When our sales reps are eager to find out how much they’ve earned in commissions, there’s one person they contact: Irene Adams, Senior Compensation Analyst. She calculates everyone’s commissions and also helps shape compensation plans for best results. A native of Bavaria, Germany, she joined Luminex in 2010 and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Texas at Austin.
Q: What are your responsibilities at Luminex?
A: I’m a one-person department, and I’m in charge of calculating and administering commissions for the sales team and anyone else in the global organization who is on a commission plan. I also administer a program called President’s Club, which is a reward for the highest-performing salespeople. This year they get to go to Hawaii. Finally, I provide data analysis to help the company shape compensation plans for the coming year.
Q: What did you do before?
A: At Luminex, I was doing financial reporting. Before that, I did finance and accounting for all kinds of different fields. My philosophy is, it doesn’t matter if the company sells scientific instruments or semiconductors or hamburgers. It’s all about the numbers.
Q: What drew you to Luminex?
A: I was recruited by my previous manager from Freescale Semiconductor. I was really excited to come work for a company that was close to home and to join my old team members, and I liked that Luminex was in a very positive industry.
Q: If you could solve any clinical or genetic challenge, what would it be?
A: I was just in Germany for my dad’s 80th birthday celebration, and I could tell that his memory isn’t what it used to be. With all the advances we’re making to help people live longer, I wish there were more progress on research into Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Q: If you weren’t at Luminex, where would you be?
A: My dream job is being a professional dog walker. I have two dogs, a chocolate Lab and a golden retriever, and I love being outside with them.
Q: What is something about you that no one at Luminex knows?
A: I’ve been in several auditioned and non-auditioned choirs and vocal ensembles in and around Austin. Most recently I started a beer choir. Once a month we go to a pub or restaurant, sit together, drink beer, and sing drinking songs. I even put together a beer choir hymnal.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do in Austin on the weekend?
A: Singing, taking my dogs’ swimming, hiking with my boyfriend. There’s always something to do here! I also really like to see musical theater shows in town.
