AABB Employee Spotlight: Barb Pumphrey MT(ASCP)SBB

How long have you been at AABB?

I joined AABB in February 2025.

What is your job title? 

Director of Business Development

What does your job entail?

I work with biotherapies organizations, and transfusion medicine and donor service facilities to explore strategic business development avenues and partnerships. My job also entails bridging the gap between our industry partners and AABB's vast expertise in accreditation, education, publications, advocacy and networking. My focus is creating value-based solutions yielding benefits for industry partners aligned to AABB’s mission of improving lives by making transfusion medicine and biotherapies safe, available and effective.

What made you interested in pursuing a career at AABB?  

Fundamentally, I have valued the mission that AABB delivers for a long time, knowing the positive impact facilitated in the lives of patients. Early in my career as a laboratorian, I was impressed with the vast networking, education and accreditation opportunities that AABB provides. I committed to volunteering for AABB as a part-time AABB assessor and utilized AABB’s expertise and support to gain AABB accreditation for the first immunohematology reference lab (IRL) in my state. Having worked at large, ‘for profit’ companies the past two decades in sales management and strategic roles, as well as at start-up companies, I was thrilled at the opportunity to bring those skills to this role to further AABB’s support for excellence in biotherapies and transfusion medicine. Being able to come full circle to AABB—which fueled my passion in this space early on in my career, and helped propel my purpose and drive—was truly a lifetime opportunity.

How did your previous work experience prepare you for your current role at AABB?

My background working with start-up companies to develop go-to-market and pipeline strategy—combined with sales management and business development experience at large companies—delivered the cross-functional skills to assist AABB for mutually beneficial business partnerships. My laboratory and transfusion medicine background gives me the appreciation for the importance of the life-saving work our members, institutions and corporate partners deliver every day.

What motivates you at work?

Contributing to meaningful, challenging and rewarding work that improves the lives of others and delivers results that enables organizational growth and furthers their purpose. 

What are your top tips for someone starting off their career?

Understand your core strengths, identify your passion and seek roles that meet those strengths and fuel your passion. This will enable you to uncover avenues that are rewarding and challenging. Embracing continual learning with a growth mindset will keep you relevant and open to your next opportunities.

Describe some of the projects you have been working on at AABB so far. What do you find exciting about them?

AABB has long been recognized as the leader and expert in the field of transfusion medicine and donor services for its regulatory expertise, accreditation, publications, education and advocacy. With the rapid evolution and accelerating research and knowledge in the biotherapies space — during a time of rapid growth in new therapeutic, life-saving products — AABB is delivering this same expertise in this area of the field too. I have been working on developing and enhancing new opportunities with AABB’s corporate partners and other companies in the field that bring valuable solutions to those business partners that align with our often mutually symbiotic missions.

Where do you currently reside? Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

I have been in Utah since graduating from Ohio State University. What drew me to Utah was the close proximity to world-class skiing, and outdoor parks and recreation activities, which makes it an ideal recreation paradise. With that said, I did fall in love with Portugal when I was there recently, which could be a tempting option at some point!

*For further information on AABB Corporate Solutions please email Barb Pumphrey at bpumphrey@aabb.org.