Blog
Aaron Kutz Reviews The Best of ISC West
April 12, 2017
By Aaron Kutz, Executive Recruiter of Government Technology and Electronic Security
I recently had the opportunity to attend the ISC West Conference in Las Vegas for the fourth year. ISC West is the largest security industry trade show in the U.S., and gives professionals opportunities to network, attend educational sessions, listen to keynote speakers, and see all the new and innovative technologies throughout the exhibit hall. With every year that I visit ISC West, I realize how much growth and progress the industry is experiencing. Companies who had small booths in previous years now have grown into a larger presence at the conference, while other familiar faces are staying strong. Here are my thoughts on the best of ISC West:
ISC seemed even bigger than last year. As a show that is said to have over 29,000 professionals in attendance throughout the conference, the trade show floor was packed. The exhibitors I spoke to seemed to be very happy with the traffic and chance to showcase their products and technologies to a large volume of attendees.
Aside from the traffic levels of the show, each year at the conference there seems to be a buzz about certain topics. Last year at ISC, I noticed the emergence and focus on the “Internet of Things” (IoT). Following that theme, this year there were more partnerships apparent to allow devices to be connected in the home and across the enterprise. Almost everyone I stopped to speak with was focused on having their technology connect to a variety of other solutions. In addition, these companies highlighted how end users can utilize the cloud to help their clients with a more affordable, reliable service.
One company that I was very impressed with at ISC West was BriefCam. BriefCam provides users the ability to rapidly review video and take action as needed. I spent some time speaking to members of their team about their one-of-a-kind solution. I was lucky enough to be provided a live demo to see firsthand the capability their solution provides including its unique video layering and search capability. It was like nothing I saw throughout the show anywhere else and I was very impressed with their product.
Overall, ISC West was a great event for my fourth year attending. I would love to hear your take on the show if you were there or more about your take on the industry in general. Please feel free to reach out directly to me to discuss further.
Aaron Kutz
Executive Recruiter of Government Technology & Electronic Security
440-996-0869
akutz@directrecruiters.com
David Peterson Recaps the Plastics News Executive Forum
April 11, 2017
By David Peterson, Managing Partner and Director of Plastics and Flexible Packaging
At the end of March, I had the great opportunity to attend and speak at the Plastics News Executive Forum at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Naples, Florida. As it was my first time attending, I want to note that Plastics News did a great job coordinating this conference, which offered strategies, presentations, and networking opportunities for leaders of top plastics processing companies.
Aside from the sunshine and beautiful scenery, the Plastics News Executive Forum impressed me from the speakers, to the great conversations about the industry. The theme of the conference this year was “Engage. Inspire. Lead.” and the agenda stayed consistent with that, buzzing with conversation regarding the Plastics workforce, retention, and talent in the industry. For example, Laurie Harbour, President/CEO of Harbour Results Inc., shed a light on the top challenges for Plastics Processors in 2017, sharing that 92% say their top challenge is recruiting, training and retaining employees. Part of the reason for this could be the decrease of Plastics Engineer professionals. This is something that was discussed often throughout the conference, along with the ways companies can contribute to solving that issue. For example, the Best Places to Work Panel gave great ideas for retention, with one being a “bring your parents to work day.”
For me, the conference was especially exciting as I had the honor of presenting! My topic was “How to Attract and Retain a New Generation of Workers” and primarily focused on Millennials and what we can do as companies to bring them into the Plastics Industry and keep them there. Again, this fell in line with most of the buzz at the conference. It was a great experience to speak at this event! Plastics News wrote an article highlighting my presentation here: Solving the Millennial Riddle
Finally, I want to congratulate to the Processors of the Year finalists, and the Best Places to Work Award Winners!
The Plastics News Executive Forum was a great event and a great experience this year. I’m looking forward to next year’s event! If you were at the event, what did you enjoy the most?
David Peterson
Managing Partner and Director of Plastics & Flexible Packaging
dpeterson@directrecruiters.com
(440) 996-0590
Norm Volsky, Director of Mobile HIT Recaps HIMSS 2017
March 14, 2017
By Norm Volsky, Director of Mobile HIT
As an Executive Search Consultant in the Healthcare IT space, it is my job to be able to identify emerging technology companies that are poised for significant growth. I do research daily and during my discussions with industry thought leaders, I make it a point to ask them what companies in the space they find intriguing and unique. I feel it is my job as a member of this industry to share this knowledge/information with my network so that you could be exposed to these companies too. Below are companies I have had my eye on all year that I met up with in person at HIMSS to learn more about their story and vision.
Envera Health: Managed Services company helping healthcare systems unify their interactions with consumers to improve engagement. They offer providers CRM-enabled call center support that enables a 360-degree view of consumers to allow seamless communications and connectivity for scheduling, care coordination and post discharge communication. Envera has been in business for a little over a year and already has over 125 employees.
Healthfinch: Practice Automation and Pre-Visit planning solution that helps healthcare organizations automate, delegate, and simplify routine busywork so its clinicians can spend more time treating patients. It saves providers, on average, 30 minutes per day. It helps increase staff efficiency at least 4X, resulting in faster turnarounds on patient requests. Average implementation is 3-5 days in athenaClinicals, and approximately 30 in Epic and Allscripts TouchWorks.
Proskriptive: Analytics and Data Science company utilizing vendor agnostic machine learning. Proskriptive can give their hospital customers actionable data using a turnkey solution that helps them reduce length of stay, reduce readmissions and increase coding accuracy, among many other things.
Validic: Health Data Platform that enables access and integration to patient-generated data from mHealth apps, devices and wearables. They have connected to over 400 clinical and consumer-grade health devices. Released Vital Snap solution last year which uses OCR technology from smart phones to digitize data from Glucometers, Blood Pressure meters, Weight scales, heart rate monitors, pulse oximeters, and thermometers.
CareSync: Chronic Disease Management/Care Coordination solution with over 100,000 patients using their solution/service. Their goal is to allow collaboration between every stakeholder in the care continuum and help get the right information to the right care team member at the right time. In helping their patients navigate their way through the Health System, they improve the quality of care and patient experience drastically. CareSync recently launched a new product named Scribe that allows a physician to record a conversation with a patient HIPAA compliantly on his or her Apple Watch. They have 97% customer retention rate which is nearly unheard of.
