When molecular business managers at Luminex need help, one of the people they rely on is Michael Hewitt. As Area Business Director for the Great Lakes region, who covers about ten states, he works to drive new business with the team he oversees from his base near Madison. Hewitt came to Luminex through its acquisition of Nanosphere, which he joined in 2007. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Q: What are your responsibilities at Luminex?
A: I work with a team of seven molecular business managers; they each have their geography within the Great Lakes region. They manage customer relationships and generate new business, and I see my responsibilities as helping them drive that business and coaching them on ways we can develop new partnerships. I also manage some financial aspects, such as forecasting instrument and reagent sales, and work with our legal team on customer contracts.
Q: What did you do before this job?
A: When I first started at Nanosphere, I was a clinical sales representative. That was in the early stages when we didn’t even have an FDA cleared product yet. I worked on preparing the market for a new technology, and as we expanded, I eventually took over as Regional Manager and later as Sales Director of the eastern half of the United States.
Q: What struck you most about the acquisition by Luminex?
A: The fairness of it. They did a lot of things to keep people involved with the integration processes, and the overall approach and culture were very positive.
Q: If you weren’t a business manager at Luminex, where would you be?
A: I started out looking to be an accountant, but it was too boring for me. I also had some pre-pharmacy coursework, so that was a possible career path. But ultimately, I’d like to own my own business.
Q: If you could solve any clinical or genetic challenge, what would it be?
A: A genetic challenge would be to identify the population at risk of cancer and follow that up with the appropriate therapy.
Q: What is something about you that no one at Luminex knows?
A: I once paraglided off a mountain in Austria. It was incredible! Other than that, I grew up playing sports and hunting. Football was always my sport of choice, and then hockey was second. Now that I’m older, it’s golf – there’s a lot less contact! But the number one thing I like to do right now is downhill skiing. I love the moguls, as well as the black and double black runs.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do in Madison on the weekend?
A: Weather permitting, we love to do a lot of waterskiing, followed by kayaking and fishing on our lake. There is also the occasional Badgers football game, which provides great entertainment.
