Do It Yourself at DUKAL: Halloween 2013

With a wide offering of products, DUKAL is excited to announce our first annual Halloween Costume competition. Many employees participated with their thoughts of what products they would use to create the perfect Halloween costume:

Maggie Karl (Manager, Contract Manufacture): “I’d use the DawnMist® line of products and be “late for work”.  Pajama shorts and a button down shirt (incorrectly buttoned, obviously), shower cap on my head and toothbrush in hand, maybe half a leg of shaving cream if I’m feeling a little risky?  Plus a good assortment of DUKAL Adhesive Strips to cover up all the nicks and cuts I (always) get from rushing!”

Christen Doughty (Accounts Payable and Payroll Manager) would be a gauze mummy using DUKAL Gauze, Bandage Rolls, Conforming Stretch Gauze, and 1 lb Cotton Roll

Eryn Marx (Marketing Assistant) would be Richard Simmons using our Resist-A-Band® line including the Exercise Bands, Band Loops, and Tubing as props

Tony Betti (Central Regional Sales Manager) would be a wheel of cheese wrapped in DUKAL gauze

Other’s made their ideas a reality:

From left to right: Rich DeJoseph (Account Executive) as Freddy Kruger OB/GYN, Matt DiClemente (Project Coordinator) as a sheep, Eryn Marx (Marketing Assistant) as a pirate, Lauren Cassandro (Accounts Payable Coordinator) as Smurfette

An in-office poll of the best costume was close between Freddy Kruger OB/GYN and the Smurfette…in the end the Smurfette received the most amount of votes, Congrats Lauren!!

Lifting With Grace

Our very own Maggie Karl (Manager of Contract Manufacture) will be participating in a great cause for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Read her thoughts below on this unique charitable event! 

When I was a sophomore in college my parents called one night with some pretty bad news.  My Mom had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, and was starting radiation treatment immediately.  Luckily, it was caught very early, and she is now a 10 year SURVIVOR in this fight.  So this year, rather than walk in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I decided to do something that pretty much completely horrifies her, in her honor.  I’ll be participating in a Barbells for Boobs fundraiser at my Crossfit gym (Crossfit South Shore LI) this Saturday, October 19^th.
 

Barbells for Boobs’ mission statement is to provide funding for qualified low income and uninsured women and men who need screening and/or diagnostic procedures in the prevention of Breast Cancer.  Every $80 that is raised provides a screening for someone who could otherwise not afford it.  My personal goal was to provide this screening for 5 people, and I was able to reach that goal this past weekend!  The workout most gyms will be doing is called “Grace”, which is 30 Clean and Jerks for time,(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_and_jerk ) with a weight of 135lbs for men and 95lbs for women.  However, my sadistic and wonderful trainer has confirmed that he’s cooking up something special for us, and we’ll have to show up to find out what’s in store. 

 

If you’re around and interested in watching, come by any time after 9am, it’s right around the corner from the Corporate Office.  Oh, and if you’re interested in donating to this cause, my team is only about half way to their goal at the moment, though we are ranked 42^nd of 813 participating gyms, which isn’t too shabby (please see below)! After I peel myself and my poor mother off the ground (me from exhaustion, her from having to watch me do this to myself) I’ll post pictures and an update.  Is anyone else fundraising this month?  Let’s hear about it!

 http://fundraise.barbellsforboobs.org/fundraise?fcid=260271

“This is madness!” – THIS. IS. DUKAAAAAAL!

The Spartan Sprint by Danielle Pan

Sparta was an ancient city-state of Greece (home to the Spartans) and well known for its fierce warriors with six pack abs like Gerard Butler…Okay, that’s from the movie 300 but the point here is that those Spartans were powerful! They were fighters!  DUKAL Corporation?  Yeah, fierce is our middle name.

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It didn’t sound so scary when my supervisor approached me for the first time and said “Hey, Danielle, Chris is doing the Spartan Sprint on April 13th, want to join? You’ll have plenty of time to train.”

