Hello and Happy Friday everyone! With August coming to a close, we wanted to share another edition of the Employee Spotlight Series! This time around we want to shine the light on Heidi Larson. Heidi has been with the SpendMend Team for almost a year, following the acquisition of Turnkey Pharmacy Solutions last summer. Heidi is a Compliance Manager/Lead Pharmacist Auditor and absolutely loves the work she does. She looks forward to collaborating with her colleagues and clients everyday! It was great getting to know Heidi and hear about her hobbies and life experiences. Something interesting about Heidi was that her first job position was a corn detasseler. Make sure to read the interview below to learn in more detail about Heidi’s experience. Another fun fact about Heidi is that she has participated in competitive paintball! Her husband had a competitive team that would play paintball every weekend. One weekend they were down a person, and Heidi stepped up to the plate! She was a natural sharpshooter and master of sneaking around the woods. While she did earn herself some bruises and bumps, she loves the game! Heidi still has her paintball gun and gear packed away – who wants to start a team?! Some more of Heidi’s favorite hobbies are also quite adventurous. She enjoys the outdoors and activities like paddle boarding, biking, and hiking! One of her favorite spots it the Paul Bunyan Trail in Minnesota. It’s the longest bike and walk trail in the state! If you are ever in the Minnesota area, Heidi recommends the 120-mile-long distance trail!
Heidi does a fantastic job at SpendMend and her co-workers are grateful for her contribution to the team! Chelsea Violette, Director of Optimization with SpendMend Pharmacy, said “We are so fortunate to have Heidi as a part of our team! With her wealth of experience, can-do attitude, and passion for helping others, she helps lead the team forward in always striving to provide the highest quality 340B compliance support to our clients.” We appreciate your dedication and passion for your work, Heidi! Having people like you makes the SpendMend team great! Thank you for all your hard work!
Interview with Heidi:
What is your role at SpendMend?’
Compliance Manager/Lead Pharmacist Auditor
How long have you been with SpendMend?
It has been almost a year that Turnkey and I have become part of the with SpendMend team.
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
I first learned about SpendMend when Turnkey became part of SpendMend. A google search provided me with some added information on all that SpendMend has to offer.
What 3 words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Motivating, Progressive, Happy
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
I LOVE the work I do. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues and the interactions I have with the clients. It is motivating to be able to help people each day weather that be a colleague or a client. I also love that there are many day in which I learn something new.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
My first job was a corn detasseler. Yes, that is a real job-I would not say it was interesting but it is unusual. I was 14 years old living in a southern suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Five of my girlfriends and I had the brightest of ideas- we need to get a summer job so we could start saving up for a car. The only job we qualified for, because of our age, at a school summer job fair was corn detasseling. Not really thinking it through we all signed up. We were placed on the only all-girl crew. The job was the worst and started every morning at 5 am when we had to turn on the radio and listen to see if our crew number was called for the day. If it was, we would pack a quick lunch and one of our mom’s would drive us all another 40 minutes south to a parking lot. Once there, we jumped on a bus and road another hour or so south to a corn field. The job entailed walking through the rows of corn and reaching up to pull off the tassels from the top of the corn stalks. I am still not sure why this needed to be done but I was getting paid to do it so I didn’t really care. We were assigned a section of the corn field and went to work. It was hot, dirty, buggy, and strenuous work. Of note, if you are not appropriately covered while walking through a corn field, the corn leaves will provide one with multiple paper-like cuts. Every day I woke up and prayed that our crew would not be called, however, my prayers were never answered. I made a commitment and I had to see it through. We later found out that we were called each day because our crew was rated best at detasseling and we were the only crew to not have anyone pass out from the heat and exhaustion from the work. If we only knew…
What is one fun fact about you?
I was once played competitive paintball and yes, it can leave a mark if hit in the right spot.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
I usually like it quiet while I work, however, there may be times that I listen to jazzy music to pick me up or the Sebastian Maniscalco podcast for some laughs.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
I love to paddleboard, bike, hike, paly volleyball and spend time with friends.
Do you interact with?
Clients
Can you describe an interaction when you helped a client or a supplier that stands out in your mind?
I love helping clients prepare and assist during their HRSA audit. It can be stressful but clients are to be really appreciative of the support. It is very rewarding; especially if the results of their audit are favorable!!
What was the best compliment you’ve ever been paid by a client or supplier?
I have had two clients reach out and ask if I would be interested in a job. I politely declined.
Would you like to give a shout out to a client or supplier?
There are so many that have welcomed me and made me feel appreciated. It is hard to pick one.
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
Being able to help them with something they have been struggling to accomplish.
What has been your experience with SpendMend community service events?
I have yet to participate in a SpendMend event but am very much looking forward to the August retreat at SpendMend in Grand Rapids.
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
There have been so many that have inspired me at different times that it is hard to list just one. If I had to pick one it would be Jennifer Hagen, as she was the one that first approached me about becoming part of the team. I am so appreciative that she did.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
I once told an interview candidate that I love what I do so much that it does not even seem like work.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
Being able to present on a webinar with Chelsea Violette
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
Continuing to help clients, learn, and love what I do!