40 Under 40: Jeff Koeck

  Tahoe Chamber  |   July 7, 2021   |   40 Under 40

“There will always be challenges in our lives, but if we can find a way to turn those hardships into opportunities, we will set ourselves up for a happier life.”

Jeff is a South Tahoe native. He has been overseeing the storage and administration of COVID vaccines as Director of Pharmacy at Barton Health Systems.

Congratulations to this week’s 40 under 40 honoree, Jeff Koeck!

Can you tell us a little about your responsibilities and accomplishments in your current position?

In my position I have the enviable opportunity to work with (oversee?) a great group of professionals who are all focused on providing high quality care to our community. The past year has been hard as we all know, but the hospital pharmacy has been focused on helping to deliver vaccination opportunities in collaboration with the hospital.

What has been your favorite professional moment in the last year?

It may come as a surprise, but there were a lot of great moments in 2020. However, by far the best moment came when Barton ran its first COVID vaccination clinic. It had been a long time coming, and everyone involved was excited. There was a “Disney” atmosphere and such a positive energy in the air. Working with so many amazing people to provide such a huge community service is what it is all about.

Do you have a professional/life mantra that you try to live by?

I’ve recently adopted a saying I first heard from Dr. Stixner, our local urologist, which is “No bad days.” Now more than ever, it’s so important to remain focused on the positive around us. If we can hold onto the good, we can ensure that bad moments don’t turn into bad days. There will always be challenges in our lives, but if we can find a way to turn those hardships into opportunities, we will set ourselves up for a happier life.

Who is your role model?

I’ve had a lot of amazing role models in my life, so it wouldn’t be fair to pick just one. Suffice it to say, that I try to learn and grow from everyone I meet. We all have so much to offer, that if we simply take the time to listen to each other, we can grow and learn so much.

Why choose Tahoe to make your home and career?

I am fortunate to have been born and raised in South Lake Tahoe, and I love our community. We all know that Tahoe is special, and there really is nowhere I would rather be. We have access to incredible trails, beaches, ski resorts, restaurants, parks and a multitude of children’s activities.

Are you active in any volunteer roles or community groups?

Currently, my focus has been on encouraging my children to be mindful of their surroundings, and how even little actions can have a big impact. For example, we always carry a trash bag on our hikes and bike rides so that we can pick up things we find. It is important that we empower the next generation to take ownership of problems and to help guide them towards solutions. If we instill the right values now, there’s no telling where they might take us in the future. I look forward to continuing to expose them to service opportunities, so they can better understand the value of giving back to our community.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?

When not at work, I most enjoy sharing Tahoe with my family. There are so many fantastic opportunities year-round, that there really isn’t any way to go wrong. One favorite is to head over to Corral for some high speed single track. Another favorite is spending a mellow day floating the Truckee.

Where are your favorite South Shore stomping grounds?

It has changed a lot over the years – from riding bikes down to the road runner to buy some candy, to spending sunny days at Baldwin. Probably my favorite stomping grounds are the trails around the high school. So many fond memories were made with some of my favorite people on those trails.