“SURE!” (As a new hire at DUKAL I am practically overflowing with enthusiasm at all times of the day)

This exchange happened in January, which left me, along with my Supervisor, our Marketing Assistant, and one of the Operations Managers about 3 months to train (ample time I thought). Plus according to the official race page this was a 5k distance, so how bad could it possibly be?

You know those people who get a cough and a runny nose, and then they look up their symptoms on WebMD and determine that they actually have contracted Ebola?  That’s essentially what happened when I started researching this event… 8 ft walls? Box jumps? Ropes?  Rowing machines? Javelins? BURPEES?!!!!!! I was more and more grateful that I was working at DUKAL with every passing day – I figured I’d need all the medical supplies we sell to cover my wounds come race day.

3 months passes by surprisingly quickly and the big day we piled into my supervisor’s car and headed out to Citifield. We were hampered by weekend traffic and arrived at the venue slightly later than anticipated but we got through registration successfully. (Did I mention that you have to sign and hand in a death waiver? A DEATH WAIVER… but I digress.)

We waded into the throng of racers waiting for their heats to begin, the temperature was surprisingly cold for April, and even though we were technically indoors you could feel the frigid air seeping in. They released us in groups of 15 and after just a few minute pause and the signal to start…We were off!

Among some of the more memorable obstacles included  wooden climbing walls, jumping up flights of stair with an elastic band around your legs, rowing 500 meters in 2 minutes, and navigating treacherous monkey bar contraptions.  Of course, all that pales in comparison to that wonderful moment when you finish that last obstacle and wobble to the finish line on noodle legs.  I felt such a great sense of camaraderie as we joined each other at the finish… breathing heavily but still alive.

The team catalogued our collective injuries post-race and the results were thus:

·         Bruises in an assortment of sizes and locations

·         Scrapes ranging from barely there to lightly bleeding

·         Sore muscles

·         Pulverized palms

·         Stubbed toes

·         Stinging forehead from being smacked in the face by my own pigtails (Just me)

Resisting the urge to swath myself in adhesive bandages, I displayed my wounds proudly in the office on Monday.  I’d say this would have to be one of DUKAL’s more memorable competitive moments, it was pretty glorious, and we’d totally do it again…I think. 

Maybe one of you dear readers would like to join us next year in this ultimate feat of athletic prowess? We’ll be waiting for you at the start line J

 

Sales Spotlight

Left to Right: Gerry LoDuca (Owner), Tony Betti (Central Regional Sales Manager), Brooks Reid (National Sales Manager), Ellenmary Martin (VP of Sales and Marketing)

Tony Betti has been a member of the DUKAL sales force since 2010.  Hailing from Chicago, he is the Central Regional Manager, Tony’s consistently been an asset to the company since coming on board.  At this past year’s holiday party and annual sales meeting, Tony was awarded our Sales Excellence award!  Tony was nice enough to sit down with us for a bit so we could find out his thoughts on medical sales and the industry as a whole.

Congratulations on winning the Sales Excellence award!  What are some key actions/experiences that helped you to make such a large impact in 2012?

The success that I’ve had is due to working closely with various departments within our company. You can’t do it alone and I believe in that. I rely on customer service, marketing, and supply chain for their expertise. Jessica Sable is the customer service representative for the central territory and it all starts with her. Jessica speaks more to my customers in a day than I would in a week. She is the “eyes and ears” of the region.  In addition, support from marketing    providing sales tools to help assist in the sales effort had a big impact.  It’s important I show customers how we can maximize their value in using DUKAL.

What made you want to be in sales and what do you enjoy most about it?

My first “real” job out of college was an outside sales position.  I realized quickly I loved the freedom that sales allowed me to have. If you wanted a raise it was simple…sell more. Sales is entertaining, it’s hard work, rewarding and I enjoy it. I was hooked from day one.  There is nothing else I would rather be doing right now.

What are some of the difficulties you face as medical rep?

