Andres A. Contreras

About Andres A. Contreras

Executive leader with 10+ years of experience scaling organizations, driving transformation, and building high-performing teams. Former BCG consultant and Duke PhD in engineering, combining analytical rigor with entrepreneurial execution.At SEMS, I led the expansion of the firm from a small contractor into an engineering company with 250+ staff and multimillion-dollar annual revenues. In the span of six years, the company grew under my leadership from the six-figure range to multimillion-dollar scale, supported by disciplined strategy, financial stewardship, and strengthened delivery systems that ensured consistent project execution and reliability. This positioned SEMS as a trusted partner to leading developers.I also serve as Board Chair of a private K-12 school, where I shaped the turnaround strategy and guided targeted investments that have more than doubled student enrollment in three years. By strengthening management, enhancing academic programs, and improving governance, I helped reinforce the school’s reputation and long-term sustainability.I thrive in environments where autonomy, strategy, and operational leadership intersect — whether in scaling business units, leading corporate transformation, or growing purpose-driven organizations.

Experience

1. Head of Strategy and Operations

   Sems, Srl

   Jan 2023 — Present

   Direct strategic initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and business performance across a 250+ person organization- Oversee financial planning and P&L management for a multi-million–dollar business, optimizing cash flow and resource allocation in a complex operating environment- Implement digital transformation projects that streamline processes, improve cost control, and strengthen project delivery- Build and develop a cross-functional leadership team, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance culture- Strengthen client relationships by ensuring consistent delivery, transparency, and operational excellence across major projects.

Education

• Duke University

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Computational Mechanics

  2012 — 2017

• Instituto Politecnico Loyola

  High School, Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians

  2000 — 2004

• Utah State University

  BS, Electrical Engineering

  2005 — 2009

• Utah State University

  MS, Electrical Engineering

  2009 — 2010

• Utah State University

  BS, Mathematics

Skills

• Labview
• Pspice
• Python
• Latex
• Teaching
• Simulations
• University Teaching
• Java
• Signal Processing
• Mathematica
• Simulink
• Statistics
• Uncertainty Quantification
• Engineering
• Mathematical Modeling
• Project Management
• Research
• Matlab
• Modeling
• Autocad
• Algorithms
• Simulation
• Numerical Analysis
• Machine Learning
• Robotics
• Microsoft Excel
• Electronics
• C
• Programming
• Microsoft Office
• C++
• Microcontrollers
• Fortran
• Image Processing
• Sql
• Finite Element Analysis
• Electrical Engineering
• Embedded Systems
• Data Analysis