The Best of Training
SPBT has established a Hall of Fame to acknowledge the valuable contributions that trainers have made to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.
Here are the eight distinguished members.
SAL BARILLA (Inducted 2004)
SPBT Founder Sal Barilla, a former trainer at Burroughs Wellcome, organized the first meeting of pharmaceutical sales trainers back in 1971. That group eventually grew into the National Society of Pharmaceutical Sales Trainers, or what is now SPBT. After a long and successful career in pharmaceutical sales and training management, Barilla now has his own video production business in Los Angeles.
"Receiving the Hall Of Fame Award was a real honor, and an experience I will always remember," Sal says. "It's so gratifying to see what has become of the Society that I gave birth to back in 1971. The vision I had back then has been realized many times over. Seven trainers attended my first meeting in March 1971. In 2004, there were 525 trainers, and 396 vendors and guests in Orlando. I'd like to thank all of the officers and members, past and present, for helping make my dream a reality, and a special thanks to the Board for bestowing this honor upon me."
AL BOYETTE (Inducted 2003)
Al Boyette held numerous positions with Syntex Labs, including Regional Training Manager, District Sales Manager, Manager of Market Research, and Product Manager. In 1979, he was promoted to Director of Training and Education. Under his leadership, the Syntex training department became a pioneer in the use of computer-based education for pharmaceutical representatives. In fact, he was the first in the industry to convert all of the technical new hire training to a computer-based learning format.
"For my peers to remember that I 'did good work' for the Society, to the extent that they wanted to give me this honor and this recognition, is a bit overwhelming," Al says. "Really, all that any of us have left after a long career in any field, whatever it may be, is memories. And I now have the best memory of all: To have been a part of such an important industry and an organization that contributes so much to society. To be recognized for my own contributions and achievements is something that I will never forget."
JIM DUTTON (Inducted 2001)
For more than a decade, Jim Dutton has been President of the CMR Institute. In this role, his peers say he has personally driven the training profession to another level of excellence. He currently serves on SPBT's Board of Directors as a Director at Large.
"Training, and the recognized value of training and education in our industry, has come a long way," Jim says. "I believe a large part of the credit should go to SPBT and the role this organization has played in elevating the level of training and development within the industry."
BOB LANTING (Inducted 2001)
Bob Lanting retired in 2001 as Vice President of Global Learning and Development at Pfizer after 36 years with the company. One of the crowning achievements of his career was the fulfillment of his lifelong dream to build a state-of-the-art global learning center. This goal was achieved in September 2000 with the ribbon-cutting of the Pfizer Learning Center in Rye Brook, NY. Today, he serves as a Vice President on the SPBT Board of Directors.
"It has been a joy to work with so many fine professionals over the years," Bob says. "They have been an inspiration to me throughout my career, and the openness with which we were able to discuss and solve our many common challenges has been most rewarding."
ROYCE LEAVELLE (Inducted 2002)
"Rocky" Leavelle, President of Romar Consulting Associates, Inc., has been an ongoing leader and support to so many people in the industry. He established Romar in 1986, with the goal of serving pharmaceutical and healthcare companies through the development of individually designed training programs. Before that, he spent 20 years with the Roerig Division of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.
"It is a real honor and privilege to be a member of this unique group," Rocky says. "This honor has to be shared by my daughter, Kaye Leavelle, and the dedicated, loyal members of the Romar team. Without their commitment to our mission statement of always putting the client first, Romar would not be the success it is."
MARIE MICKEY (Inducted 2005)
Marie Mickey has designed, developed, and delivered leadership and training for sales, marketing, and headquarters personnel for more than 22 years. Through her tour of the industry--including stops at GlaxoWellcome, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, and Pharmacia--she's worked in all the major therapeutic areas and helped develop leadership talent at all levels. She also served on the SPBT Board of Directors.
"Few trainers have won this award," Marie says. "I'm honored to now be numbered among them. This award is particularly coveted becase it represents recognition from the toughest audience a trainer can have--one's peers."
PAUL PINSONAULT (Inducted 2003)
Paul Pinsonault, President & CEO of Pinsonault Associates, began his career in the pharmaceutical industry back in 1965, in Santa Barbara, CA, when he joined Warner Chilcott Laboratories. He has held many titles during his career, including Director of Training, Vice President of Sales, Vice President of Career Development, and Vice President of Managed Care. Pinsonault has been a member of SPBT for more than 30 years and is a past president. He also was one of the driving forces in transforming SPBT from a training society to a professional development organization. He passed away in 2005.
Paul offered these thoughts at his induction: "My admission into SPBT's Hall of Fame is the highlight of my 35 years in the pharmaceutical industry. I can still remember when seven trainers got together in 1971 to form what is now SPBT. Today, SPBT is a robust organization that is recognized by virtually every pharmaceutical and biotech company as the premier training society. To those who are passing through training to other responsibilities, I guarantee that when you look back on your career, you will remember all the people you touched."
MARGARET PYLES (Inducted 2001)
Margaret Pyles was the first female President of the National Society of Pharmaceutical Sales Trainers (the former SPBT) from 1991-1992. She is considered a true icon in pharmaceutical training. She has retired after more than 20 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she completed her career as Vice President of Training and Development.
"I have gained far more from my association with the Society than I have given," Margaret says. "I have learned so much about training concepts and techniques through my contacts within the Society. At every national or regional meeting, I found ideas from workshops, speakers, and industry partners that I was able to implement in my department."
FRANK WALSH (Inducted 2002)
Few people are better known to the Society than Frank Walsh. In 1951, Walsh joined Pfizer and went on to head Pfizer's Training and Development Department until that fateful day in 1973, when he and his wife, Anne, decided to take on the duties of Executive Director of NSPST, the former SPBT. They kept membership records, set meeting schedules, coordinated mailings, organized conferences, and continued to attract new members. In 1999, he became SPBT Executive Director Emeritus. He passed away in 2003.
Fran Wilburn, one of his daughters, had this to say at his induction: "NSPST has been such a large part of his life since its conception. And I know he is both humbled and thrilled at his induction into the Society's Hall of Fame. He has always had a sincere affection for those he has had association with in the Society and feels honored to have been a part of the Society's beginnings, as well as its growth. He shares with me a deep sense of gratitude for the recognition he has received."