Get to Know

 

John Raach

Area Sales Director

 

Like so many of you, we at Acadia are sheltering in place as we confront COVID-19. We’re also still hiring. Before the pandemic, we spoke with John about his work at Acadia. While life looks a bit different right now, we think it’s valuable for you to hear his story as you consider joining our Acadia family.

We know the work at Acadia can often be fast-paced. Why is it worth it?

Because you can actually change the course of the company. If you’re the type of person who thrives in a startup environment, one where you have a lot of impact and high accountability, Acadia is the place for you.

You’re not a badge number here; you really have a seat at the table, and the culture reflects that. No one’s telling you what to do or when to do it—it’s on you. That may sound intimidating, but if you can work at this level, you’ll be able to move quickly and really put your fingerprints on the company. What I like to tell people is if you get in here now, you’ll have the opportunity to build something even better than it is today.

How is Acadia different from other places you’ve worked?

At Acadia, everyone is interconnected—you can ask questions, have conversations, and influence decisions at all levels of the company. For example, many times board members have attended our sales meetings and asked for our perspective and opinions. Think about the amount of impact you have when you get to speak on a regular basis to stakeholders at this level. I feel very fortunate to work at a company where everyone’s voice is so valued.

What are you most excited about as you look toward the next year—for yourself and for Acadia as a company?

I’m looking forward to continuing to help shape the success of this company. That’s the thing about being here. If you’re competent, if you have the skill set, if you have the engagement and the enthusiasm—you will help move our company forward. And it’s for a good cause.

We’re truly helping patients—our products help impact the lives of people who are suffering. At the end of the day, I can look back on my job and think, “What did I do?” Somewhere else, the answer could easily be “I don’t know, I filled out these reports, and sat in these meetings.” But here, everything we’re finding solutions for is new. You actually move the needle. I see my direct decisions, whether it’s in meetings or in hiring people, shaping the destiny of Acadia. So that’s what I’m excited about in the next year—continuing to see the difference I’m able to make.

After the pandemic hit, we caught up with John to talk about life and work during these challenging times.

How has your work changed since COVID-19 hit?

For me, it hasn’t had as big of an impact as you might think. Even before the pandemic hit, people were moving toward a digital world, and that includes telemedicine. And it makes sense—when you’re dealing with an elderly population who’s already at risk, online meeting technology is extremely helpful. Acadia is small but we’re flexible.

Also, since one of our medications is used to treat Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP), communicating through telemedicine may not necessarily impact our health care providers’ ability to treat PDP patients. Mental health issues may be easier to diagnose through telemedicine because you can’t actually see their symptoms anyway—the patient or caregiver has to tell you what they’re experiencing.

As we should, we try our best to engage all customers with empathy, making sure people know we truly want to help. Now that things have calmed down a bit, many health care providers have reached out more proactively, and we’ve really been able to interact in meaningful ways, despite not being face-to-face.

How has Acadia supported you and the team during this time?

Acadia has really been great. From day one, senior leadership understood the situation and put us at ease. The first thing they did was hold an all-hands call where they told everyone that our jobs were not in jeopardy; that gave everyone room to breathe. Then they invested in us, providing the necessary equipment for us to work from home. They’ve also been tremendously supportive of our employees with families. That peace of mind allows us to do what we’re here to do: make an impact with healthcare providers, caregivers, and ultimately improve the lives of patients.