Laura Garvey, Megan Zehrer, Lauren Kasanders, and Rick Smith
Trust, transparency and leadership will be among the top driving forces for Owens & Minor in the year ahead.
The Richmond, Va.-based distributor held its biennial National Sales Meeting in November in Florida. On hand were sales representatives and executives from the United States, Europe and Asia, as well as a number of healthcare manufacturers.
The theme for the event – “Transforming with Purpose” – was intended to celebrate the launch of President and CEO Cody Phipps’ strategic plan for the company. Phipps joined Owens & Minor in July 2015, and after 100 days, worked with the board and executives to devise a strategic roadmap for the company.
“We are a trusted brand in healthcare, and our customers and the industry want us to win,” said Marshall Simpson, executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “Because our teammates in the field are using their expertise to develop innovative solutions for our customers, we are in a leading position in our market. Looking ahead, we are putting a big focus on reducing complexity and creating value as we serve our provider and manufacturer customers.
“The challenges we face for next year reflect what we have been seeing in the market for some time,” continued Simpson. “Providers are facing pressures in the market to deliver care at a lower cost, which, in turn, is causing pressure on manufacturer margins. At the same time, regulatory pressures are increasing and the market environment is still very competitive.
“Building and maintaining trust with our partners is essential, and we can earn this by providing transparency into our processes and dealings with customers,” he said. “If we are the best at creating, qualifying, and communicating value, we will continue to lead the industry.”
Manufacturer award winners
- The 2015 Summit Manufacturer of the Year Award was given to Medtronic for top performance by a branded manufacturer with sales volume exceeding $25 million annually.
- The 2015 Pinnacle Manufacturer of the Year Award was given to Smith & Nephew’s US Advanced Wound Management business for excellence by a branded manufacturer with sales volume under $25 million annually.
- The 2015 MediChoice® Manufacturer of the Year Award was given to priMED Medical Products for exceptional performance in providing products for Owens & Minor’s private label, MediChoice®.
- The 2015 SCORE Manufacturer of the Year Award was given to TIDI Products for fully embracing the Owens & Minor scorecard program as an opportunity to achieve improvement through collaboration and for demonstrating measurable and consistent improvement.