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ) and Evidence-Based Design (EDAC) certified designer. She has worked the majority of her career encouraging creative design solutions that will develop meaningful, quality environments based on best practices and the latest product research. Her design intent is patient care focused, ensuring the built environment contributes to a holistic approach to healing.
 Nina is currently the Assistant Project Manager and Sr. Designer for the new Robley Rex VAMC in Louisville, Kentucky.
 Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
Carolyn Daut
Interior Designer II
I’m an interior designer, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP, and BD+C certified. My professional background is a mix of working for architectural firms (commercial & residential) and a furniture dealership (Steelcase). And I’m very excited to be working with SME Solutions to design and support the opening of new state-of-the-art healthcare clinics and hospitals. I attended the University of Wisconsin obtaining a BFA in Interior Architecture and a minor in Music (cello).
In my spare time, I’m renovating a house built in the late 1800s - which has every old house problem, but very little old house charm. I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2021! And I have a rescue mutt named Oaker. He has a massive underbite/snaggletooth combo, and my colleagues are apt to see him in my background while on calls.
Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
Tommy Phillips
Senior Equipment Planner
I’m a proud veteran with over 14 years if equipment planning experience and about 30 years of experience in the medical equipment and healthcare technology field. I served 9 years in the Air Force as a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) and have since spent my career working either directly or indirectly for the government.
My equipment planning career began in 2009 as Project Coordinator and Medical Equipment Planner for the San Antonio Medical BRAC Integration Office (SAMBIO) at, Ft Sam. Followed by a couple of years at the Air Force Medical Support Agency (AFMSA) Health Facilities Division (now DHA) as Biomedical Equipment Program Manager for the Planning, Design and Construction Branch.
Most recently, as a Medical Equipment Planner and Project Estimator, I supported numerous Healthcare, Dental, and Veterinary Clinic Initial Outfitting and Transition (IO&T) projects for military installations worldwide. I assisted with creating bid proposals for government IO&T contracts and developed a vast network of vendor relationships throughout the industry. As a BMET, I would occasionally provide equipment installation and transition support.
I’m a native Texan and currently reside in Corpus Christi, TX. When I’m not working, I enjoy being outdoors, boating, fishing, BBQing, camping, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends.
Feel free to reach out at tommy.phillips@sme‑solutions.co.
Casey McPhail
Senior Equipment Planner
With a diverse background in healthcare as a Senior Medical Equipment Planner as well as a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET), I offer vast knowledge and experience of medical equipment systems and configurations to our SME Solutions projects. I have held key roles in project management, equipment planning, acquisition, logistics, and installation for many projects in both federal and non-federal sectors. As an experienced medical equipment planner and military trained BMET, I enjoy discussing unique solutions with our internal team and clients to improve current patient care environments and workflow. I always aim to coordinate and enforce best practices in our work to ensure a turn-key approach to project delivery and activation services.
Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
Julia Campbell
Sr. Transition Planner
I am excited to lead transition activities for VA projects as my background is mostly from the private sector where I was a Project Manager/Transition Planner for over ten years in healthcare-related, capital-funded projects, and of that, 8 years as a lead Sr. Transition Planner. I’ve been in a civilian healthcare setting since 2010 and managed multiple ongoing projects for Geisinger Health System; attended/led design development, jobsite, and coordination meetings. I will use my experience in space planning, transition, operations planning, staff training, orientation activities, and activation through post occupancy here at SME Solutions!
Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
Soren Nicholson
Logistics Coordinator
At SME Solutions, I have the pleasure of working across most all project teams to help build and submit equipment purchase packages. Once we submit the packages, I work with our Equipment Planners to help answer the client’s technical questions. I track the purchases and deliveries, so we know what items still have not been purchased and/or delivered. I manage the delivery schedule to ensure the proper resources are available for when items show up during activations. I also work with the third-party warehouses to ensure clients know what items are being stored there. When necessary, I receive new equipment at the new facilities once outfitting begins. Like everyone else here, I enjoy helping my co-workers however I can, to do my part in ensuring a successful project completion so Veterans can get the best care possible.
I can be reached at [email protected]
MEET OUR TEAM
Joe Santinoceto
Project Manager
Joe Santinoceto is a Project Manager (PM) for Strategic Medical Equipment Solutions, LLC (SME Solutions). As a PM, Joe successfully leads his project team through planning and development, acquisition, delivery, installation, transition, and activation for clients striving to be on time and within budget.
