Vanessa Grenyion, PharmD, is Fair Oaks Citizen of the Year

FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - Earlier this year, local business owner and pharmacist Vanessa Grenyion was named Citizen of the Year by the Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce (FOCC). Vanessa and her husband Kevin Grenyion—who is a clinical pharmacist and a veteran—own HealthQuest, Inc., a medical supply store in Fair Oaks.

The Citizen of the Year award is presented by the FOCC Board of Directors to a chamber member who demonstrates outstanding leadership by going the extra mile and making a difference in the community.

“Vanessa is a bright light and shining star in the community,” said FOCC Executive Director Kimberley Pitillo. “She was referred to us by several people last year for the outstanding work and service she continually provides, and in 2021 she adapted her business to become an essential resource in the community.”

We recently caught up to the busy business owner to learn more about her.

It started with a vision

In 2012, while working locally as a staff pharmacist, Vanessa envisioned expanding her healthcare expertise into the Home Medical Equipment (HME) industry. With minimal training on the medical supply side, her desire to switch careers stemmed from a realization that many of her customers—who were aging in place—needed help in ways pharmacies couldn’t provide. After diligently researching about the HME industry, she learned that by the year 2030, one in five Americans will be over 65 years old and will most likely need various supportive medical devices to age in place safely.

Seeking to be a bridge for an aging demographic, in 2016 Vanessa opened HealthQuest, a medical supply shop catering to customers who could see, touch, and learn about the products her store carries. Although the company does support some online business, it is not their main focus.

“When you buy online, you remove dollars from the community,” expressed Vanessa. “The community flourishes when you invest in supporting the ‘mom and pop’ shops—and right now there are a lot of small businesses that need help!”

Dot Boyd, Senior Safety Specialist, has known Vanessa for five years as a colleague and friend. “In an age of online shopping, way too much gets missed when it comes to the knowledge and personal touch Vanessa brings to the table,” said Dot. “I think what’s remarkable about Vanessa is her determination to be a local resource for people with an old-fashioned standard of caring and personalized service—even if she doesn’t always have what the customer is looking for.”

Vanessa has a close relationship with her customers and considers them neighbors or good friends. Her shop provides a serene and cheerful space for customers to safely address their health needs. “I never got into this business just to sell a lot of things,” she said. “My main focus is to help my customers find the best products to meet their needs.”

Opening a vaccination clinic

In 2020, the Grenyions made the difficult decision to close the store like so many small businesses (deemed ‘non-essential’) had to do at the time. Vanessa recalled how many of her customers expressed fears about leaving home.

“People still needed medical supplies that were necessary for the care of their loved ones. If we cut off access, where would they go?” she said.

After re-evaluating the business as ‘essential,’ the Grenyions reopened HealthQuest, and Vanessa continued to be a resource for seniors, their families, and others looking for home health tools.

In early 2021, prior to the release of Covid vaccines, Vanessa discovered another way to give back to the community where her pharmacy skills would come in handy. After dedicating hours of her own time and expenses, Vanessa opened an onsite vaccination clinic at HealthQuest.

“I’d been a pharmacist for more than 16 years and I know how to set up a vaccination clinic,” she said. “I thought by becoming a vaccination hub for my customers and local residents, people could get back to living again.”

Dot recalled being among a team of volunteers who helped Vanessa and Kevin on the clinic’s opening day. “I helped with the check-in process so they could focus on administering vaccines,” said Dot. “Appointments were timely, people were treated with kindness and care, and the Grenyions took the time to answer questions and address concerns.”

Just under 100 people were vaccinated that first Saturday and returned a month later for their boosters. “It was pretty special to be a part of those two days,” said Dot.

Overall, the clinic has administered more than 1,300 vaccinations in the community. Now that the clinic has wound down, Vanessa is able to refocus her energy back into her business—and after six years of running HealthQuest on her own, she’s ready to hire an assistant manager. The Grenyions live in the community and have three children ages 13, 10, and 7. Vanessa feels the additional help will allow her to spend more quality time with her family and be a better resource for her customers.

HealthQuest is located at 8141 Greenback Lane in Fair Oaks and is open weekdays from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (lunch breaks from 12 to 1 PM). You may reach them via phone/text at 916-238-1700 and their website is HealthQuestHME.com.