So there I was, up in Raleigh, NC again for meetings and a FOCM networking event was organized. The date, June 30, 2015; the location: San Jose Tacos & Tequila in Brier Creek Shops.
San Jose Tacos & Tequila

A big group showed up.  Michelle Jacobson, after more than a year on FOCM Membership probationary status, received her Membership Card.  And as it turned out, I also had neglected to capture on camera Sarah Meister’s card ceremony.  Sarah has been a member in good standing for quite a while and a frequent attendee of events.  The first time FOCM event attendee, John Icardi received his card.  John and I hadn’t seen each other in quite a while and ran into each other on a plane, I think, or at a conference and reconnected.

In the group photo (L:R): John Icardi, Pippa Wilson, Renee Brown, Peter Payne, Nick Macaulay, Christina Alexander Smith, Mike Markowitz, Gayle Grandinetti Mark Mickunas, Michelle Jacobson, Denee Oakley, Vince Hoefling, Rosina Maar Pavia and event organizer.

It was a hot few days in June 2015 when FOCM Networking went to Washington, DC for the annual Drug Information Association annual convention.  In a stunning, at least to the more seasoned veterans of attending DIA social events, the performer at the ERT and TransPerfect party was Snoop Dogg and Doug E Fresh.  I was shocked to see co-workers of mine excited beyond my belief and rushing the stage and singing all the words to his songs!!!  These are people I thought were pillars of their communities, respected scientists and project managers and they knew all the words to these songs!!!

Former ICON co-worker Mark Eberhardt got his FOCM Card, Casey Piccirillo  who I worked with at YPrime got her card, as did Jennifer Brown in a re-do from an earlier photo (she may have lost her original card).  Allen Wooten went to high school with my daughter.  The YPrime crew on the last day of DIA were looking surprisingly chipper.

 

On May 27-28 found me staffing the YPrime exhibit at Arena International’s Outsourcing in Clinical Trials East Coast meeting in King of Prussia, PA.  There were many FOCM members attending and proudly wearing the FOCM Sticker on their name badges.  Six people received their FOCM membership cards: Ellen Bloome, Elizabeth Van Etten, Linda Mooney, Eric Monroe, Rachel Daniel and Michele Ross.

 

On May 6, 2015 while traveling to San Francisco for a client meeting, I ran into Tom Gottschalk (also a North Carolinian) with Rx Solutions who was also going to San Francisco.  So, of course I invited him to the FOCM event I was having at TasteVin Wine Bar & Bistro in San Carlos, CA.  TasteVin is one of the “recommended businesses” (see tab on FOCMnetworking.com home page).  TasteVin is owned by FOCM member Sue Simpson.

Tom received his FOCM member card in a very solemn ceremony.  Just visible under his FOCM card is the FOCM sticker in the window at TasteVin (located at 890 Laurel St. in San Carlos).

Witnessing this event were FOCM members: Claudia Kunzler, Cindy Howry and Sue Simpson.

On April 29, 2015, Jennifer Brown officially received her FOCM card.  She had received one before, but we felt like perhaps it hadn’t followed the proper procedures.  I’ve known Jen for  3+ years.  She has been in business development for the language translation segment of the clinical research industry for over 8 years.  She now works for SDL.  She is a card carrying FOCM member and therefore has access to all the benefits of membership.

From April 29, 2015, this once thought lost-forever photo of Steve Jacobs speaking to a room of empty chairs has surfaced.  With a tip of the hat towards Bud Light’s Real Men of Genius series: FOCM salutes Steve for his indefatigable (I’ve been waiting for many years for the chance to use that $20 word) leadership role in the Global Clinical Supply Group.

I am way overdue in posting these pictures of happy FOCM members showing off their membership cards.  Maybe it’s because they know they might be entitled to a free drink if they show their card before another member shows theirs.

The first picture is Florentina Silva with her card at the Global Clinical Supply Group meeting in San Antonio, TX.  She showed her card in the bar and in return she received a free drink.

Rosie Filling was at another industry meeting where she ran into FOCM member Shawn Blackburn and they had a picture taken showing that FOCM members are everywhere.

So we are in the market for a new washing machine.  i am a subsciber to Consumer Reports online.  The last time i was involved in the purchase of a washing machine, they were all top loaders with agitators. The only decision was brand name and features.

Well now, there are these things known as HE (high efficiency) washing machines.  Did you know they do not have the center agitating pole!??   I don’t know how they can work to move clothes around.

More confusing still is the Consumer Reports recommendations.  They do not recommend any top loading agitator.  A lot of their reason is due to water inefficiency.  That is of low importance to me.  My spousal equivalent, who is very smart quickly sees that the HE machine could save $5-$10/ year at a price of $500 more.  That doesnt inspire us as Consumer Reports says washing machines last 10 years. Many of the reviews of the HE machines include comments about not enough water to clean the clothes or dissolve the soap.  We just want a relatively quiet machine that we can adjust the amount of water on our own, not letting the machine decide and having hot, warm and cold settings.  You know, old school-give me clean clothes.  I am not worried about huge capacity – it’s just 2 of us, We want clean clothes and aren’t interested in water efficiency.

I would like to hear from FOCM members about your washing machine experience and recommendations.

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January 28, 2016 is a day, well an evening really, which shall long live in the dim memories of all those present to witness the historic event.  At a dinner hosted by PRA’s vendor management team for clinical research vendors with who they partner to bring new medicines to patients, Joe Perpetua and Shae Wilkins were inducted into the exclusive (that’s a bit of a stretch) FOCM organization.  I have known Joe for 1+ years and feel he has spent his probationary time well.  Shae, on the other hand, I have known for over 10 years and he just recently been deemed ready for membership.

The event was held at Americas in The Woodlands, TX (Americas Restaurant).

Osmotica Pharmaceutical Corporation is looking to hire a Clinical Project Manager.  The description is attached below. If you are interested, you can send your resume to chris@focmnetworking.com and I will get in into the hands of the hiring VP.

Osmotica Clinical Project Manager Nov2015