Joe received his undergraduate degree in Business from Case Western Reserve University and his Master’s in Business Administration with Health Care concentration from Wright State before commissioning as an Officer in the U.S. Navy. During his military career he obtained his Project Management Professional (PMP) Member # 2560744 and green belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Joe spent the majority of his 13-year military career as a Health Facility Planning and Project Officer working for Navy Medicine West, Navy Medicine East and Defense Health Agency Design, Construction and Activation branch managing medical projects from coast to coast along with remote overseas locations. He has worked two separate Global Pandemics: 2015 Ebola outbreak in Liberia and 2020 COVID operations for East Africa. In addition to coordinating, overseeing, and being personally involved in numerous transition activities, his career experiences working within military healthcare facilities and organizations, spending years side-by-side with medical professionals and support staff, have given him a tremendous understanding and appreciation for typical climate and culture within the walls of a clinic and the interrelationships and workflows that tend to define operations, processes, and procedures.
Outside of his work life, Joe enjoys spending time traveling to new locations, hiking, playing with his mini asussie-doodle Moxie, trying new restaurants, or staying at home cooking or smoking on the grill with his friends and family. Feel free to reach out to him at [email protected]
Nina Ciarla
Project Manager
Nina has over 16 years of design experience, including over 13 years specialized in healthcare planning, design, and equipment planning. Holding an MBA focused in Healthcare Management and a BFA in Interior Architecture and Design, Nina is also a National Council of Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ) and Evidence-Based Design (EDAC) certified designer. She has worked the majority of her career encouraging creative design solutions that will develop meaningful, quality environments based on best practices and the latest product research. Her design intent is patient care focused, ensuring the built environment contributes to a holistic approach to healing.
 Nina is currently the Assistant Project Manager and Sr. Designer for the new Robley Rex VAMC in Louisville, Kentucky.
 Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
Christine Stamets
Interior Designer
I am an interior designer specializing in healthcare design.   I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Design from Eastern Kentucky University. I was blessed to spend 28 years at Geisinger Health System in central Pennsylvania. At Geisinger I became passionate about healthcare design, focused on creating nurturing spaces for patients, staff and care providers.  At SME Solutions, I look forward to helping create beautiful, safe, and caring environments for those who have who have given so much to our great country.
Feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Carolyn Daut
Interior Designer II
I’m an interior designer, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP, and BD+C certified. My professional background is a mix of working for architectural firms (commercial & residential) and a furniture dealership (Steelcase). And I’m very excited to be working with SME Solutions to design and support the opening of new state-of-the-art healthcare clinics and hospitals. I attended the University of Wisconsin obtaining a BFA in Interior Architecture and a minor in Music (cello).
In my spare time, I’m renovating a house built in the late 1800s - which has every old house problem, but very little old house charm. I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2021! And I have a rescue mutt named Oaker. He has a massive underbite/snaggletooth combo, and my colleagues are apt to see him in my background while on calls.
Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
Casey McPhail
Senior Equipment Planner
With a diverse background in healthcare as a Senior Medical Equipment Planner as well as a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET), I offer vast knowledge and experience of medical equipment systems and configurations to our SME Solutions projects. I have held key roles in project management, equipment planning, acquisition, logistics, and installation for many projects in both federal and non-federal sectors. As an experienced medical equipment planner and military trained BMET, I enjoy discussing unique solutions with our internal team and clients to improve current patient care environments and workflow. I always aim to coordinate and enforce best practices in our work to ensure a turn-key approach to project delivery and activation services.
Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
Jennifer Lieb
Senior Equipment Planner
With a diverse background as a senior medical equipment planner and supply chain manager to include approximately 10 years of medical equipment planning and implementation experience, I bring vast knowledge and experience in cultivating customer relationships and managing multiple projects on both healthcare greenfield and renovation projects. I enjoy working with my teammates and clients to research and offer solutions to resolve complex issues in a timely and effective manner. I have been recognized for my effective communication, motivational, and interpersonal skills.
Feel free to reach out at [email protected].
Tommy Phillips
Senior Equipment Planner
I’m a proud veteran with over 14 years if equipment planning experience and about 30 years of experience in the medical equipment and healthcare technology field. I served 9 years in the Air Force as a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) and have since spent my career working either directly or indirectly for the government.
