Take Ten with Team HPNE: Meet Patti Nolan
This month, we sat down with one of our newest Technical Product Managers, Patti Nolan, to learn more about her new role, years of related experience, and biotech in the Research Triangle Park Region.
As a new member to #TeamHPNE in 2023, could you tell us a little about your career so far and what has led you to this role?
I have been in sales for over 20 years. I have previously sold pharmaceuticals, medical devices, lab supplies, and single-use assemblies. I had encountered High Purity New England as a customer at one of my previous companies. I have always been impressed with the company and enjoyed working with the staff, so it was a natural transition for me.
I am motivated to be working in biotech because I have lost several friends and family members to cancer and have some that are currently in the fight. I think the work that our customers do on a daily basis gives everyone incredible hope that one day we will cure so many of the diseases that face our society.
We are so happy to have you spearheading the sale of HPNE products in the North Carolina or Research Triangle Park region! What do you believe gives HPNE products a competitive advantage? Also, what are some of your favorite industry events to attend?
I believe that the competitive advantage of HPNE, not only in my region, but overall is their short lead times and the company's flexibility and customizability when creating custom single-use assemblies for their customers specific requirements. Additionally, their ability to offer unique engineering solutions depending on the problems of their customers is key to HPNE being a leader in the industry.
In my area, I have been attending monthly meetings for two networking groups: Triangle Biotech Tuesday and Triangle Women in STEM. In addition, I enjoyed attending BPD’s Cell and Gene Therapy Symposium & Vendor Show in April, and was able to make some significant connections. I have found events in the Research Triangle Park Region to be really beneficial, and am looking forward to attending more events in the future.
As a technical product manager, could you tell us a little about what a typical day looks like?
A typical day for me currently consists of prospecting for new business and communicating with current customers. It involves reaching out to talk to people about products like our media and buffer storage solutions including our wildly popular Harvest Cart, as well as other products that are purposefully built to streamline bioprocesses. As a new member of the team, I listen to customer calls of colleagues for learning purposes. In addition, I spend time continuing my education of bioprocessing and cell and gene therapy so that I can stay up to date on the newest innovations, allowing me to provide the best solutions.
I think HPNE’s ability to create assemblies using parts regardless of brand or company sets them apart as a biotech industry leader. This role allows me to be part of a team that can listen to the customer and be able to offer custom solutions for their unique problems.
Working outside of HPNE headquarters, your work day may look a little different than other members of the sales team. Could you tell us a little about your relationship with the sales team, and how that has been built both on-location and remotely?
My relationship with the sales team is in the early stages and is constantly evolving. While at the office, I have spent time talking to the members of the team to get to know them better. I started on the same day as my colleague Kim Mitchell who represents HPNE remotely covering the Pennsylvania and Delaware regions, and we talk daily, whether we are working in or out of the office. Several of the other reps have remotely supported me by including me on their sales calls and have helped with some of my training as I adjust to this new position.
Throughout your career, what has been one of your favorite projects to work on, and have you had any great professional inspirations along the way?
I once worked on a project with a company that was manufacturing high-tech systems for Aseptic Processing and Containment. I facilitated the development of single-use assemblies to be used with their equipment. It was an exciting project and was very satisfying.
As for professional inspiration, one of my previous sales managers was extremely inspirational to me. He had an infectious personality and always turned any negative situation into a positive. He had a very strong work ethic and inspired me to always do my best work. Overall, he was an amazing leader and a great person.
Is there anywhere you have traveled in the past five years that you loved? If so, where and why?
I traveled to Iceland a few years ago to visit a friend from college. She is a local, so I was able to see Iceland from a native’s perspective. Hiking a glacier was a phenomenal experience and to top it off the presidents of Iceland and France were visiting the glacier at the same time, so I was able to see them.
What is something you like to do or are passionate about when you aren’t working?
I love to spend time outside hiking, biking, walking and especially fly fishing! One of my greatest passions and joys is having adventures with my seven grandkids.
If you could give a piece of advice to someone just starting out their career, what would it be and why?
Never stop learning and always look for the positive in every situation.
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About HPNE
As the industry needs grow, High Purity New England, Inc. continues to supply the biopharmaceutical industry with a range of innovative products, from drug discovery and development to fill-finish, including their flagship product, custom single-use assemblies, as well as pumps, sensors, bioreactor systems, storage and handling solutions and other single-use solutions. Along with their own manufactured products for the global market, they are also a distributor for more than 18 brands in North America.
