At Tandym, we know that success is a team sport, and every month, we take a moment to recognize one standout player who goes above and beyond. Our Teammate of the Month isn’t just someone who gets the job done; they embody our values, uplift those around them, and make a lasting impact. Get to know Kerri Puckhaber, an Associate Recruiter on our Healthcare team and Tandym’s Teammate of the Month for May 2025!

Who are you?

I’m from Wantagh, Long Island, where I was born and raised in a big, lively family (three girls and two boys). I’m right in the middle of it all. My dad worked in the trades on Wall Street, and my mom was a homemaker who somehow always found time to hustle on the side, flipping furniture and other things.

I went to St. Anthony’s High School, where I played basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse. Sports were a huge part of my life growing up, and that carried through when I went to Rutgers for college. After graduation, I jumped into pharmaceutical recruiting, which turned out to be a great fit for me.

Not long after, I went on a girls’ trip to San Diego that ended up changing my life. I met a great guy, a lacrosse player from Canada who was playing out there at the time. And now, he’s my fiancé! Currently, I’m happily living back in my hometown and even happier to be part of the team at Tandym.

Rumor has it you’re a Rutgers lacrosse legend. Care to address it?

I don’t know if I’d go as far as calling myself a legend, but I can hold my own. I played lacrosse all four years at Rutgers and was honored to be named captain my senior year. I played Attack, which is basically the quarterback of the offense. I was always in the mix, setting the pace and running plays.

Growing up on Long Island, which is a major hotbed for lacrosse, helped with getting recruited. I had a few D1 offers and also some D3 volleyball offers, since I was serious about that sport too. I’ve always been naturally athletic, and lacrosse ended up being the path I followed. It was a big part of my college experience, and I still love the game.

Who were your heroes and inspirations?

I think I’m going to go with my cousin Jenna. She’s 5 years older than me and is kind of like the big sister I never had. She’s smart, athletic, extremely competitive, and has always won awards in everything she did. She even played lacrosse at Princeton. We wouldn’t compete against each other because of the age gap, but she helped teach and train me when I was growing up. She was even my sponsor at my Confirmation. She’s just the best.

Speaking of heroes, build me your ideal sandwich.

I don’t normally eat sandwiches. But if I’m getting something, it’s going to be some combination of chicken cutlet, bacon, lettuce, tomato, oil, and vinegar on a sesame-seeded roll. The best place that does that near me is Otto’s Deli in Wantagh. They call it the ‘Major League’ and it’s delicious. Actually, I had it for lunch yesterday.

Did you find Tandym, or did we find you?

Tandym actually found me. One of the HR team members reached out to me on LinkedIn about joining their Life Sciences group, but I was already employed and not looking to leave. After a year or so, I decided to follow up because I saw they were still expanding the department. When I came to interview, though, I was connected with the head of the Healthcare division, and we hit it off. After two interviews, I received an offer and have been here ever since!

What’s your go-to karaoke song (even if it’s just in the car)?

‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’. It’s a fan favorite, everyone knows it, and loves to sing and dance along. That’s a big deal because that guarantees the crowd won’t turn on you. But if I’m feeling some kind of way, maybe a song from ‘High School Musical’.

What was it like to hear your name be called as Teammate of the Month?

Honestly, I was completely caught off guard. My boss, Adam Bottorff, threw me a little off. He told me to be prepared to answer questions in front of the entire company because he was working on a presentation. So, I went into the meeting feeling nervous, alert, and ready for anything. When he got up there and started talking about presenting Teammate of the Month (and he mentioned that this person had a birthday coming up), I started to realize what was happening.

It felt surreal. I was so overwhelmed with happiness and adrenaline that I almost jumped into my pool in my backyard t to calm down. Then came the flood of congratulatory messages, and it was just another wave of positivity that hit me. I’ve been working hard, and sometimes you wonder if it’s being noticed, especially since I tend to be on the quieter side in the office. To know that my team saw that effort and the leadership team agreed, it honestly meant the world.

It’s a rainy day. What are you binge-watching?

Serial killer documentaries. Well, any documentary is cool with me. I don’t have the attention span for movies, so quick episodes of a juicy documentary are more of my speed. And of course, anything on Bravo. I can watch reruns of any of those shows all day. Also – it’s not on Bravo, but the ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ is must-watch TV.

There have been a few changes since you started at Tandym. How have you managed to deter all the outside noise and be consistently productive?

With a role like this, it comes down to mindset and consistency. I’ve learned that if you stay focused, put in the hard work, and stay adaptable, you’ll continue to see results, even through resets and changes. Persistence is key. I try to focus on the silver linings and see change as an opportunity for growth. When things shifted, I made a conscious decision to step up, stay positive, and take the necessary steps to keep moving forward.

What’s one thing on your bucket list you still want to check off?

The Super Bowl. Wow, that was weird. I don’t know why that’s the first thing that popped into my head, but I stand by it. It’s been a dream of mine to go for quite some time. I mean, who wouldn’t want to attend the biggest stage in football? And listen, I’ll go to any Super Bowl. I’m a Jets fan, so I’ve come to terms that I won’t go to one of theirs, but just the parties, the vibe, the atmosphere of being there to watch any two teams play would be awesome.

What are your goals for 2025?

Keep the momentum going. I came out hot this year and, at the very least, I want to make this sustainable. I like being busy, so this kind of grind is right up my alley, and I love the groove I’ve hit, so it’s all about competing against myself from yesterday. But also, I want to grow as more of a leader on this team and at this company. I don’t want to be a one-trick pony. I want to have a long tenure here and make Tandym my home. And maybe, just maybe, make Chairman’s next year!

You just won a free, all-expenses-paid vacation—but you have an hour to get ready and go, or else the opportunity is gone. Where are you going?

You’re saying that to me as if that’s a challenge. I can get ready for anything in 2 seconds. Every time I go away with my friends, they’re always like, “Are you seriously only bringing one bag?” I’m telling you, I don’t need much. Anyways, I’ve never been to Europe, so that’s the move. If I’m feeling in a beachy vibe, I’d say Greece. If not that, Switzerland. All the pictures I’ve seen are so beautiful. I must make my way there at some point!