Alumni Profile

James Rigby Class of 1994

The first exposure I had to Southern Vermont College was as a high school student, when I visited my brother, Paul, who was a student at the College. Although I didn't give much thought to attending at the time, I loved the camaraderie Paul had with his fellow students, and was impressed by the considerate attitude instructors had toward students. When conducting my own search for a college, I knew I didn't want to be lost in a sea of thousands of students and wanted to be able to talk with and get to know my own instructors. A second visit to Southern Vermont College found the atmosphere to be one of a large family and not just a mass of students. The opportunity to play collegiate sports at an up-and-coming college appealed to me, as well. I soon learned that playing collegiate sports was one of the best choices I ever made.

In 1990, I enrolled at Southern Vermont College as a Communications major with a minor in Business Management and, in 1994, I earned a Bachelor of Science degree.

While at Southern Vermont College, I learned how to balance studies with work and basketball schedules. If I needed help, I always learned where to find it. 

During my sophomore year, I was named Captain of the basketball team and was instrumental in making the program progress into what it is today. I remember many coaches and teammates, including Coach Jeff Fallon, who would use his own resources to make sure student-athletes were ready to play as a team. He gave the team focus and solidarity--taking several average to above-average high school players and transforming them into a competitive, hard-nosed basketball team. I believe he is responsible for the program's success today. Even though he never realized ultimate success at Southern Vermont College, he created the trail for his successors. I remember guys like Andy Hodapp, whom opponents feared because of his ability to shoot from anywhere on the court; Eddie Polk, with whom I spent countless hours in the weight room beginning as early at 6 a.m. until the gym closed; Jason Kennedy, whom we "stole" from the soccer team and turned into a defensive stopper; and Tim Goto, whom we all admired for traveling from Denver to compete in the classroom and on the hardwood.

Right out of college, I was hired by a veterinary pharmaceutical company called Virbac. While there, I was promoted to a territory with a larger volume, and won two national sales contests. Then I worked for The Butler Company in Columbus, Ohio, a veterinary pharmaceutical and equipment company. After doubling territory sales in just two years, I won the coveted President's Gold Award for Sales Achievement. 

Since my move to Medicis, I have been consistently ranked in the top ten in sales. I continue to further my education through involvement in many training programs, including time management, psychology of selling, and intense pharmaceutical training. 

My wife, Diana, and I have recently moved from Columbus, Ohio to Scottsdale, Arizona,where the headquarters of my company, Medicis, presides. I was offered and accepted a position titled National Sales Operations Manager.

In this position, my main roles are to coordinate and aid in the execution of national and regional sales strategies, optimize the number of field representatives per area, and head up the launch teams on new products. In addition, I am responsible for our pharmaceutical sample budgets and allocations to our field representatives.

Diana and I remain proud parents of our two sons, Will (4 years old) and Dean (2 years old). Our interests include golf, skiing, reading, fitness and, most of all, raising our sons. We moved into our new home in Scottsdale, Arizona, in late February. The company's website is www.medicis.com if anyone is interested in reading about our company.

You can contact Jim at rigby2@cox.net

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