Born in Roswell, NM, and raised on a family ranch in Picacho, NM, Nichole takes pride in her Hispanic heritage, which has shaped her values and perspectives. Though she now resides in Austin, TX, she visits her home state often and enjoys the peace and tranquility that the open landscape provides. She is an animal lover who owns two dogs and has cared for horses, cattle, sheep, birds and rabbits over the years. She values land preservation and conservation and is passionate about educating herself and others on how to navigate applicable regulations and laws. A Biomedical Engineering graduate from The University of Texas at Austin and seasoned professional with 15 years of medical device industry experience, she is currently serving as Senior Manager in Regulatory Affairs at Smith & Nephew and Owner of Medical Device Regulatory Consulting Company. She has a proven track record of navigating complex regulatory landscapes and ensuring compliance for active, spinal implant, orthopedic implant and associated instrumentation medical devices, contributing to the advancement of healthcare innovation. In addition to her role at Smith and Nephew, Nichole has been running a consulting business for the past five years, focusing on meeting the regulatory affairs needs of start-up medical device companies. This dual expertise allows her to leverage industry insights to support emerging technologies and innovations.