My equipment planning career began in 2009 as Project Coordinator and Medical Equipment Planner for the San Antonio Medical BRAC Integration Office (SAMBIO) at, Ft Sam. Followed by a couple of years at the Air Force Medical Support Agency (AFMSA) Health Facilities Division (now DHA) as Biomedical Equipment Program Manager for the Planning, Design and Construction Branch.
Most recently, as a Medical Equipment Planner and Project Estimator, I supported numerous Healthcare, Dental, and Veterinary Clinic Initial Outfitting and Transition (IO&T) projects for military installations worldwide. I assisted with creating bid proposals for government IO&T contracts and developed a vast network of vendor relationships throughout the industry. As a BMET, I would occasionally provide equipment installation and transition support.
I’m a native Texan and currently reside in Corpus Christi, TX. When I’m not working, I enjoy being outdoors, boating, fishing, BBQing, camping, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends.
Feel free to reach out at tommy.phillips@sme‑solutions.co.
Kevin Smith
Sr. Logistics Manager
I came to SME Solutions after working 11 years at the Lebanon VAMC Fleet and Grounds Department. There I supervised a staff of 15 and operations managers, directing work product that included clinic activations. I managed and maintained over $1 million in equipment including purchasing, evaluating suitability, and service provider contracts. I led two departments overseeing grounds maintenance for a 400+ acre medical campus and managed a fleet of 150+ vehicles.
Prior to that I was in the U.S. Coast Guard for ten years. Some of my assignments included the USCGC Alex Haley, a ship home ported in Kodiak Alaska, where I was part of the engineering dept that kept the ship operating smoothly, prior to that I was stationed at CG Air Station Atlantic City where I provided daily ground support to repair equipment for 9 HH-65 helicopters. My first unit after basic training was the Presidential Honor Guard where I worked daily at the White House, Pentagon, and Arlington National Cemetery.
I’m excited to be part of the SME Solutions equipment planning and logistics teams. Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
Charity Franco
Sr. Transition Planner
I proudly served in the United States Army for 20 years as a Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic). Throughout my career, I was deployed multiple times and had the privilege of fulfilling various critical roles in both medical and operational capacities. Whether on the front lines or behind the scenes, I dedicated myself to ensuring the health and well-being of our troops. My experiences taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of teamwork.
Beyond my military service, I transitioned into civilian life and worked as a transition planner for several government agencies. Specifically, I contributed to projects at both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). My role involved strategic planning, process optimization, and facilitating smooth transitions during organizational changes. I collaborated with diverse teams to implement effective strategies that improved efficiency and outcomes.
With SME Solutions, I serve as a transition planner with recent projects contracted to the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, where I continued my commitment to service. I participated in multiple projects aimed at enhancing patient care and operational effectiveness. Notably, I assisted with relocations, ensuring seamless transitions for both staff and equipment. Additionally, when medical equipment needs arose, I stepped in to provide support. My passion for improving healthcare delivery remains unwavering, and I take pride in contributing to the well-being of our Veterans.
I can be reached at [email protected]
Julia Campbell
Sr. Transition Planner
I am excited to lead transition activities for VA projects as my background is mostly from the private sector where I was a Project Manager/Transition Planner for over ten years in healthcare-related, capital-funded projects, and of that, 8 years as a lead Sr. Transition Planner. I’ve been in a civilian healthcare setting since 2010 and managed multiple ongoing projects for Geisinger Health System; attended/led design development, jobsite, and coordination meetings. I will use my experience in space planning, transition, operations planning, staff training, orientation activities, and activation through post occupancy here at SME Solutions!
Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
Soren Nicholson
Logistics Coordinator
At SME Solutions, I have the pleasure of working across most all project teams to help build and submit equipment purchase packages. Once we submit the packages, I work with our Equipment Planners to help answer the client’s technical questions. I track the purchases and deliveries, so we know what items still have not been purchased and/or delivered. I manage the delivery schedule to ensure the proper resources are available for when items show up during activations. I also work with the third-party warehouses to ensure clients know what items are being stored there. When necessary, I receive new equipment at the new facilities once outfitting begins. Like everyone else here, I enjoy helping my co-workers however I can, to do my part in ensuring a successful project completion so Veterans can get the best care possible.
I can be reached at [email protected]