About Us
Velocity BioGroup is a strategic group of long-time business executives in the pharmaceutical, biologics, medical devices, and Federal Markets, with very high-level relationships in the commercial and government payer world, public relations and advocacy communities. The primary function of the Velocity BioGroup team is to support your organization in framing a compelling formula for the success of your key products introduced in the market.
“The summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters.” – Conrad Anker
Meet The Team
Ready to deliver actionable results at high Velocity.
Clarity, Perspective, Strategy.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Pat Trifunov
Pat's experience and expertise as a senior pharma executive include government and public relations, sales management, health systems strategy, contract negotiations & pricing. She has for six years served as an Executive Advisor for Health Care Sustainability to the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Pat has twenty-year+ specialization in strategy, state & federal policies, business, and health systems management. This includes:
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Sales & sales management expertise in the pharmaceutical industry with three leading companies (Abbott Laboratories, Schering-Plough, GlaxoSmithKline)
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Direct and management level customer development
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Successful nine-figure contract negotiations for public healthcare system product access
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Management of internal and external strategy teams - including managers, directors, area vice presidents, consultants, lobbyists and advocacy managers
VP Federal Government Healthcare Markets
Spencer Hoyt
With over 30 years of diversified Federal and Commercial Healthcare industry experience, Spencer has generated sales exceeding $1 billion within the Federal Healthcare Markets.
Spencer has served as a Medical Service Corps Officer with military healthcare service in the Navy, Army, Air Force and deployed to combat action in Desert Storm.
Spencer’s extensive military experience and decades at both large and small companies, uniquely prepares him to help our clients understand what it means to be “Contract Ready” for business within the Federal Healthcare Markets.
In the spirit of continuing this service, Spencer along with the entire VBG Team, are committed to advance wellness and improve the lives of those who have served our country.
Infusing your clinically based, innovative solutions into the Federal Healthcare Markets serves as the core mission of our team. We look forward to partnering with you and earning your business!
National Director Government Alliances
Heidi McCracken
Heidi has 24 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry, working in various disease spaces across those years, including Respiratory, Neurology, Obesity and the one that has become, not just a job, but a true mission for her, helping those with Substance Use Disorder.
She has worked as a Representative, Key Account Manager and Government Account Manager, and now in her position of National Account Director of Government Alliances.
She has worked with Recovery Groups, Hospital Systems, law Enforcement, Corrections and State Government Systems to implement life saving treatments down to the County level. She is excited to continue working on this mission with the entire VBG team!
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Experience including injectables, scheduled medications, Hospital Sales, IDN, Buy & Bill and Specialty Pharmacy, and HUB.
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REMS experience. Strong patient advocate. Multiple award winner, successful launch experience.
Chief Operations Officer
Michael DeWaal
Michael's career includes manufacturing, production and research engineering in the Defense Industry, with an MBA (Washington Univ. St. Louis Olin School of Business), specializing in international business development and business operations/process improvement. Michael has a Master Black Belt in Six Sigma (Measure, Root Cause, Adjust, Optimize, Feedback), certifications and complex applications in ISO, Kaizen and Lean Technologies, Statistical Process Control, Taguchi (known also as Design of Experiments) and the Goldratt Institute’s Theories of Constraint. Michael leads Velocity BioGroup's IT and Data Security efforts for internal and external client purposes as well as lending perspective from his research experience in the Department of Defense.
Director of Analytics and Forecasting
Jeff DeWaal
Jeff has performed as Market Access Manager for Medicaid projects, Head of Analytics covering all markets, and Director of Analytics and Forecasting in his four years with Velocity Biogroup.
Leveraging skills in several data analysis platforms, Jeff can organize and create insightful tools informed by a variety of data sources.
Jeff has managed all coding and calculating for 25+ forecasts/simulations covering both the federal and commercial spaces. He can design tools that manage hundreds of thousands of fully customized predictions, allowing for efficient decision making and optimized revenue.
Director of Finance
Maureen Sacho
Maureen Sacho has over 25 years of Human Resources & Accounting experience. Prior to joining Velocity BioGroup, she has worked in a number of industries including Printing, Manufacturing, Construction, and Association Management overseeing several non-profit organizations. Most of her career she has worked directly with Board of Directors, CEOs, Presidents, and Controllers.
Maureen has developed an expertise in the role of a Liaison with Attorneys, outside CPA Firms, Clients, and Vendors. She is proficient in numerous software programs and has extensive experience in office administration, payroll services, accounting and tax services. Her professionalism and attention to detail, as well as her commitment to client and team member’s needs, is what truly sets her apart.
