Hello and happy Friday! We hope everyone reading this edition of the employee spotlight series has had a great week and is looking towards an even better weekend. This time, our focus is on Greg Wilson! Greg is the Lead Pharmacist Auditor here and started with the company a year and a half ago. It was nice getting to know Greg a little better and we especially enjoyed hearing about his past work history along with the stories that came with those jobs. When Greg isn’t working or performing a HRSA audit, you can find him relaxing with his family or perhaps doing some car detailing! Greg actually is very experienced with auto detailing and said that growing up he spent many days washing and detailing cars with his father, which sparked his interest. Since then, Greg has become somewhat “obsessed” with learning all he can about auto detailing. It is definitely a good skill to have and Greg said that if anyone has any questions or is looking for tips, just shoot him an email! Another interesting fact about Greg is that he worked at a hip-hop radio station! He worked at the radio station during the golden age of 90’s hip hop and said it was a great experience. Greg has held a few more interesting jobs over the years, but his most memorable job was when he was the intern at his neighborhood pharmacy. Greg said he has plenty of great stories from that job, especially when he would go to deliver prescriptions. If you’d like to hear about these stories, you’ll have to reach out to Greg as they get pretty crazy! Greg does amazing work as the Lead Pharmacist Auditor and says one of the best things about his job is working with his team. Greg is a true team player, and everyone on his team had nothing but great things to say about him. Rich Bucher, VP of Pharmacy Services and Client Solutions, said “Greg’s positivity and great attitude are infectious. Also, his in-depth 340B knowledge, extensive pharmacy experience, and communication skills have made him a critical part of our success.” It’s hard to find people like Greg, and we are so grateful to have him on our team! Thanks for all your hard work, Greg!
Interview with Greg:
What is your role at SpendMend?
Lead Pharmacist Auditor
How long have you been with SpendMend?
I joined the company in September 2019.
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
When I worked on the 340B covered entity side, I had great auditing experiences with some of the folks from Turnkey, including Jennifer, Megan and Heidi. I also always had really great connections with the team at 340B Coalition conferences.
What 3 words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Insightful, dependable, and innovative.
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
I always look forward to informal connections amongst my coworkers. Whether it is a quick “Teams” call to debate a client’s recent HRSA audit finding, or an impromptu Zoom meeting to help finish an audit report, everyone on our team is so approachable. Those brief interactions energize me and helps me feel connected to the team, especially when we are working remotely from our respective hometowns.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I like to think I’ve had a pretty eclectic work history. I’ve interned at a hip-hop radio station, worked for a major U.S. gas & oil company, and have had a lot of great working experiences in pharmacy. I would say, though, that my intern years through pharmacy school at my neighborhood pharmacy are the most memorable, especially going out to deliver prescriptions (I’ve got some good stories to share over a beer one day).
How did you become an intern at a hip-hop radio station?
When I was in high school, our guidance counselor’s office would set up job shadowing experiences for students that had certain professional interests, and at the time, I had aspirations to be in broadcasting, specifically sports news. So, one week, I got called into the office, and they said “Great news! We have a radio broadcasting internship for you to consider.” They didn’t specify the type of radio station it was but gave me an address and a date/time to show up. I assumed it was the local radio station that broadcast Pittsburgh sports events, but when I showed up, I immediately realized it was not the news station but the region’s hip hop & rap radio station. It ended up being a lot of fun and really interesting, even though it was probably a little outside of my comfort zone. It was in the mid-late 90’s, so they were beginning to move from cassette tape playback to CD and even digital music playback, so learning about the logistics of putting music on air was really cool. Ultimately, I realized that broadcasting wasn’t for me long-term and that radio station has since shut down.
What is one fun fact about you?
So, I asked one of my kids to help me answer this one and they said, “you have a beard.” So that about sums me up.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
Usually, I don’t have anything playing while I am working. But every once and a while I’ll put on an electronic/techno playlist to pick the pace up a little bit.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
When I find the time, I like auto detailing. I’ve got some good tips on auto detail products, so shoot me an email if you have questions.
How did you learn about auto detailing?
Growing up, washing the car with my dad was a typical weekend activity in the summer, so I’ve picked up a lot of tips from him over the years. Also, I’ve spent way more time reading online discussion forums and watching YouTube videos about detailing than I’d like to admit.
Can you describe an interaction when you helped a client or a supplier that stands out in your mind?
Anytime I’ve helped a client through a HRSA audit, it’s been a very rewarding experience. A HRSA audit is like the 340B team’s SuperBowl, with lots of pressure and lots of preparation required, so you really feel like a valued part of their team if you can support them through that process.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever been paid by a client or supplier?
The best compliment I think is when a client states that an audit was fair. Not in terms of quality, but in terms of objectivity and impartiality, where I’ve been able to provide constructive feedback without being overly critical. Knowing that the client is able to walk away from the audit with a sense of what they are doing well and also where they can focus on process improvements, that’s a home run in my book.
Would you like to give a shout out to a client or supplier?
I just got back from an onsite audit down in South Carolina, so shout out to the Spartanburg Medical Center team for welcoming me back on the road this year!
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
For me in this role, it is seeing how 340B covered entities use their savings to improve healthcare delivery to their respective patient populations. Whether it is developing a new clinical service to address a population health need or implementing programs that help make healthcare more affordable for vulnerable patients, it’s always inspiring to see how our clients are honoring their commitment to the 340B program.
What has been your experience with SpendMend community service events?
I love being able to contribute to fundraising efforts, and SpendMend has partnered with great organizations, like Toys for Tots or Kids’ Food Basket, which have great causes.
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
Everyone is fantastic, so it’s hard to single one person out. But I’ll shout out to Rich Bucher, who was the primary suspect in bringing me on board the Turnkey/SpendMend team when I first started. I like to say this is all his fault.
What advice do you have for perspective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! I think great candidates are not only able to answer challenging questions, but they also demonstrate thoughtfulness & insight by being inquisitive.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
Representing the company at this year’s 340B Coalition Winter Conference as a presenter was an exciting virtual experience. Though that’s hard to compare to hearing from a client who comes back with a clean HRSA audit report!
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
Auditing on site in tandem with a team member! Most of my audits to date have been solo, so I’m excited to get out there with another pharmacy team member face-to-face. Hopefully somewhere warm, and also near an In-N-Out Burger.