LifeMed ID: Patient Identification solution at the point of registration. Once a patient is identified accurately, he or she can travel throughout the continuum of care seamlessly. In the current healthcare landscape, identifying and validating patients at the point of check-in is more important than ever. LifeMed reduces fraud and duplicate patient records while at the same time improving collections and patient safety in an area of Healthcare IT that has been largely unaddressed.
Vivify Health: Remote Patient Monitoring Platform helping move the industry toward value-based care. Helping its patients manage their chronic disease, Vivify is one of the leaders in mobile population health management. In 2016, Vivify not only signed UPMC as a customer, but the health system also participated in their recent $17M Series B investment round. Vivify, along with Iron Bow Technologies were awarded a $258M telehealth contract by the VA in 2017.
Jellyfish Health: Patient Experience platform designed to reduce wait times and improve patient satisfaction. Their mobile app allows patients to see available appointments and estimated wait times, then schedule and confirm – all from the convenience of their mobile device. By increasing patient satisfaction, the provider groups are able to keep their patients (on average, practices turn over 25% of their patients per year). The tool helps drive revenue by increasing patient traffic, reducing staff interruptions, streamlining physician schedules, and improving patient throughput. At HIMSS, Jellyfish launched a new product named Bloom that helps customers recruit and enroll patients in health and wellness campaigns.
Propeller Health: FDA-cleared asthma and COPD management vendor that helps patients and physicians better manage chronic respiratory conditions. They make digital products that have therapeutic benefit. Propeller Health won the 2016 Innovation in Remote Healthcare Award at the ATA conference. In late 2016 Propeller also got another FDA clearance for its Smart Inhaler.
Healthloop: “Patient Experience” company in regards to its high-touch, cloud-based, episodic patient engagement platform. The goal was to develop technology that had the ability to deliver empathetic instructions. Healthloop sends educational content to the patient to not only answer any questions that the patient currently has, but more importantly to anticipate questions he or she might have in the future, with instructions in care plans. This empowers the patient and makes him or her confident with what to do for the best outcome. Their solution results in a 35% decrease in complications and 30% reduction in readmissions.
Intelligent InSites: Real-Time Operational Intelligence vendor that focuses on RTLS/RFID, Asset Management, Workflow Management, Environmental Monitoring, Patient Safety and Infection Control. Having both a mobile and desktop platform, Intelligent InSites provides its customers with second to none analytics and dashboards to improve financial and operational efficiency, quality, regulatory compliance and patient satisfaction. InSites helps its hospital customers improve their operating margin, bed occupancy rate, asset utilization rate, patient satisfaction and physician performance while reducing hospital incidents time to service and length of stay. InSites was recently picked to be part of HCA’s Hospital of the Future program in which it picked some of the most cutting edge technology companies in all of HIT to participate.
Saturn Care: CDMP (Chronic Disease Management Program) that enables primary care teams to better engage patients in clinical and behavioral aspects of chronic disease management. CDMP allows the care team to be in control and educate patients properly, specifically geared towards diabetes. Saturn Care boasts 97% patient engagement and 100% doctor satisfaction. In a major NIH-funded randomized controlled study their solution has allowed their patients to decrease their A1C by 1%.
DSHI: Physician-led clinical content and technology with AI driven workflows (50 conditions) for CCM, Post Discharge Follow-up and patient education. They have hospitals and other healthcare organizations, including the VA, who use these to more effectively identify patients at risk where an early intervention can avoid an unnecessary readmission. These workflows can be implemented in a variety of ways, including: direct to the patient in a web app, chatbot, IVR, voice assisted device (Alexa and Google Home), or integrated with CRM or care coordination software that the care team to use in outbound calls. Regardless of the method, key metrics (including readmission risk and disease control score) and valuable data are auto-generated for the provider as well as a care plan and education for the patient.
PreparedHealth: Building a social network that rallies the large spectrum of healthcare providers in and around the home, helping them work together to more-timely identify interventions, manage transitions and communicate upstream.
Phynd: Provider Data Management vendor that is helping its hospital customers improve clinical outcomes and decrease delay in collections. By improving the accuracy of physician data, Phynd helps its customers drive more referrals and minimize compliance risk.
PokitDok: API platform that helps enable other software platforms to gather information easier. This solution allows its customers to do transactions easier and have access to powerful data. PokitDok has built an operating system behind the business of healthcare. Their API’s enable a one-click purchase which could be described as a PayPal for healthcare. PokitDok has forged ahead and built all of this technology upon blockchain technology called DokChain.
Wellsoft: Emergency Department Information System vendor that has won Best in KLAS 6 years in a row. Wellsoft helps its customers optimize efficiency and patient throughput which include Hospital Emergency Departments and freestanding ED’s.
Solera Network: Chronic Disease Management Marketplace that points patients, payers and physicians in the right direction when the treatment options seem endless. Solera helps patient identify the best program for them, enables easy reimbursement and regular reporting to all of the stakeholders. Last month, Solera achieved HITRUST CSF Certification.
SwervePay Health delivers the convenience patients seek in their day-to-day lives by presenting frictionless payments via text with no mobile app to download or username and password to remember. Patients have the ability to pay their co-pay or balances via text before, during or after their appointment. They simply respond to a text message.
Orb Health: Intelligent Care Collaboration platform that has EMR connectivity and workflow tools. Helps Health Systems and PCP practices maximize patient engagement, reimbursement, and value-based care collaboration. Currently managing over 100,000 patients.
SocialWellth: Focused on Prescriptive Digital Health by providing access to over 100,000 apps and helping Providers, Employers and Payers prescribe the appropriate apps to the consumer based on their condition. Helps facilitate communication between consumers and their healthcare sponsors at the point of care. SocialWellth is launching a new intelligent curation and mobile security threat prevention solution to increase consumer confidence.
i2i Pop Health: The 2016 Best in KLAS award winner for Population Health Management. i2i boasts a 99% customer retention rate and a 25% reduction in avoidable inpatient admissions. Helping Providers and Payers manage over $20M lives.
