When someone at Luminex needs to know detailed information about sales revenue, there’s one person who can always help. Renee Whitley, Manager, Sales Operations Analytics, has been with the company since 2006 and knows all the ins and outs of the accounting and finance departments. She has two bachelor’s degrees: one from Louisiana State University in accounting, and the other from Texas State University in business management.
Q: What are your responsibilities at Luminex?
A: I manage a team of sales operations analysts who deliver the sales revenue/product forecast updates, assist with revenue budget planning, produce sales reports, and provide necessary data for any ad hoc requests to support both the Licensed Technologies Group and the Molecular Diagnostics business. We compile sales revenue forecasts by business unit into a consolidated forecast file to be distributed to management on a set cadence. We also support teams within the organization, outside of sales, on a wide range of projects requiring revenue figures. I feel we are sort of data ninjas. We slice and dice data to review, analyze, and optimize the information to provide deeper insights into the business.
Q: How did you wind up in that role?
A: I started at the company in the accounting department as a staff accountant and later moved into the finance planning reporting and analysis group. From there, I applied for a job on the sales side involving revenue forecasting and analysis to experience the business from a different point of view within Luminex.
Q: What did you do before this?
A: I worked for a publicly-traded company in Louisiana that owned funeral homes and cemeteries. I worked in a group responsible for researching customer accounts to find accounting errors.
Q: What drew you to Luminex?
A: In my previous role, I didn’t actually work in the accounting department. I wanted to get into accounting, which was what I went to school for. When I moved to Texas, that’s what I was looking for. Luminex had an opening for a staff accountant, and it was a perfect fit. At the time, there were only nine of us in the accounting department. There’s been so much growth in the company since then — now I can’t even count all the people here!
Q: If you could solve any clinical or genetic challenge, what would it be?
A: I would choose cancer. I had a grandparent pass away from cancer, and it’s just heartbreaking to watch somebody go through that. If there were a magic pill that everybody could take to prevent cancer, that would be incredible!
Q: If you weren’t at Luminex, where would you be?
A: In Louisiana I developed a love of baking and cake decorating. I can totally see myself opening my own little bakery or café, no doubt with my sister.
Q: What is something about you that no one at Luminex knows?
A: I really like those detective shows on TV like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NCIS: New Orleans, and Chicago PD. I have to watch. They’re my thing!
Q: What is your favorite thing to do in Austin on the weekend?
A: I have young kids, so we always try to find things to do with them like exploring Austin or hanging out in the backyard. We try to spend as much family time as possible on the weekend because we’re so busy during the week.
