Rusty Hightower Email & Phone Number

Tyler, Tx

Tyler, Texas Area

Oversaw direct line management of four regional vice presidents and in-direct management of clinical and logistical resources in the Central U.S.A and two provinces of Canada with focus on Acute and Non-Acute Hospitals. Tasked with retention and growth in National Accounts, IDN’s, RPC’s within the Central U.S. territory providing strategic business plans, proposals and contract negotiation.ACCOMPLISHMENTS2016 Central U.S. • Grew Sales by 24% over prior year.• Increased gross profit by $19.8% over prior year. • Recognized as Incentive Trip Winner. 2015 Central U.S. • Ensured increase of Central U.S. revenue and grew sales 7% over prior year.• Maintained growth of gross profit by 12.3% over prior year.• Facilitated sales increase 4.75% over prior year and grew gross profit 16.1% over prior year.• Recognized as Incentive Trip Winner

United States - Brentwood, Tn

Oversaw medical segment for all of the organization’s manufactured products and distribution services for Health Trust Purchasing Group. Tasked with handling GPO executive-level relationship building, contract negotiations, and strategy execution for six business units. Managed 22 agreements through the contracting cycle, from bid strategy formulation to implementation and daily management. Assigned and directed individual organizational team members as leaders for HPG’s subgroup members.ACCOMPLISHMENTS• Led coordination and collaboration of all medical segment business units into this very strategic, successful, and influential GPO.• Spearheaded contract administration team responsible for tactical daily management of 22 organizational agreements representing over $1.2 billion in revenue.• FY13 - Received highest GPO revenue growth recognition by managing med-surg business to 31% over prior year. • Worked closely with executive leadership team. • Served as mentor to Women’s Initiative Network (mentoring chosen female employee for 12 months)• Chosen representative board member for Federation of American Hospitals in 2014.

United States - National Responsibility

National Sales responsibility for the Cardinal Health Procedural Supply Chain Directors, Clinical and Logistical Resources providing coaching and the overall development, design and execution of Cardinal Health Procedural Market Based Strategies. Specifically focused on large and innovative business growth opportunities. Revenue = $1.1B.DIRECT LINE MANAGEMENT• 10 Directors of procedural supply chain services • 2 Managers of clinical resources • 14 OR surgical nurses • 4 Logistics expertsACCOMPLISHMENTS• Created, organized, led, and brought to market Presource’s first Fee-for-Service initiative with utilization of SOWs, generating significant new revenue in ten months.• Served as mentor in Women’s Initiative Network (chosen female employee for 12 months).• Received highest manager score in company’s Voice of the Employee annual survey.• Co-Developed, organized, and led first Executive Sales Training course to build bench for executive sales leaders within the Presource division.

United States - Western Us Responsibility

Tasked with providing leadership, coaching, and overall development of executive sales directors of procedural supply chain solutions as well as design/execution of Presource market-based strategies focused on large and innovative $400,000 business growth opportunities.DIRECT LINE MANAGEMENT• 4 Directors of procedural supply chain services • 2 Managers of clinical resources • 9 OR surgical nurses • 2 Logistics expertsACCOMPLISHMENTS• Created, organized, and led project with researching healthcare consulting firms and providing results and presentations to said firms as well as to internal company constituents.

United States - South Usa Responsibility

Managed six sales consultants in North Texas, West Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Tasked with providing accurate forecasting, planning, and margin improvement. Revenue $65M. Oversaw recruiting, interviewing, developing, coaching, and talent management including performance improvement and succession plans. Provided leadership to attain financial and operational objectives, inspiring others to meet/exceed expectations.

United States - Southwest Usa, Central And Rocky Mountain Areas

Accountable for Texas Area 11 Person Sales Team excluding Lubbock.Responsible for managing Sales and GP, forecasting, strategic planning, budget management, project management, margin improvement, sales training, along with direct interaction with manufacturing plants in Ontario, Juarez, and Chicago.Work with Acute Care Hospitals assisting with cost reduction initiatives through the coordinated efforts of Cardinal Health's Supply chain Services to include: Distribution/Value Link, Inventory Link, Pyxis, and Pharmacy.

United States - East Texas/Nw Louisiana

Technical sales responsibility for Sulzer Medica Spinetech's BAK interbody fusion device and spinal fixation system. Quickly built strong relationships with key Neuro and Orthopedic Spine Surgeons in the East Texas and Northern Louisiana territory.Involved and assisted surgeons and clinicians in over 250 surgical spine procedures providing technical guidance on implant sizing via MRI and X-Ray analysis in the Operating Room prior to and during the procedure.Led the coordination of VIP trips for surgeon training seminars.KEY QUALIFICATIONS* Aseptic Technique* Anatomy* Patient Positioning* Sterile Processing* Decontam* Lumbar Fusions - Anterior and Posterior access* Thoracic Fusions* Laparoscopic Fusions* Cervical Plating* MRI and X-Ray Templating

United States - East Texas/Nw Louisiana/Dallas

Sales responsibility for Allegiance Custom Sterile Procedure Packs/Procedure Based Delivery Systems.ACCOMPLISHMENTS* Assumed multiple product lines which included Drapes & Gowns, Surgeons and Exam Gloves, MediVac Suction, Scrub and Prep product lines.* Selected to National Advisory Council* Awarded SW Region most Valuable Player.* Awarded Highest Growth Profit Award* Awarded Sales Excellence

United States - East Texas/Nw Louisiana

Direct responsibility for Medical/Surgical and Laboratory product lines to include both corporately manufactured products and national brand products.ACCOMPLISHMENTS* Surpassed sales goals and earnings targets through territory development, selective price increases and expansion of key customer base.* Grew 'Emphasis Med-Surg and Laboratory product lines 17% over prior year.

United States - East Texas/Nw Louisiana

Responsible for sales of all laboratory products to Medical Teaching Institutions, Pharmaceutical Companies, Chemical Companies, Environmental Laboratories and all industrial facilities utilizing a "Clean Room".ACCOMPLISHMENTS* Awarded Rookie of the year* Region representative of the year* Top Gross Profit* Awarded Overachievement/Sales Excellence