The workflow has increased dramatically and so has the need to prioritize what you want to do today, this week, this month, and this year. It’s not an 8-5 work day. Your day begins very early in the morning and ends by answering the last email late at night. Technology has a major impact on the work day. Timely information and correspondence are the rule. The challenge is how to manage your work life and home life.

What are the biggest misconceptions people have about what you do?

A lot of people assume that sales travel is all glitz and glamour. First class accommodations, you get to wine and dine prospective clients every night and visit exotic cities. That’s far from reality.  An example of an exciting road trip is driving to Ft. Wayne, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Detroit and Flint for the week. I wish I had a flying car!

Sales involves a lot of traveling, what is the one thing you have to always have with you when traveling that isn’t a toothbrush? 

Over the years I’ve forgotten numerous items to pack in my luggage or in my brief case. I’ve forgotten presentations, computers, shoes and even underwear. However today, presentations and electronic files can be emailed to hotel computers and department stores can handle clothing items. The one item I always have in my possession before I walk out the door is my cell phone.  Think about it. Your phone contains contacts, appointments, calendar, emails, everything.  Besides, when was the last time you used or found a pay phone?

I’m sure there’s been some wild events occur amidst your travels; tell us an unforgettable travel story?

One morning I was going through the security check point at O’Hare airport. The person in front of me was putting their items on the conveyor for them to be x-rayed.  I noticed one of the items was a rather large jar of what looked to be pickles.  I thought to myself, good luck trying to get that jar through security. Sure enough, the TSA pulls aside the traveler with the jar. The agent asks, “What do we have here?” The traveler said it was a jar of Gourmet pickles, hot & spicy garlic gourmet pickles, actually, which can only be bought in the Chicago area. The agent very calmly explains that the jar containing the pickles can’t be cleared through security. Either the traveler must arrange to ship the pickles to their destination or they will be confiscated and destroyed.   Following a brief exchange, the pickle person quickly exited the security area, sat on a nearby bench, opened the jar of pickles and began eating them.  I was happy I never saw the pickle eater on my flight due to the fact there was heavy turbulence that day.

If someone were to begin a career in sales, what advice would you have for them?

Be a sponge. Soak up every tidbit of information you can. Take advantage of industry seminars, take continuing education courses, enroll in sales training programs, be part of company group projects. Read and gather information about not only your industry but others. Read the paper, read online, read a book, read your competitors product brochures, take a break to read the comics.  The quest for knowledge never ends.

We think everyone should want to work at DUKAL, what drew you to the company?

Tough question to answer since many positive reasons come to mind. I would sum it up as opportunity; it was like a siren song which drew me to DUKAL. The opportunity to provide for my family, the opportunity to advance my career in a growing organization, and the opportunity to work with outstanding people.

If we were a customer, tell us why we should buy into DUKAL?

We are a privately held company built on integrity and partnerships for over 20 years.  DUKAL provides an innovative product offering through a vast network of distributors to serve their customer base.  It’s simple. People do business with people they like and trust. We are the face of DUKAL and have a vested interest in satisfying our customers.

How do you see today’s current medical industry trends affecting us in the next 5 years?

First thing that comes to mind is federal regulations and the government being more involved. The medical device tax and new healthcare legislation is having a dramatic impact on healthcare jobs and R&D investment. The challenge will continue on how to build value through the distribution channel and end user.  

How has the ever growing emphasis and use of technology affected you as a sales rep?

The use of information technology is fantastic.  Data is instantaneous and it’s the catalyst for incorporating analytics which aids sales reps in being better decision makers/better business people.

With the rise of real time communication and mobile reliance, how do you feel these things help in sales?

It helps you make better business decisions quickly.  We have a lot of data and the real question is what do you do with that data? Technology is constantly changing and to continue to be successful we need to constantly be changing with it.

DUKAL has recently taken on the Dawn Mist brand, how will this brand help grow the DUKAL business?

