Ken Dawson

Dawson is director of product support for McKesson Corp.’s Extended Care Solutions Group.

“I’m not a doctor, lawyer or president of a Fortune 500 corporation,” Dawson said. “I’m just a guy who started working at a local software company in 1994 after serving four years in the United States Air Force.”

Dawson deals with customers’ issues, acts as cost center manager of expense and revenue budgets, coordinates education plans for new support representatives and continues education for current representatives. He also serves as Web master of McKesson’s internal customer care Web site and leads the customer care group, which comprises 52 members from 18 business offices.

Dawson also is a contributing writer for the monthly employee newsletter and is the author of a book, “A Paradigm of Customer Recovery – Customer Care from a Practical Approach.”

McKesson’s Extended Care Solution Group was a 2005 finalist for SBJ’s Innovator of the Year Award.

His most important accomplishment, though, is his family.

“Marrying my high school sweetheart, Sheila, and being the father of our son, Adam, are the most important accomplishments of my life,” he said. No matter where I was in the world, I could not wait to come home to Springfield where I have countless memories.”

Dawson’s community involvement includes volunteering for United Way Day of Caring, Adopt-a-Highway, Manna Ministries International and the Students-Go-To-Work program at his office. He also participates in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and serves in a variety of positions at Seminole Baptist Temple.

Born: 1968

Where do you see yourself professionally in five years? In a senior leadership role with responsibility for driving customer support and/or customer advocacy best practices across the company that represents a vertical alignment of process and procedures.

What book do you currently have open? I am currently reading the Bible through in a year.

Quote to live by: “Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you.” – Henry Ward Beecher