Tony Melaro says …
Tony Melaro was director of national distribution accounts for Welch Allyn prior to his retirement from the medical industry. As area manager for Welch Allyn, he crossed paths with Mike Racioppi in the early 1990. First impressions? “Definitely a New York guy with a lot of confidence; passionate about the business and Henry Schein’s ability to deliver.” Some other observations.
- “Mike was very fair, a good listener, knew the business, and wasn’t afraid to take a chance on a new product.”
- “He was a visionary, very open-minded about change. He could see the marketplace evolving and was always proactive, staying one step ahead of the competition.”
- “Mike respected the manufacturers he trusted, and was always open to thoughts, comments and suggestions, cementing long-term relationships with said manufacturers.”
- “Mike was one person who was always open to meeting with vendors. He listened to our pitch, gave us great input and feedback, and would support our program or initiative if he thought it was good for Henry Schein and Welch Allen. He was a win-win guy.”
- “I always looked forward to seeing Mike. He never took himself too seriously.”
Brad Connett says …
Brad Connett is president of Henry Schein’s U.S. Medical Group.
- “I met Michael in 1998 at the first Henry Schein Medical/Caligor budget meeting. There was a large group of field-based businesses recently acquired by Henry Schein. Michael represented the Henry Schein Telesales business and I was running Caligor SE. Michael was there with Lou Ferraro – two long-tenured Team Schein members. As part of the transition, Mike was assessing the situation. After all, Michael’s favorite book is ‘Only the Paranoid Survive’ by Andrew Grove. Michael not only survived – he thrived.”
Michael Racioppi’s contributions to the growth of Henry Schein Medical Group in the first decade of the 2000s include:
- “His open-mindedness to learn the business from a multichannel perspective, hiring industry talented reps in the early 2000s.”
- “His extensive knowledge of pharmaceuticals grew the portfolio significantly, contributing to hypergrowth for the Medical business.”
- “His intensity of managing flu vaccine, including his knack for timing and negotiating.”
- “I don’t know anyone as good as Michael digging into the details, both in professional and personal life. When Michael likes something – whether it be golf, wine or music – he is ALL IN. He doesn’t do anything halfway, and he does a lot of research before making decisions.”
- “Mike was on the forefront of technological advances before most people were. He is the first person that I can remember to have an electronic device, which was a PalmPilot and stylus. iPhones weren’t even invented. And with every new device he had, he knew how to use it.”
- “Michael was a big proponent of encouraging customers to order on the web and was convinced it was the commerce of the future. Of course, he was right. Looking into the future and anticipating change is a knack not everyone has. Michael’s zest for looking ahead will continue to influence others around him to re-invent themselves.”
More comments
- “Michael sees things quickly that most other people miss on a regular basis.” –Lou Ferraro, vice president, generic pharmaceutical sourcing and administration, Henry Schein Inc.
- “Mike is a respected leader throughout our organization. He is a creative thinker and is always on the lookout for alternative solutions to opportunities that come his way.” –Gerry Benjamin, executive vice president, chief administrative officer, Henry Schein Inc., and member of the board of directors.
- “Fortunately for Henry Schein, Mike Racioppi was one of the visionaries who anticipated trends and helped develop the solutions that are transforming the delivery of care.” –Stanley Bergman, chairman and CEO, Henry Schein Inc.