It was an excellent acquisition. The basket of products that we offer to distribution and the end user is quite extensive. This will position DUKAL for the introduction of other brands into the DUKAL family. 

An exciting acquisition for DUKAL Corporation

Written By: Stephen Stack (Senior Graphic Artist)

Earlier today DUKAL Corporation announced another milestone! See below for more details on this exciting news! What a great day to work at DUKAL!

DATE: February 29th, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DUKAL CORPORATION TO ACQUIRE CERTAIN ASSETS OF DONOVAN INDUSTRIES

RONKONKOMA, NY, February 29th -- DUKAL Corporation (www.dukal.com) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire certain assets of Tampa, FL-based Donovan Industries Inc. (www.donovanindustries.com). Both are privately-held companies.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

DUKAL President Gerry LoDuca commented, "This transaction will expand our existing product line and customer base, is well-aligned with our aggressive growth strategies and supports our objective to be a preferred provider of high quality products used in healthcare. We are looking forward to utilizing this acquisition to strengthen our existing business and expand our global reach into the primary and long-term care markets."

Jim Donovan, president of Donovan Industries said he was pleased to link his company to DUKAL. “I am very confident that our customers and the industry in general, will be well served by this acquisition."

ABOUT DUKAL

Since 1991, DUKAL Corporation has been a privately held supplier of disposable medical products based in Ronkonkoma, NY. The company produces its products through strategic manufacturing partnerships with a focus on high quality and is dedicated to providing best in class products and supply chain solutions to its customers. DUKAL products are used every day by healthcare professionals in Acute Care, Primary Care, Long-Term Care, Dental and Veterinary settings, and can be found in Consumer, Industrial and Safety outlets throughout North America and Europe. Additional information may be found at www.dukal.com.

ABOUT DONOVAN

Since 1979, Donovan Industries is a recognized name as a quality provider of healthcare products. Family-owned and operated, Donovan Industries is a supplier of Skin Care, Baby Care, Oral and Shaving Care and many other products. Donovan Industries offers an extensive line of products that meets the needs of the Acute Care and Alternate Care markets under the names of DawnMist and Redi + Wash. Additional information may be found at www.donovanindustries.com.

CONTACT:

Rick Kinsella CFO, DUKAL Corporation

631-656-3800

RKinsella@DUKAL.com

Have a Safe and Happy Independence Day !

Written By Richard DeJoseph (Marketing Coordinator)

As our country’s Independence Day approaches this Monday, fireworks sales have sky rocketed, pun intended. Here in New York and many other states, casual firework use is illegal; however there are a number of areas where it is still legal. If you are going create your own fireworks spectacular, be sure to put together a 4^th of July First Aid Kit. Safety first! You should put the same amount of time into picking out sparklers and Roman Candles into the medical products that can come in handy in case something goes wrong. 

For starters, most home health stores and pharmacies carry a variety of medical products. Start with the basics like gauze sponges, tape, burn ointment or aloe, and adhesive strips. If your local pharmacy has a larger selection, emergency pressure dressings and conforming gauze are great items to have on hand as well.  

Once you are ready to start the show, make sure to read all instructions on your fireworks packaging. Despite what you may think, your novice pyrotechnic skills aren’t enough to rely on. In the event something goes awry, consult a first aid booklet or call 911. Burns leave scars, so be sure that you treat the initial wound with care; continue to care for the wound as it heals to lessen the chance of scaring. Better to remember the festivities with pictures instead of scars from a sparkler mishap; there’s nothing patriotic about that.

We hope that your Independence Day celebration goes swimmingly and without a hitch. But, a few minutes spent at the pharmacy can prove to come in handy in the event something does go wrong. DUKAL wishes everyone a great holiday weekend, happy birthday America! Land of the free, home of the brave!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Written By: Maggie Karl (Manager Contract Manufacture)

Annual DUKAL St. Patty's Day Lunch

 Yesterday Gerry treated his Irish and Irish food loving employees to a traditional feast of Corned Beef and Cabbage, so I thought I would treat our blog readers to my Irish Soda Bread Recipe!