Welldoc: Founded by an endocrinologist, Welldoc has a built a mobile platform to transform the treatment of chronic disease. While specifically focusing on Type 2 Diabetes, they were able to help their patients drop their A1C by an average of 1.9% in two clinical trials by supporting their day to day management of their condition. Welldoc sends patient generated data to their physicians so they can make more informed decisions in a space where there is no uniform care plan for all Type 2 Diabetes patients.
Wellbe offers a cloud-based platform that facilitates connected care between patients and providers across an episode such as a total joint replacement, empowering patients as active participants, and giving providers the ability to efficiently coordinate care. Wellbe Connected Care enables high-performing health systems throughout the U.S. to transform care delivery by improving patients’ experiences, satisfaction, and outcomes while reducing costs. With these smart patient workflows, customers improve results such as LOS, skilled nursing facility utilization, and readmissions.
Pieces Technologies: Predictive Analytics software vendor that helps improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital costs. The founder is a physician who, with his team, built a better solution for case management using its Iris solution and Decision Support.
This was my fifth HIMSS show and I always come back amazed at how passionate and innovative this industry is as a whole. All of the companies above are helping drive change towards value based care and I feel so lucky to be able work in this industry every day.
The next trade show I am planning on attending is ATA in Orlando…if you are interested in having your company highlighted in my next blog, please let me know.
Norm Volsky
Director of Mobile HIT
Direct Recruiters, Inc.
440-996-0059
nvolsky@directrecruiters.com
Brian Silverstein Interviews Kimberlie Cerrone, Founder and Executive Chairman of Tiatros
Direct Recruiters, Inc. had the opportunity to interview Kimberlie Cerrone, Founder and Executive Chairman of Tiatros, a digital therapeutics company that offers online, clinician moderated, peer group psychotherapeutic programs for patients with treatable mental illnesses. Kimberlie shared about her interesting background, advice for entrepreneurs, the digital health industry, and more.
Please share a little about your background and the company you founded, Tiatros. What was your inspiration behind this endeavor? What was your “aha” moment?
I’m a Silicon Valley dealmaker and IP strategist by background. I’ve made hundreds of deals for technology companies around the world over the past 35 years, many of which helped tiny startups grow into very large companies. I founded Tiatros after my sons came home from military service with PTSD. I saw that they both needed the community and support of other veterans. The only people that they would share their stories with were other veterans, who shared their military values and understood their stories because they had also served. My “aha” was that healing is a social activity – that the therapeutic power of peer groups to support healthy behaviors and to improve patient compliance could be harnessed using social media-styled tools inside secure private social networks. That led me to found Tiatros.
What is the origin behind the name “Tiatros”?
Tiatros’ first engineer came up with “TIATROS.” Being an IP attorney, I had a list of specific requirements including that the name had to be a completely made up word that didn’t already exist in any language; it had to be 5-7 letters long; spelled phonetically; look spatially balanced; and be available as a primary .com URL, a corporate name in California and Delaware, and for use as our primary product name and trademark. He made up a new word based on a Greek word that derived from an ancient Sumerian word, IATRO, which refers to "physician, medicine, and healing”. He added a “T” for technology and “S” for Social, both of which are concepts key to our mission, and voila, it met every one of my requirements. I loved it immediately, and still do.
You are an extremely accomplished entrepreneur. What drives you to succeed?
It’s really simple: I want to see Tiatros’ products widely available in the marketplace, providing safe and affordable evidence-based treatment to every patient with a treatable mental illness that seeks help.
What are your goals for Tiatros in the next 5 years?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the gold standard for the psychotherapeutic treatment of most major mental illnesses. It’s used all over the world to treat anxiety, depression, trauma, panic, and even eating and sleep disorders because it consistently works very well provided patients complete it to the best of their ability. UCSF psychiatrists piloted the first programs for sexual assault- and combat-related trauma, with everyone of UCSF’s first 300 patients showing post traumatic growth and recovery. My colleagues and I are now working with our business partners and collaborative customers to leverage cognitive computing and AI to see if we can make effective peer group psychotherapeutics available to tens of millions of Americans and ultimately to hundreds of millions of people around the world that have treatable mental illnesses. That's a big ambition, but we believe it's possible to achieve. I particularly want every veteran who is struggling with PTSD and TBI to have access to effective treatment starting now, because I saw in my own family that it is life-changing. These are my 5-year goals for Tiatros.
With your experience as an entrepreneur, and being involved as judge for Cartier Women’s Initiative, which supports and encourages projects by women, what advice do you have for young women entrepreneurs?
When asked, I tell women entrepreneurs to work on solving a problem that is important to them, that they care about and know about, and that a few other people that they think are smart are already working on. I give myself as an example. My original thought process in deciding to work on developing scalable therapeutics for behavioral health was that a handful of companies were already focusing on the market opportunity, but with different proposed solutions; that I am deeply concerned about preventing another generation of homeless veterans and destigmatizing mental illness; and that healthcare is the responsibility of women around the world. That’s what made Tiatros a good fit for me.
What interesting new projects are you currently working on? Or would be interested in exploring?
I recently started to serve on outside corporate boards, which I am enjoying very much. Last year I joined the Board of a premiere engineering design and consulting company that has a significant focus on the healthcare sector. I bring an important and different perspective to its Board, and I’ve learned a great deal. I’d like to do more of this type of work with other companies in the global healthcare sector over the next several years.
What challenges do you currently see in the digital health industry?
The United States needs to innovate business models for reimbursing digital health as much as we need new digital health products and services. I would go anywhere, anytime, to participate in meaningful discussions about how the broad healthcare sector and the government can collaboratively develop innovative revenue models for digital health.
What or who do you attribute your success to?
I have broad interests and a multi-disciplinary educational background. I’m often the only person at the table that understands the science, the legal, the business, the IP, and the international aspects of a proposal. I write very clearly, and have become a better speaker. That’s created a lot of opportunity for me to work on great projects with excellent people, and to get useful experience in complex and important projects.
Have you had a mentor(s) throughout your career?
After 40 years, I consider my husband to be my most important mentor. He’s a psychiatrist who is one of the country’s leading experts on trauma in adolescent and young adult populations. It’s an amazing thing that after all these years our professional interests have aligned and we can collaborate now.
Your background is very diverse. How have you balanced your roles as a Founder, an attorney, IP Strategist, entrepreneur and more?
I don’t try to balance them. I try to integrate them, using them all in combination. Tiatros is a great project for me because I get to use pretty much everything I know, and I still need to learn a great deal more.
