Axis Spotlight Sam Lay

Get to know Axis Account Manager, Sam Lay a little more. Having many years of working with travel nurses and healthcare facilities under his belt, Sam is always ready to make the match and connect travelers with Axis clients across the U.S. Get to know more about Sam Lay here:

As an Account Manager what do you enjoy most about working with travelers?

I love the thrill of it all.  I especially love making that “perfect match” between a candidate and a client.  It’s the best feeling when someone tells me how much they enjoy their assignment.  It doesn’t get much better than having inside knowledge into a hospital and then getting a traveler to trust you enough to take the leap to go…. And then they end up absolutely loving it.

What’s the best vacation you’ve ever taken?

The most memorable vacation was last summer in Cape Cod.  It was my kid’s first time up there and a magical 2-weeks full of beaches, baseball, museums, restaurants, lobsters, boats and ice cream. I could keep going, but this is really making me miss The Cape!  We cannot wait to go back this summer!

Give us a little history on how you got into the Travel Healthcare Industry 

I graduated from college and didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. I started chatting with a friend I met at my gym (we had the same college t-shirt on – Go USF Bulls!).  He told me about his company and that they did something called locum tenens.  I agreed to interview the following week without any clue what this meant.

I dusted off my “interview” suit and walked into the most intense interview process I could have ever imagined.  I sat at a big table in an empty room and had a series of “rapid fire” interviews with 7-8 different managers and executives.  Some of them played good cop while others played bad cop.  It was confusing.  It was fast-paced.  It was chaos.  It was… exciting?

For some reason, I really wanted to be a part of it!  I got an offer later that afternoon and accepted immediately.  They sent me off to training for two weeks in Utah and I received an incredible introduction into the world of recruiting and travel healthcare.  Nearly a dozen years later, I really couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life!

Are there any locations that seem to be a favorite spot among travelers?

Lately, travelers are loving Rapid City, SD!  This city is a hidden gem.  It is such an awesome area to go out and explore and a city that is chock full of events and activities for both solo adventurists and families alike. Very rarely do I receive complaints astravelers in Rapid City!

What would you say is your favorite U.S. location?

Cape Cod.  My sister and brother-in-law have vacationed there every summer for years and have begged us to go.  I finally gave in and well, I’m hooked!

What movies or shows would you recommend to travelers?

I like movies, but I may or may not have the best attention span – I blame it on my 3 kiddos!  These days, I’m all about the quick, 30-minute shows.  Especially funny ones that you can just start watching a random episode and enjoy.  I’m a HUGE Office fan.  I think I can recite most of the lines from memory at this point.  Parks and Recreation.  Modern Family.  Schitts Creek.  That’s my vibe!

Share a piece of advice for someone looking to travel!

Take the leap! You only get one shot at this thing called life, and it’s a great big world out there.  Get out there and explore it!  When you’re old and grey and rockin’ away in your rocking chair, you won’t look back and regret the adventures you took; You’ll regret the ones you didn’t!   

What are the top 3 activities on your bucket list?

• Visit all the Major League Baseball stadiums (21 to go!)
• Go on a cruise.
• Explore Europe. Italy in particular

What have you found that makes Axis different from the rest?

Axis Medical is the first and only place that I have ever worked where I can truly say it’s family.  As the longest-tenured team member, it’s been amazing to watch how Axis has grown, developed and adapted over the years.

The past few years have not been easy, both personally and professionally.  Life has thrown curveballs that I could have never anticipated, but Axis was there supporting me every step of the way. It has always made me feel valued and respected, even at my lowest points!

The amount of care and support is contagious.  As an account manager, it makes you want to work harder.  That same level of loyalty and commitment is applied to each traveler and client with whom we come in contact with.  There is a personal touch and a sense of positivity around here that is so special.  There are not a lot of companies like Axis out there.

If you’d like to connect with Account Manager Sam, schedule a 30-minute call with him here!