Government Alliances Project Manager
Aimee Elise
Aimee’s role in Velocity BioGroup is project management for the Hikma Specialty contract. Her work encompasses the oversight and management of over thirty Velocity BioGroup personnel. She assists executive management and team members in new hiring and onboarding, conference approach/logistics, development of reports to customers, pull-through of online sales leads, strategic team interactions, and expense management.
Bottom line, Aimee is instrumental in developing and implementing key operations for Velocity BioGroup’s largest projects.
Previously, Aimee has six years of experience in Intelligence Analytics through the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and an additional six years of project management work through University City District and Information Management Group.
While working at University City District, she oversaw the logistics of a safety ambassador program of fifty personnel.
Aimee helped implement a standard operating
procedure for new hire onboarding. This included CPR certification, outreach protocols for those experiencing homelessness, and safety patrols of University City District.
During her time with Information Management Group, she led the IT Windows 10 Deployment Team in mass department upgrades for 1,500 personnel from Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. Bechtel is contracted with the United States Navy for nuclear submarine propulsion innovation.
While in the Army National Guard, Aimee was frequently the lead vehicle in company sized convoys to training exercises at Fort Indiantown GAP, Fort Dix, etc. She was also a squad leader while her battalion trained for deployment at Fort Irwin.
Her training was focused on Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield, and Pennsylvania state emergency procedures.
Director of Medicaid Services
Dan Keeny
Dan Keeney is a results-driven executive with extensive experience leading state government affairs teams in gaining product access and furthering company interests in the government arena. Dan works with client companies' managed markets and sales teams to achieve preferred product access on Medicaid formularies by channeling effective input into P&T committee meeting product reviews and decision-making processes within the increasingly challenging Medicaid space.
Dan has led a team of Medicaid account managers, lobbyists, ADAP specialists and advocacy managers in achieving successful policy outcomes across the Midwest sector. More recently, Dan led the Medicaid account management team for the Western 28 states for 26 medicines plus HIV and vaccine products for one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies.
Among Dan’s skill sets are:
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Developing strategies for formulary placement, advocating with Medicaid Pharmacy, P&T/DUR Committee members & KOLs
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Managing regulatory and statutory requirements needed for product access
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Tracking P&T / DUR committee meetings including clinical and bid submission due dates
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Tracking and lobbying relevant legislation affecting products or the competitive landscape
Strategic Relationships, Orthopedics
Lara Wynne
Lara is an executive with 20 years' broad experience leading and collaborating with cross-functional teams in biotechnology, specialty pharmaceuticals, and medical & surgical device. For both small start-ups and large corporations, Lara drives development and commercialization of novel therapies that address an unmet need in musculoskeletal care. In partnership with key stakeholders she sets and achieves strategic directions for investor relations, product development, regulatory, clinical trials, marketing, market access and sales. She has powerful experience planning for pre-commercialization and commercialization with a proven track record of partnering with hospital systems, ambulatory surgery centers, orthopedic societies, and private practices.Innovation in orthopedics is Lara's passion. She built a singular network of national thought leaders who advise, publish, and advocate in order to propel development, inform commercial launch strategy, and accelerate growth for transformational companies.
Government Markets Manager
Ryan McCarthy
As a research specialist, Ryan is a dedicated and focused team member who brings a unique skill set to the table. He is a recent graduate from Colorado Mesa University, where he earned a degree in Mass Communications, business management, and marketing. Ryan's effective communication skills and problem-solving abilities allow him to approach challenges in a creative and effective manner.
Ryan's passion for strategy and data analysis keeps the team moving forward, ensuring that the research data and analytics support Velocity BioGroup's goals. As a dedicated and detail-oriented researcher, he is committed to delivering accurate and reliable results that contribute to the success of the company. Ryan's expertise and focus on achieving goals make him a valuable member of the Velocity BioGroup team.
Marketing Manager & Graphic Designer
Taylor Adams
Taylor is a dynamic and motivated Graphic Designer, working on the marketing team for Velocity BioGroup. With 4 years of social media, marketing, professional photography and graphic design. A graduate from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelors degree in Digital Media & Design, and an outside concentration in photography and business.
She also specializes in painting and illustration, this takes her creativity to another level.
Years of experience in design work allows Taylor to specialize in Adobe applications. Background consists of digital media, design layout, color balance, photography, marketing and logo design. Her skill set allows her to work in any collaborative setting while being adaptable. Possess excellent verbal and written skills with the ability to create effective presentations and develop opportunities that further establishes organizational goals.