March 21, 2019
 
Episode 1 with Jeff Kordenbrock
 
Jeff@wingmanrecruiting.com
www.wingmanrecruiting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkordenbrock/
 
Jeff started his career in the United States Military where he was an attack helicopter pilot and platoon leader in the US Army. I realize it would be difficult to drop everything, join the military, only to hope that it would lead to a career in medical device sales four or five years down the road. However, if you happen to have military experience and you are wondering what the next phase of your career holds for you, the medical device space could be a good option. Jeff is not the first person I have crossed paths with in medical device sales that has a military background. Much like Jeff, many of these individuals are now leading Divisions or entire companies.
Jeff’s medical device sales career began at CR Bard where he was a territory manager. I do not have any personal experience with Bard, but I do know at least one other person who got their start in medical device sales at CR Bard. If you are looking to break in to this field, it may behoove you to look at those companies that have a history of hiring those without specific medical device experience. Ethicon, a division of J&J, is another company with a history of hiring individuals with no medical device sales experience. These companies typically have an extensive training program. Just keep in mind that this training can be focused on the clinical aspect of the job and not necessarily the sales aspect.
Jeff then moved into the cardiovascular space when he joined Guidant as a sales rep. Guidant’s primary business was in the cardiac rhythm management space, which includes implantable pacemakers, defibrillators, and heart failure devices. Jeff then moved into a Regional Sales Manager role followed by a Manager of Internal Recruiting and Talent Management. He then became a Director of Sales in the cardiac rhythm management division before moving into the Director of Corporate Accounts and Healthcare Solutions, which is typically responsible for large IDN and GPO sales. Guidant was later acquired by Boston Scientific.
Jeff subsequently left Boston Scientific to become the Vice President of Sales for the Eastern Area in the Neuromodulation division at St. Jude Medical (remember when I said a few people with military experience are now leading divisions and entire companies?).  St. Jude Medical was later acquired by Abbott.
Jeff left St. Jude to start his own recruiting firm, Wingman Recruiting Group.
 
 
 
Q: How did you get to where you are?
Jeff: Luck and timing. I was a Cobra attack helicopter pilot in the Army. I got out as a captain after five years and was lucky enough to get picked up by a medical device sales company. This is my opinion, but I believe luck happens when opportunity crosses paths with preparation. Jeff’s experience in the military prepared him for a career in medical device sales. I mean seriously, after flying attack Cobra helicopters, do you really think Jeff was going to be intimidated by standing in the OR and having a surgeon yell at him? Uh, no. Side note, not all surgeons yell. I started with a small laparoscopic surgical instrument company, which was later acquired. I eventually ended up at a company called Guidant. I was at Guidant for sixteen years on the cardiac rhythm management side in sales and sales leadership positions.