IPC Staff Spotlight: Alex Volkman, IPC’s New Regional Director
If you spend even five minutes talking to Alex Volkman, you’ll quickly realize two things: she brings serious energy to everything she does, and she genuinely cares about the people she works with. As IPC’s newest Regional Director covering the Southeast, Alex is hitting the ground running and we are excited to have her on the team.
Your background isn’t a straight line into the pharmacy world. Tell us how you got here.
Honestly, when I graduated college, I never anticipated being in the pharmacy industry. But I always knew I wanted to work somewhere I could build the kind of future I envisioned, whether that was through community, through meaningful change, however that might look. And that’s exactly what drew me in.
What I love about working with independent pharmacies specifically is that you can directly see the changes you’re making. That immediate impact is something you don’t always get in other spaces. So while this wasn’t the original plan, I’m really glad I’m here.
What experiences shaped your understanding of independent pharmacy and patient care?
In my previous role, I worked across a wide range of pharmacy settings: small and mid-size independents, chains, LTCs, GPOs, retail. But it was always the smaller, independent ones that stayed with me.
They face so many more challenges. I’d hear from owners who genuinely wanted to show up for their patients and their community, but were stretched thin. Short-staffed, navigating policy changes, trying to do more with less. And yet, they still showed up. Watching a pharmacy owner recognize a regular customer walking in, know their name, flag a potential medication issue, and recommend something to help is really something special. You can’t replicate that at scale. That personal touch is what makes independent pharmacy irreplaceable.
What made you say yes to IPC?
The culture, without question.
Throughout the hiring process, every person I talked to had the same energy. Passionate, motivated, genuinely excited about the work. And not just in a surface-level way. People here really care about finding solutions for members, and if they don’t have an answer right now, they stay connected and come back with one.
For someone jumping into the pharmacy world fresh, that kind of supportive environment means everything. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming. I can call almost anyone here and say, “Hey, can I get 30 minutes to talk through this?” and the answer is always yes. That culture you feel inside the company? It translates directly to how IPC shows up for pharmacies.
As Regional Director, what strengths are you bringing to your members and prospects?
I’ve spent a lot of my career in customer-facing, service-oriented roles, so connecting with people comes naturally to me. I genuinely love figuring out what’s going on in someone’s day-to-day. Whether they need a resource, a sounding board, or just a friendly ear for whatever challenge they’ve been sitting with.
I want to be the kind of person our members can reach out to and feel like I’m actually in their corner. Not just pointing them to a brochure, but really digging in with them.
I’m also a learner at heart. The Southeast is a new territory for me, and I’m excited to study it. PBMs play a significant role in this market, Florida has its own tax nuances, every region has its own dynamics. I want to earn the trust of the pharmacies I work with by doing my homework and showing up informed.
What does success look like for you personally?
That’s a big question. Here’s my honest answer: I already consider myself successful. I didn’t grow up with a lot of opportunities. I’m the first to admit that. Everything I have, I worked really hard for, and I had a village of people there to support me along the way.
At this stage in my life, success looks like helping the people around me achieve their goals and feel that same sense of pride. I was doing personal training for a while, and there was something really powerful about watching someone accomplish something they didn’t think they could. I carry that energy into everything I do.
Success isn’t a destination. It’s about celebrating the wins, staying curious, and always asking what’s next.
What does life outside of work look like for you?
Oh, where do I start? I have a lot of hobbies and I am never truly relaxed.
Working out is non-negotiable for me. It’s how I reconnect with myself and clear my mind. I used to do competitive powerlifting and actually qualified for nationals (yes, really). I skateboard, I’ve done rock climbing, hiking, kayaking. And now that I’ve relocated to Jacksonville, I live near five great skate parks, so that’s been a whole new adventure I’ve been exploring.
Next on the list? Surfing. I’m claiming it now.
Beyond the physical stuff, I’ve been getting out and exploring my new city. Farmer’s markets, local meetups, a free Wednesday night Pilates class in downtown Jacksonville. I’m only about two months in, but I’m really excited to keep finding my footing here.