What advice do you have for up and coming HIT professionals?
The great American philosopher Cyndi Lauper says If you learn, you earn. She’s right. My advice is work on learning continuously, acquiring whatever knowledge, skills, and credentials you need to get the chance to work with good people on great projects. That’s how you get valuable experience that enables you to advance in your career. You need to bring something to the table. At various points in my life, I taught myself to code, about trademark law, Norwegian-styled knitting, neuropeptide chemistry, and a wide range of international business practices. Now I want to learn about Chinese history. I expect that this knowledge will somehow qualify me for an interesting opportunity at some point. It certainly gives me pleasure. Keep learning always.
What strategies do you rely on to retain and attract top talent at your company?
Hiring is always a challenge for startups. I think that I’m better at motivating and retaining great people than I am at hiring them. I do work hard to ensure that everyone who works with me understands how important it is that our mission succeeds, and that they are respected and appreciated for the role they’re playing in our company’s progress.
If you could have dinner with anyone from Present or Past, who would you want to dine with and what would you eat? Why?
Fun question! I like people who show vision, ambition, leadership, and a high tolerance for ambiguity and change. Pearl Buck, Shirin Ebadi, Jeanne Bare, Nellie Bly, Thomas Jefferson, Ann Richards, Cardinal Wolsey, Winston Churchill, Peter the Great, Gertrude Bell, Rosalind Franklin, Richard Engel, Justice Ginsburg, Janet Napolitano, Teddy Roosevelt, Sinclair Lewis, and Grace Hopper all come quickly to mind. Since this is my fantasy, my wonderful husband will join us and we’ll eat my father’s pasta Bolognese and drink good wine.
What are your interests outside of healthcare?
I have a young grandson who is very interesting. I’m a big sports fan who feels very lucky to live within walking distance of the San Francisco Giants and the Golden State Warriors’ stadiums. I am a world class knitter and am fairly accomplished at crochet. Studying needlework has been a fascinating lens to seeing the creativity of generations of women and their unique contributions to societies around the world. I’ve gotten very interested in the worldwide supply chain for the yarn and other materials that are used in needlecraft. It is not a remunerative skill set, but I am known for the handmade gifts that I give my friends and it gives me great pleasure.
Brian Silverstein
“The Headhunter for Digital Health Innovators”
Healthcare IT Project Manager
440-996-0877
bsilverstein@directrecruiters.com
Since 1983, Direct Recruiters, Inc. (DRI) has been recognized as the relationship-focused search firm that assists top-tier organizations with recruiting, acquiring, and retaining high-impact talent for mission-critical positions.
Norm Volsky Recaps Connected Health Conference
January 10, 2017
By Norm Volsky, Director of Mobile HIT
Last month, I attended the Connected Health Conference in Washington D.C. for the fourth consecutive year. There is always a lot of excitement leading up to the show with emerging companies eager to show off their innovative technology. This year there were mostly young, high growth companies in attendance. Of the many companies that were in attendance, the following caught my eye:
CareWire - Patient Engagement solution that uses text messaging communication exclusively. This vendor agnostic platform is a combination of episodic engagement (before and after an encounter) and wellness/population health communication. Unique offering since it is mobile secure but not an app that a patient or caregiver has to download onto their phone or tablet.
MedStack- Healthcare platform company that specializes in helping mobile health companies achieve privacy compliance and seamless integration/interoperability. MedStack helps its customers achieve HIPAA compliance and allows them to focus on what they are passionate about which is healthcare. This allows healthcare apps to make it to market faster.
Vitalitics- Data analytics vendor founded by former Intel employees that takes all of the data generated from wearable and connected devices and makes that data actionable. The company’s mission is to allow patients to better understand their health.
Iggbo- Uses on demand technology and a flexible workforce to solve some of the biggest challenges in healthcare. The Iggbo platform allows providers and patients the ability to schedule lab testing anytime, anywhere. Iggbo has an appointment compliance rating of 98.2%, compared to the industry average of 70%, as well as 99% patient satisfaction.
Validic- Digital Health Platform that allows accessibility and integration to patient recorded data from mHealth apps, devices and wearables. Recently named the Fastest Growing Digital Health Company in 2016 by Rock Health. They also were recognized by CIOReview as the Most Promising Healthcare Solution Provider of 2016.
Medssenger- Combining messaging and workflow to connect everyone involved across the entire continuum of care including Hospitals, Primary Care Practices, Nursing Homes, Acute Care Facilities, and ER’s and Surgery Centers. Their HIPAA-compliant app facilitates more efficient care delivery and allows the entire care team to know how a patient is doing following their care plan, leading to better outcomes.
Hale Health- Multi-modal Telemedicine platform that allows its 350+ clinics to increase their practice capacity by 30% by leveraging remote care interactions. Hale allows its clinicians to interact with their patient using: messaging, photos, videos, questionnaires and health education materials all in one place.
Early Sense- Sleep Monitoring app focused on elderly care that measures: Heart Rate, Respiration, Movement, Stress and Sleep. This info is sent in real time to family members and caregivers. The sensor is positioned under a patients bed and enables real time alerts to be sent to the care team with the goal of optimizing sleep and predicting readmissions.
Overall, I came back from the Connected Health Conference energized to get back to work in this great industry. Based on the impressive technology I saw, I am confident the mobile HIT space is thriving and poised for more growth. I feel so lucky to be able to work in a space where people are so passionate about improving patient care and hospital efficiency.
The next trade show I am planning on attending is HIMSS in Orlando…if you are interested in having your company highlighted in my next blog, please let me know.
Mr. Robert Slykhuis, President & CEO, Bizerba North America Interviewed by Cherie Shepard, Direct Recruiters
Cherie Shepard, Director of Packaging, Material Handling & Food Processing at Direct Recruiters interviews Robert Slykhuis, President and CEO of Bizerba North America. Mr. Slykhuis discusses his career in food processing, the industry, innovative products, leadership, and more.
You are quite accomplished. Please tell us about yourself and what attracted you to a career in the food processing industry?
I don’t think anyone really grows up hoping they can have a career in the food processing industry. In fact, most of us find our way into an industry like this based on situations that present themselves
, which is what happened to me. In my early career I had opportunities in capital equipment businesses, which happened to be food processing focused, and I quickly found it to be an industry I could be successful in.
