Pulse - January 2025 - 8

SCVMA PROFILE
Steinhauer Winner's Job is Special
'Because of the People' She Serves
Jim Bell
M
arnelle Cashman, recipient of the 2025 Phil
Steinhauer Allied Industry Award, loves her
job at Dechra Pharmaceuticals.
She has been visiting animal hospitals for the company for more than
six years. " I'm kind of like a human pharma rep again but on the animal
health side, " she said. But she " absolutely loves animal health much more
than she liked working for human health pharmaceuticals. "
The reason? " It's because of the people, " she said. " Veterinarians love
animals and they're just so pleasant to deal with. Human health is a different
bird to deal with. HMO. PPO. They - physicians - have limited
time to spend with patients and it's all formularies.
" The people I deal with now are so pleasant, " Marnelle said. " These
are not just customers to me. I feel like they are friends. When I go out
in the field it's not just a sales job. It's like visiting my friends and seeing
what I can do to help them.
" I've been in animal health now for 20 years and I really have enjoyed
it. And I expect to stay put for the rest of my working career. "
Marnelle learned that she had won the award while waiting to pick
up her two daughters outside their school. Her cellphone rang and Dr.
Jennifer Hawkins, SCVMA's executive director, was on the line. " She
congratulated me and I said: 'Oh, my god, that is awesome!'
The Steinhauer Allied Industry Award goes annually to someone
who has demonstrated a long-term and ongoing dedication to the veterinary
profession and organized veterinary medicine. And whose actions
have enhanced the knowledge and wellbeing of SCVMA veterinarians.
Marnelle was nominated for the award by Elizabeth Goldstone, who
works for Merck and has known her some 30 years. " She's the hardest
working person I know, " Elizabeth said. " She gives 110 percent - all the
time. And she's very active and always gives a lot to the SCVMA and
the industry in general. "
" I'm really thrilled and humbled by the award, " Marnelle said. " And
there's part of me where I feel like there's so many other people in this
industry who are just as deserving. "
" Elizabeth and I were both on the human [pharmaceutical] side over
30 years ago when we first met. Our story is kind of special. We were
both calling on similar clients in the Newport Beach area. We lost touch
and many, many years later we ran into each other at an animal hospital
in the LA area. And she said::'Marnelle, is that you?' And I said: 'Oh, my
god, I know you!' So now we're working in the same industry again. We
have a really good friendship over the years. "
Marnelle grew up in Garden Grove. After high school, she enrolled
at Michigan State University but soon transferred to Cal Poly Pomona,
where she earned a business degree. Her initial goal was to be a hotel
restaurant manager. She was working in a hotel when a friend told her
about opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry.
Marnelle found a pharmaceuticals job where she worked seven years
selling antibiotics and analgesics in an Orange County territory. She
8
Marnelle Cashman and family
moved to Chicago with her husband, Scott, where she worked for Johnson
& Johnson seven years. Her husband found a job in Kansas City,
where he had grown up. She worked for a time for a catering business
there, which interested her as a possible career.
But she gave up on that idea when she realized that she would be
working holidays, weekends and evenings in the catering business. She
decided instead that cooking dinners for friends and family was something
she could do as a hobby in her own house and at friends' homes.
After two years in the Midwest, the young couple returned to Southern
California. " My first job after the move back was with Antech Diagnostics
and that's how I got my foot in the door in animal health, " Marnelle said.
" I worked there more than eight years. It was a stressful job but I loved
it because I got to meet so many wonderful customers and people. And I
said, 'Yeah, this is the industry I should be in.' " She also worked three years
for veterinary distributor MWI before moving to Dechra.
Marnelle and Scott have been married more than 20 years and have
known each other 30. " We've been together a long time and we have two
lovely daughters, Brooklyn and Sydney, " she said. " Now 13, they will be
in high school in a year. They're very smart and fun to be with.
" My husband works for Pepsico. He's a regional sales manager. We
enjoy traveling and we ski every winter. My girls are in soccer and
tennis. We are so proud of them and love them dearly! " P
" I've been in animal health now
for 20 years and I really have
enjoyed it. And I expect to stay put
for the rest of my working career. "
JANUARY 2025
PULSE
Pulse - January 2025

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