2015 Retreat Wrap-up
From Left: Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Rep. Bobby Guerra, Sen. Juan Hinojosa and Rep. Todd Hunter were honored at the Shareholder Retreat for their outstanding advocacy in 2015 on behalf of Texas retail pharmacy.
Stars on Stage at Shareholder Retreat
4 Legislators, 7 CE Sessions, Golf & More Draw 270 to 3-Day Event in San Antonio
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An extended three-day format with 7 CE sessions, a larger, revamped exhibit hall and a new venue offered refreshing changes for our 2015 Shareholder Retreat held Sept. 24-26 in San Antonio.
The Hyatt Hill Country Resort & Spa hosted pharmacists from Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana, who connected with friends and colleagues, played golf, picked up multiple CE hours and enjoyed the water park and other attractions of the scenic resort. About 270 attended the meeting, which received major funding support from AmerisourceBergen.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the "Champion of Texas Pharmacy" awards to State Sen. Juan Hinojosa of Mission and Reps. Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi, Bobby Guerra of McAllen and Sergio Muñoz of Palmview for their outstanding legislative advocacy on behalf of Texas retail pharmacy. The awards were presented Saturday morning after the legislative update session conducted by TPBC Executive Director Michael Wright.
Hinojosa authored the single-most important retail pharmacy bill of the session - TPBC's groundbreaking ban on PBM transaction fees -- while Hunter carried TPBC's MAC Bill in the House and got the Senate bill through the Legislature a few days before adjournment. Guerra carried the House companion for the transaction fees bill and was instrumental in getting the Senate bill passed, while Munoz co-authored both the transaction fee and MAC bills, while working hard to get both passed.
The Shareholder Retreat opened on Sept. 24 with afternoon CE sessions on specialty pharmacy, preferred networks and star ratings, followed by an evening reception outside. Morning CE sessions on Sept. 25 included staff training and customer service plus a Texas State Board of Pharmacy update from the agency's executive director, Gay Dodson.
Friday afternoon, 50+ attendees tested their golf skills while competing for $500 in prizes in a team scramble at the Hyatt's sprawling 27-hole Hill Country Golf Club. First -place team honors were taken by Shareholder Doug Eakman of San Angelo, Tim Watson of Humco Compounding and Alan Cohen of Alivio Medical Products. The day ended with a reception in the Exhibit Hall to the jazzy rhythms of guitarist Sergeo Leal.
After a one-hour shareholders-only meeting led by Sr. VP of Sales & Operations Laird Leavoy, Saturday morning kicked off with a 30-minute address from motivational speaker Bernice Washington, who set the stage for the day's events with an inspiring, energetic performance. The former h are-executive kept attendees laughing while inspiring them with personal anecdotes about motivation and perseverance.
Attendees broke at noon for lunch with 36 exhibitors, up from 26 in 2014 and 16 in 2012. After the exhibit hall closed, Clarence Lea of Freedom Data Services gave a CE session on Data Analytics and Patient Management Solutions.
The Saturday night banquet took place at the outdoor pavilion and adult pool, where about 180 gathered for an evening reception, followed by a gourmet buffet and dancing to the energetic sounds of The Royal Dukes under a near-full moon.
Early feedback indicates that attendees gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to the three-day format with expanded CE content, the redesigned exhibit hall and the Hyatt venue.
The 2016 Shareholder Retreat is changing dates and location -- it will be held June 10-12 at the Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio. Mark your calendar and look for more information in the next few months. Online registration starts in January.