Bizerba is known for having a 150-year history of innovation. Please mention the most innovative products recently launched.
For generations, Bizerba has led through revolutionary changes in weighing, slicing and labeling. As an innovator in PC based scales and Weigh Price Labeling, we lead the market. The most recent innovations are really centered around our software solutions. With the focus on OEE, we have developed our remote management and service of equipment to the next level. Instead of just reacting to equipment downtime, we are now able to monitor and proactively service our equipment in real time and provide our customers with solutions that can really save them time and money.
What do you believe are the most important traits of a leader in today’s business world?
I am fortunate to work with a management team which shares many of the traits I feel are important to be successful. Being customer centric is a must, and while many leaders talk about putting the customer first, it really means satisfying customers at all costs. A passion for winning is in our DNA and is still the biggest motivator to get me out of bed every day. And finally, in the words of one of my managers, “when did patience become a virtue?” Being demanding and always wanting to achieve more is a necessity.
What do you think is the industry’s greatest challenge?
This is an easy one; lack of young talent. I look around the industry, our company included, and see way too many people my age. The challenge of recruiting talented, dedicated, technically qualified people, with a passion to work in our industry is of great concern.
We are facing a leadership shortage in the US and globally. What steps have you taken at Bizerba to develop future leaders?
Because of our rapid growth, we relied mainly on recruitment and mentoring to develop our managers. We are now actively engaging in more formal leadership training throughout the company to identify and advance more people from within. This is a worldwide project and is also meant to link opportunities for growth across the world.
How is the food processing equipment segment poised for growth in the US and on a global scale in 2017 and beyond?
For many years we have seen a high level of automation in Germany and this has been the basis for much of our product development in our home market. More and more we are seeing this requirement in all of our markets with companies seeking better solutions which will deliver cost savings through information and automation.
What is the biggest challenge on your plate right now?
We have grown rapidly in turnover and personnel in the past few years making it increasingly difficult to be as hands on as I used to be. While I have a great team, I still get most of my satisfaction being in front of customers and at their sites rather than being in one of my offices. Despite logging well over 100,000 miles every year I always feel like I should be more places than I can get to.
As a former Regional Sales Manager, what is your best advice to up and coming sales professionals? What does it take to succeed?
When I accepted my first territory sales job I had to look on a map to see exactly where I was moving to. When promoted to a Regional Sales Manager position I had no idea what I was in for and was tasked with managing some people almost twice my age. For every opportunity that arises which can lead to further promotion, don’t hesitate or overthink details. If you aren’t moving forward you are falling behind.
What events and tradeshows will Bizerba attend in 2017?
2017 is a big year for us overseas as two of the biggest shows which occur every three years are coming up. Euroshop and Interpack will be heavily attended by customers around the world but we are seeing a marked increase in participation from North America. Besides that, we will attend many tradeshows in North America this year including – IPPE, NRF, Expo Carnes, Promat, NRA, Process Expo and Packexpo.
Cherie Shepard
Director of Packaging, Material Handling & Food Processing
Direct Recruiters, Inc.
440-996-0582
cshepard@directrecruiters.com
Norm Volsky Interviews Shane Waslaski, CEO of Intelligent InSites
Norm Volsky, Director of Mobile HIT at Direct Recruiters, Inc. recently interviewed Shane Waslaski, CEO of Intelligent InSites. Intelligent InSites software creates a visual workplace that improves patient flow and operational efficiency using RTLS location-based intelligence. Mr. Waslaski shared insights on his career, the healthcare industry, advice for healthcare professionals, and much more.
Please tell us about yourself and what attracted you to a career in operational leadership within healthcare delivery organizations?
In all my work I have always been most drawn to healthcare operations because, for me, it represents a unique intersection where we touch the life of the patient through the qualitative facets of care delivery. It is also an industry in which you are assured of being impacted by your own work in some fashion because you, a family member or a friend will be a patient and you will experience the industry for yourself. That is not true of many industries. My technical side is drawn to the detail, the complexity, and the dynamic nature of healthcare while my nurturing side is satisfied by knowing that my work will have a lasting positive impact on the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of healthcare. Because I am not a nurse or a physician, my hands will not be directly involved in patient healing activities, but I am privileged to be deeply engaged in shaping how patients experience their care and through the environments in which caregivers do their work.
Please talk about the importance of operational intelligence for healthcare and how it improves patient care.
In so many ways , and through the hands of so many – caregivers, patients, lab results, medications, equipment, supplies, exam rooms and transporters – many details must come together at the sharpest points of care to drive quality outcomes and experiences. Patients know it when they experience it and, as patients, we all desire this symphony of parts to come together for us in a positive way.
In so many health systems, leaders lack a comprehensive view of their operations. They can’t see process bottlenecks until it is too late to prevent the inevitable delays and frustration they produce. Every moment nurses and providers spend looking for equipment, supplies or each other takes away time from patient care. And we know through so many studies that caregiver time with patients already has been greatly reduced due to increasing administrative burdens. With visibility into operations, health systems can improve safety and process efficiency so that all the resources and people more easily come together to produce a positive patient experience.
Earlier this year, you spoke at MobCon Digital Health Conference. Can you provide a brief overview of your topic?
I love hearing how pattern identification and predictive modeling are making amazing advances in diagnostic and healing technologies possible. But, we still find nurses and providers being interrupted in the delivery of care to write things down or most often to type at a keyboard in order to capture timestamps and other data required to measure performance. At MobCon – and at every other opportunity I’m given – I hope to re-inspire in the audience the belief that we are long overdue to insist on systems that are designed so that far more data is automatically collected, particularly operational workflow information. I shared examples of how this is already happening in healthcare in facilities where real-time operational intelligence systems are being used. I shared the significant results we’re seeing, like 25% reductions in clinic patient cycle times and how we are able to standardize procedures and care protocols to give a typical clinic 3,000 more care minutes back per week. That’s 15 more patients a day, and with 251 work days in 2016, that’s 3,765 more patient visits. It matters and these systems are so effective at bringing change where some of the most challenging operational work needs to be tackled.
Who do you consider as the most innovative healthcare leaders of today?