We lovingly refer to this as our “Irish Soda Brick” because it’s a very heavy bread, a sweet and dense treat that’s delicious straight from the oven or toasted with your morning coffee.

Maggie’s Irish Soda Bread   

3 cups All Purpose Flour
1 cup Bread Flour*
1 cup Granulated White Sugar Zest of 1 Large Lemon**
1 Tbsp Baking Powder

3 Large Eggs
1 cup Milk***
¼ cup Buttermilk

1 cup Raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a standard loaf pan.

Combine dry ingredients and lemon zest in a large bowl.
Lightly beat 3 eggs, add milk and buttermilk, then mix in dry ingredients until just combined.  Mixture will be thick, but if it looks too dry add another splash of buttermilk.
Stir in raisins, then pour mixture into greased and floured pan.  Bake for 65-75 minutes, or until the bread sounds hollow when knocked on. 

Notes:
*This was the first year I used bread flour and I really liked the texture.  This bread was still dense but was slightly spongier than the other loafs I made with 4 cups of all purpose flour.  That being said, you can certainly use all non-purpose flour if you don’t happen to have bread flour on hand.

**The more lemon zest the better.  You can add some orange zest if you like, too.

***We only ever have 1% milk in our house, so that’s what I use, but any percent will work.  You could also use all buttermilk, or all regular milk, as long as the total volume of wet ingredients remains the same.

Written By Kiki

Written By Kiki

       Wow my friend Bailey is here, I love playing with her!  Why are we getting in the car?  The car means the groomer or the vets!  Maybe I am going to training; since Bailey is here and she goes to school with me.  Nope no training, where are we going?
      In the car there is my mommy, 2 two legged people, Bailey and me. The car ride was nice, but we need fresh air. Finally we are getting out of the car, come on get my seatbelt off so I can get out! There are so many dogs , I wonder if Bailey see’s what I see?  Which way to go there are so many dogs, my mommy is walking around looking for something maybe a bone or a treat for me! Bailey is excited but she is not showing it she is very calm.
     Oh boy, I just met Wagner and he is so big, I need to hide he will not leave me alone!  Good we are walking around now, there are doggie treats everywhere.  My mommy bought me something, yeah!
           I guess we are going now, my seatbelt is going on.  Bailey and me had so much fun we walked, we played, saw other dogs and got treats. In the car we go, and now I can take a nap!

A day in the life of a new Dukal employee….

Written by Michael Fucci (Product Manager)

   My name is Mike but you can call me new guy one.  That is how I was affectionately referred to for my first few weeks on the job.  It’s been a whirlwind first two months, but a good whirlwind.  I am learning a lot, a lot about Dukal, our products, our industry and a lot about my co-workers.  For the sake of the length of this post and to avoid any uncomfortable moments at the office tomorrow I won’t discuss my co-workers!

Let me backtrack and relive a day at Dukal during my first week.

8:30am: Get to the office

9am: Shown how to look up information on our website.

9:15am: Told to put that information into a PMF excel sheet.

9:16am: I ask, “What is a PMF?”

9:17am: It’s explained to me.

9:20am: I get started on the PMF sheets.

11am: I finish my first sheet, whew – “is the day over?” I wondered.

Noon: Take lunch and take my first breadth of the day!

It went on like this for 2 or 3 weeks, not always PMF sheets, sometimes detail sheets, sometimes quote sheets, always some sort of a “sheet”.

Since those really early weeks I have learned to be somewhat self-sufficient and I like to think I’m even starting to make some good contributions.  I can honestly say that I haven’t worked in a company that is as well run as Dukal.  The atmosphere in the office is one of fun and hard work within a family-like environment.  I can see why Dukal’s clients really value their relationship with Dukal.  It’s something I didn’t understand when I first arrived but am noticing it more and more everyday. 

That is it for this installment of the new guy report but check back regularly to hear more about my fascinating days!