Today marks the day that 55 years ago Peter Holthe was born.  Peter and I first met in/around 1998 while working at Quintiles.  We traveled the country talking about and demo’ing web-based electronic data capture systems for use in clinical trials.  As many of you know, FOCM has come to exist because of Peter.  The name, the pronunciation and the logo were his idea.

Words that come to mind to describe Peter: larger than life, bon vivant, gourmand, wickedly funny, witty, sharp as a stick, passionate.

The phrase “larger than life” – I’m not sure I knew what that meant until I got to know Peter.  For me, it means, the way he made life fuller, brighter, bigger and more fun.  His exuberant passion about golf, wine, food, plants, fishing, hunting and dogs (in other words – life and living it to the fullest) would exhaust normal people.  But when you were around him, you were energized by his enthusiasm.  Pranks and practical jokes were so well thought out in the blink of an eye.  After we no longer worked together, most of our contact was by phone.  He would make my day by adding laughter and insightful observations.   Peter lived a very full 50 years.  I miss him.

Happy Birthday my friend.

See the link below for a blog I wrote on the website of my employer (Y-Prime).  For this blog, I focused on helping introverts become better networkers.  My co-presenter at the Drug Information Association annual meeting in June, Bob Muzerall was the source for some of the content.

http://blog.y-prime.com/networking-clinical-research

One of the benefits of paying one’s annual FOCM Networking membership (an incredible value at $20/year – double check to see if you’re paid up for 2014) is that you get either your business or yourself  highlighted in the prestigious “Spotlight”.  The first Corporate Member Spotlight featured RxTrials where FOCM member Adam Chasse is the COO.

In the first “Member Spotlight”, Vicky Martin is featured. Vicky is one of my favorite people in the world.  She’s funny, quick-witted, sarcastic as the day is long, tough as nails and lives on a compound in an undisclosed section of rural central Pennsylvania where her family strives to reduce their carbon footprint.

How do I know Vicky and when did I first meet her:
I probably first met Vicky over the phone interviewing her for a position with ICON Interactive Technologies Group (ITG).  Vicky joined ITG in Business Development in 2004.  We first met in person when she went to Sugarland, TX for training.  Not only was my product and sales training instrumental in her future success, I continue to act as life coach, guiding light and vegetable canning mentor which goes a long way in explaining the zealous personality she has become.

Vicky’s bio (this should be interesting): Vicky comes to the FOCM Network via working with me at ICON.  Vicky grew up in so many places that, if you name one, she probably lived there or within a two state radius (Alaska and Hawaii excepted). She attended 5 high schools in 4 years (no, her parents were not officially gypsies), and graduated with honors from Clear Creek High School (Evergreen, CO).  Vicky se habla the espanol.  As a member of the U. S. Army, she defended America in Operation Just ‘Cuz down alla’ in Panama.  She likes to jump out of planes, she can kill another human with one hand and a pen knife and, as a mother, make you know she means business with one look.

As the mother of 4 children, there isn’t much Vicky doesn’t know about the limitations of parenting skills.  Vicky also speaks Scottish (aka Jockenese) and knows exactly where both Auchtermuchty and Ecclefechan are located as well as the correct pronunciation of towns like Strathaven and Milngavie (which, unless you are Scottish, you will never guess).

Vicky is a reliable member of FOCM, she doesn’t miss many of the PA events even though she has to drive her horse and buggy from Amish Country of PA.  She plans to live forever. So far, so good.

Saw this good article by Nina Sunday on LinkedIn:

“When a new hire joins a company their expectations are high. But a common reason they leave is not the organisation; it’s their immediate manager. According to Wilson Learning research on employee engagement*, happiness at work flows from the leadership skills of managers.”

https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140728125041-4806191-people-don-t-companies-they-quit-managers?trk=prof-post

FOCM Networking window stickers are now available!

Suggestions for use: in the back window of your car or in the front window of your place of business or in a window at your house.  To place your order please “become a FOCM Member” and put your mailing address in the “Message” section, so I can send you the sticker.  The stickers are $5 a piece.  You can use the PayPal link in the “become a FOCM Member” to pay for your order.  If you don’t want to use PayPal, you can hand me $5 next time you see me.

Next item will be T-shirts.

At the February 27th monthly meeting of the Wilmington Pharma/Bio/CRO Networking group, two of our industry’s treasures, Wayne Whittingham and Sandy Richwalski met in person for the first time.  They had talked, emailed, interacted numerous times over their careers but hadn’t met in person.

This historic event was captured at Hops Supply Company in Wilmington, NC. Bonnie Moore, pictured in the middle, got the pleasure of making this happen and being a up-close witness.  Thanks to Maureen Spataro for bringing Sandy to the event.

In late 2013, FOCM member Yvette Bonaparte received her PhD in Leadership Studies from NC A&T  University.  Her dissertation reviewed the experiences of eight women leaders in the pharmaceutical industry.  Yvette is President of Bonaparte Consulting, Inc.; a consulting practice focused on the areas of strategic marketing, diversity and inclusion and leadership training (www.bonaparteconsulting.com).

Pictured with Yvette and myself is FOCM member, Michael Williams.

On April 22, 2014 in Malvern, PA at McKenzie BrewHouse, Chris von Abo and Gail McNeill received their FOCM cards.

I have known Gail for 20+ years.  We worked together at Burroughs Wellcome Co in pharmaceutical sales and marketing.

I have known Chris for 10+ years.  We worked together at ICON Clinical Research.  At the time we met, he was living in the EU.  He is now working in the USA.

Joining us at this event was FOCM card carrying member, Katherine Cloninger.