Nurses. I consistently find nurses are among the most innovative thinkers and in the most challenging circumstances, the caregivers who always find some way to take the best care of the patient. They are forever under pressure and a critical line of defense when it comes to patient safety. All of this while being healer and comforter, and they are crucial to the overall patient experience. Nurses are a source of both innovation and inspiration for me and this team.
What do you believe are the most important traits of a leader in today’s business world? Are we truly facing a leadership shortage in the US and on a global level?
Honesty, tenacity, and courage. If we are facing a shortage, we need look no further than a mirror to find those of us responsible to being certain that is not the case. We work hard to ensure that within our own organization every individual has both the opportunity and understands their obligation to lead. Our strongest leaders are always honest, they never give up and they repeatedly show courage in their conversations and their approach to innovating. I have the highest respect for individuals who consistently do so.
On your LinkedIn page, your “Influencers” are Jeff Haden, Ghostwriter, Eric Ries, CEO at Long-Term Stock Exchange, Tim O’Reilly, Founder & CEO of O’Reilly Media, and Jack Welch, former CEO of GE and current Executive Chairman for The Jack Welch Management Institute. Can you tell us how they influence you and why you admire them?
There are a number of others such as Kotter and Porter I would certainly add but have not taken the time to do so, but at some point these individuals and others have influenced me. Jack Welch for his track record and his teachings on the idea that you must change before you are forced to change and his passion about the importance of our responsibility as leaders to grow others. Tim O’Reilly serves as a reminder to me in the software industry that the data we liberate to the customer must be far more valuable than the data we capture. This has been the repeated error of the software industry and I am resolved to be certain we are providing exponentially greater value in the data we reveal than just our ability to collect it. Jeff Haden is someone who believes in effort and action and, like Welch, the obligation we have to help others grow as a way to pay forward the investment someone made in us. I find value in those who have gone before me and are salient writers and thinkers on how we can leave the wood pile higher than we found it.
What is the biggest challenge on your plate right now?
Aside from the ongoing challenge of recruiting experienced services, software and data science professionals, my greatest focus is on helping healthcare leaders fully understand what it takes to change – to truly transform. Leaders know they need to take significant cost out of their operations. They know they need to transform the experience – both for patients and staff. But for so long in healthcare, operational change has happened incrementally, at glacial pace. Frankly, that is so far below the kind of wholesale change needed. Driving this kind of change doesn’t happen with an initiative run as a side operation. To get there takes a tenacious and aligned strategic change aptitude across the entire organization. And that is daunting in any environment – because it’s not a core strength in our industry. Customers who are seeing the most transformational results have operational excellence goals tightly woven into multiple levels of their organizational plans. They are aligning, empowering, recognizing and rewarding change teams across their organizations. And then they are collaborating to rapidly raise skillsets in analytics and location-based operations. They also are partnering with full-service solution providers who bring together all the elements needed for transformation, including the technology, the tools, business process engineering, change management, and program management.
What is your best advice to up and coming healthcare technology professionals? What does it take to succeed?
The single most important thing that healthcare technology professionals can do is become deeply immersed in the realities and pain points of leaders, decision-makers, caregivers and technicians across healthcare. When you find these pain points, you know, because most everyone around you will be running in a direction away from them. You must be close enough to understand the challenges and skilled in asking questions that penetrate to root-level causation. Then, and only then, can we create new, transformational approaches. We can’t simply ask “what do we need to change?”, “we need to understand why?” This is key to the most pressing challenges that remain in healthcare operations and it is the key to Leans’ 5th “S” – Sustainment.
What events and tradeshows will Intelligent InSites attend in 2017?
Intelligent InSites will be at HIMSS17 in Orlando. In addition, we showcase our solution and case studies at targeted industry events throughout the year, including regional HIMSS chapter meetings, conferences focused on sub-markets we serve, such as urgent care and orthopedic clinics, and various association meetings. Our marketing team announces where we’ll be on our website and on social media.
What healthcare software trends do you see for 2017?
The focus on efficiency in healthcare workflow. Time saving, care enhancing solutions that automate specific functions for specific providers such as ensuring most of the data that’s needed to capture timestamps and other process-related markers is captured automatically. Where automation cannot be embedded and achieved, there will be a focus on usability of systems, including liberating providers and nurses from the keyboard. Finally, a shift away from silos and more focus on integrating systems to drive greater value to all of them, such as connecting nurse call, bed management, real-time patient flow apps and metrics view boards, EHRs, billing systems and even building management systems.
How has current legislation and the recent presidential election impacted hospital decisions?
There is so much being said about this already that I don’t feel the need to pile on, except to say that my hope is we avoid speculation paralysis. At times when there are many unknowns over which we have no control, it is best to turn our focus to the things we can control. I can think of no greater opportunity than removing waste from our operational processes in healthcare, while also transforming the patient experience. No matter what happens in the halls of Congress, we know we need to reduce costs. The great news is we know we can do so, and dramatically. Where we can be of assistance to our lawmakers and leaders, we stand ready to help.
Currently, the healthcare industry is experiencing a lot of challenges. What do you think is the industry’s greatest challenge?
Costs are out of control, many of our doctors and nurses are losing hope and retiring and not as many young people are joining the profession, all while more consumers enter the system bringing higher expectations of convenient, personalized service. And so, we have come to the time where we have no choice but to transform. In this way, I see our greatest challenge as our greatest motivator. We know what we can accomplish when we turn our intellect and attention to it. Advances in diagnostic and surgical technologies, medicines and therapies have improved the health and well-being of so many in so many amazing ways. Now, we need to turn our intellect and focus on transforming our operations.
How has your B.S. degree in Zoology and Biochemistry prepared you for your profession in healthcare operational excellence?
Understanding the inner-workings of organisms at the cellular and group levels, including relationships among them and how they’ll react under different conditions, has been incredibly useful. Without knowing it at the time, I chose a field of study that blends both data analysis, behavioral science, and dynamic mechanics and these have been amazing foundations for approaching large, complex problems like complex patient flows. Complex problems are a collection of many mixed up and less complex problems. It is our challenge to unravel the pieces and solve those that can be solved instead of being overwhelmed by what looks like one massive unsolvable challenge.
Norm Volsky
Director of Mobile HIT
Direct Recruiters, Inc.
440-996-0059
nvolsky@directrecruiters.com
Working Remotely Has Advantages & Disadvantages…Is it Right for You?
In 2015, it was estimated that almost 45% of US employees worked remotely, mostly from home. By 2020, it is estimated that about 50% of the workforce will be working remotely. Cloud services, mobile platforms and videoconferencing have made remote work possible and very acceptable to both employees and employers.
Many industries are making it known that they are friendly to telecommuting including IT, HR/Recruiting, Education, Accounting, Health, Law, Marketing, Nonprofit, News/Media, Sports, and Travel. In addition, the site FlexJobs.com was created to help those seeking telecommuting opportunities connect with companies and jobs that offer remote work, flexible schedules, part-time hours and freelance assignments.
However, with everything, there are pros and cons. So before you make the change from working in an office to working at home or from another location, you might want to first consider these advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages
Work from anywhere and anytime. No longer are you limited by a geographic location or a clock. Thanks to telecommuting, employees are now able to work from pretty much anywhere at any time of day. The traditional 9-5 working day no longer applies.
No daily commute. Most people don’t enjoy their daily trek into an office. Working remote allows you to avoid a lengthy commute by car, train, or bus which enables you to start your workday earlier and calmer.
Flexibility. You would be in charge of your own schedule and possibly more efficient. Working from home and the flexibility it offers, may also suit your family life. You would have the freedom to run errands, take the kids to school, attend school or sports functions, etc. as long as you get the job done and meet any pre-established deadlines.
Less costly. Working from a remote location or from home, means you save money on transportation costs, eating lunch out, and purchasing a business wardrobe. Unless you do video conferencing, you can wear informal clothes and no longer need to budget for that work wardrobe.
Better health. Remote workers say they have more time to incorporate physical exercise into their day. In addition, they are not exposed to sick co-workers. On the flip side, if you’re the sick person, staying home allows you to take care of yourself while still being productive.
Less interruptions. Working remotely allows you to focus on the job at hand without the distractions of socializing and office chatter. You have the ability to get into the zone and buckle down to complete your assignment.
Disadvantages
Need for high self-discipline. It takes a lot of dedication and self-control to work at home and not succumb to distractions. It’s easy to lose motivation and focus which are pitfalls to your success. Therefore, it’s important to be intentional about how you’re using your time. You need to structure your environment in such a way that keeps you engaged.
Lack of workplace social life. You can easily interact with co-workers and clients via technology but it’s not the same as face-to-face meetings, lunching together or just everyday banter. Remote workers often feel isolated. To counteract isolation, try going into the office now and then or schedule lunch dates with bosses and colleagues.
Overlooked for promotions. There’s a danger of being overlooked for promotions or career development opportunities when working remotely. Those visible employees in the office who are aggressively campaigning for the position will probably have the edge. You can try and counter with regular visits to the office and open lines of communication. You need to express your interest in the upward mobility you want.
Total dependency on technology. As a remote worker, you have to rely on email, smart phones, laptop, etc. to stay in contact with the office and clients. You are totally dependent on the right technology to be in business. It’s also up to you to keep up with technology that evolves so rapidly.
Blurred lines. You would think that working remote would allow you to enjoy more of a work/life balance but actually it doesn’t. When you don’t have a clear separation of workplace and home space, they can blend together. You might not be able to just switch-off from work and find yourself constantly checking your smart phone and emails.
There’s no doubt that remote work is on the rise. It’s easier than ever to stay connected in our era of email and smart phones and many employees believe it increases their quality of life.
Please let us know if you work remotely and if there are any other advantages or disadvantages than listed. You may comment below.
Pack Expo 2016 Recap
November 15, 2016
By David Peterson, Managing Partner of Plastics and Flexible Packaging
Last week I attended Pack Expo International at McCormick Place in Chicago with multiple team members from DRI. Pack Expo is the world’s largest processing and packaging show with over 45,000 attendees. With the recent World Series matchup of the Indians and the Cubs, I of course represented Cleveland by wearing my Tribe gear to the show. I was warmly welcomed with some banter by the people of Chicago, which was a great ice breaker for networking. Aside from that, I noticed new trends happening at the show, great companies, and innovative new technologies.
I have gone to several Pack Expo shows as an attendee, and this year I noticed the show seemed to be the busiest Monday through late Tuesday afternoon, with a good vibe and energy among the exhibit hall. One trend I am continuing to see is that companies no longer have business cards on display at their booths. While I would prefer to have the opportunity to exchange business cards, this could be a method to encourage more verbal communication at the booths.
Another great trend I noticed at Pack Expo for the entire industry is the collaboration between SPE and SPI. Together, they have created a new membership program that allows professionals belonging to SPI’s Brand Owners Council premium SPE memberships. This will offer a great opportunity for brand owners in the industry to have access to a network of plastics industry experts and the newest machinery and innovations across the market.
SPE
The Society of Plastics Engineers was founded in 1942 and is the largest plastics professional society in the world. It is a great source for networking, training, and information for plastics professionals around the globe.
http://www.4spe.org/membership/
SPI
The Plastics Industry Trade Association represents and promotes growth over all segments of the U.S. plastics industry. SPI works to strengthen global competitiveness, improve productivity, and pursue zero waste strategies.
http://www.plasticsindustry.org/
In addition to the busy flow of attendees at the show, the floor of the exhibit hall is also always buzzing with machinery companies showcasing their impressive equipment. With over 21,000 exhibiting companies at Pack Expo, I was interested in companies concentrating on the continued growth of flexible packaging and machinery in terms of innovation. Two of those innovative companies who I felt were noteworthy at Pack Expo included Sidel and Clear Lam.
Sidel
Sidel is a leading global provider of PET solutions for Liquid packaging, known for helping to package beverages enjoyed by millions around the world every day. With advancing technology, Sidel continues to innovate and offer products and services to meet consumer needs.
http://www.sidel.com/
Clear Lam
As a developer and manufacturer of innovative flexible and rigid packaging materials, Clear Lam focuses on developing technologies that lower the impact on the environment. Clear Lam develops Flexible Films, Forming Films, and CL Polymers for multiple markets.
http://www.clearlam.com/
With the multitude of innovative technologies, and networking opportunities, Pack Expo 2016 was a great event to attend. If you were at the show and would like to share what or who you were impressed with, please comment or contact me!
Interview With Glenn Proctor, VP of Software Development at Eagle Genomics
Direct Recruiters, Inc. had the opportunity to interview Glenn Proctor, VP of Software Development at Eagle Genomics, a software and services company in the field of genomic data and bioinformatics analysis. Mr. Proctor shared insights on the Life Science industry, his career, and his point of view on recruiting top industry talent.
Please tell us about yourself and Eagle Genomics.
I’ve been involved with software for my entire career; initially during my PhD where I wrote software to compare the surfaces of protein molecules, then as a developer in areas as diverse as artificial life, computer games and mobile phone network planning. For the last decade or so, I’ve been focused on genomics, initially at the European Bioinformatics Institute, and now Eagle for the last 5 years. At Eagle, we develop solutions for customers who use scientific data particularly genomics. I’m lead of the team who delivers all of our software and services to our customers.
What is the most challenging aspect of your position as VP of Software Development?
Finding, attracting and retaining great people. The life science industry is changing fast, and there are lots of opportunities for a company like Eagle to grow and be successful. When people talk about “growing companies,” it’s important to remember that growth mostly means bringing in new people. If you don’t do that, the company doesn’t really grow. In terms of recruitment, it’s a competitive market and companies really have to work to get the best people.
With extensive experience in software, what made you gear your career towards Genomics IT and Biotechnology?
Like all things in life, a mixture of personal interest, skill and luck! I’ve always wanted to work in an industry where I could make a positive difference to people’s lives in some way, and working in this industry gives me that. Very early on, after a few … “mishaps” in wet labs, I decided that computers and software were where my talents and interest lay, so that’s the route I chose. I have had the privilege of working at a number of institutions that have really helped my career, but mainly it’s been the people I’ve met and worked with along the way that have given me the motivation, ability and opportunities to develop.
What interesting new projects are you currently working on?
Our newest product, eaglediscover, won Best of Show at this year’s BioIT World in Boston. It’s getting a lot of interest from customers and is developing fast. In a separate project we’ve been working on with an established customer, the client recently ramped up the amount of data they pass through the analysis pipeline which we developed for them, and it’s just passed the milestone of a billion sequences processed per week. It’s going to keep growing; Dealing with data and analyses on this scale is challenging but very exciting.
What advice would you give to up and coming talent in the Life Sciences industry?
Be curious. Learn a bit about lots of different areas; if you specialize too early, you’ll end up in a niche that will limit your options. Most of all, accept that change happens all the time, and the pace of change is increasing. That means you’ll need to keep learning for your entire career. If you can embrace change and keep learning, you’ll do just fine.
What or who has influenced you to be successful in your career?
I’ve been fortunate to work with some excellent leaders, mentors and coaches over the years, as well as benefiting from lots of training and peer support. I’m a big fan of the work of Michael Lopp – he’s written several books, including “Managing Humans”, which I’ve found very influential. He also has a blog, “Rands in Repose” which I highly recommend.
What major trends have you seen in the Life Science industry and where do you see the industry being in 5 years?
The biggest change from my point of view is the rise of on-demand computing from the likes of Amazon Web Services. The ability to have instant access to vast computing resources, and only pay for what you use, has created whole new categories of company in many different industries. Life Science is no different – the vast majority of Eagle’s compute work is done “on the cloud”, with a diminishing amount on-premise at our clients. A decade ago, this simply wasn’t possible, and companies like Eagle couldn’t have existed. As for the next five years, I expect that doing this work on the cloud will become the norm – it’s already the default choice for many applications. Also, we’re going to see data science and in particular machine learning becoming much more prominent as it is in other industries.
How do you recruit and retain top industry talent at Eagle Genomics?
The recruitment process actually starts long before a particular role is identified or advertised. It’s a case of getting Eagle’s name out there as an exciting, challenging, welcoming place to work. That brand advertising is important for Eagle’s commercial success, but it’s also vital for attracting talent. Then there are personal networks; making use of those can shorten the hiring process a great deal. Of course, over-reliance on personal networks can end up reducing the diversity of backgrounds, skills and experience, so be careful to look elsewhere as well.
When recruiting, I very much prefer to hire for potential over experience. I’d far rather hire someone with the ability to learn new skills and apply them quickly, than someone who may “tick all the boxes” but be unwilling to change. I keep an eye on job adverts for other companies in our industry, and despair a little when I see long lists of “must haves” that are far too specific, and will be out of date in six months.
The competition from other companies means that we have to be more open-minded in terms of hiring than before. For example, Eagle has recently hired people who predominantly work remotely. This has to be managed carefully to maintain a cohesive team, but it can provide real advantages, as well as opening up a whole new set of potential employees to whom we just didn’t have access before.
In terms of retaining people, making sure that people have as much autonomy as possible, with enough direction that the company gets the most out of them. Also, in a relatively small company like Eagle, everything that everyone does has a tangible impact on our services, products and business. This can be scary at first, but it helps keep people engaged. In the past, when I’ve been working as a small cog in a big machine with no clear visibility of how, or even if, what I was working on was being used, I found it very demotivating.
You mention on your LinkedIn that you make sure that Eagle is a fun, relaxed environment to work in; what steps do you take as a leader to make sure it is?
Three things: communication, diversity, and respect. As a leader, I try to be as transparent as possible with people about what’s going on in the company, especially in parts of the company that the people who report to me may not be so involved with. I encourage them to work together as much as possible too, whether it’s pair programming or just being available to talk through a problem. Diversity of backgrounds, genders, nationalities, ages and experience is key to coming up with the best solutions. Last but not least, respect and equality – at Eagle everyone is treated as a valued professional, no matter what their job title is or how “senior” they are.
While technical skills are important in your field, what soft skills do you look for when hiring new talent?
As I’ve mentioned above, eagerness to learn, and I’m also looking for someone who will broaden the capabilities of the team on one or more axes. Much of Eagle’s work involves interactions with our customers, so when interviewing someone I’m also considering how they would be able to work with customers to fully understand the customer’s need, and how they would deal with the types of issue that inevitably arise as part of long, complex software projects.
Sarah Pozek
Director of Life Sciences
Direct Recruiters, Inc.
440-996-0597
spozek@directrecruiters.com