If you need a prescription filled, A.J. Cox (left) and Bob Sample are ready to go to work for you. A.J. just moved to Grand Marais from Wyoming to work for Sample.
Bob Sample’s business at Grand Marais Pharmacy has steadily picked up to the point that he needed to hire a full-time pharmacist. Several pharmacists have worked part-time, but Sample needed someone full-time, so he put out some ads seeking help.
Answering the call was AJ. Cox, who hails from Sheridan, Wyoming. “I heard about the job opening here and applied for the position,” said Cox. “I was familiar with the area because I have taken several trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) and thought this might be a good fit for my family and me.”
A.J. began in the pharmacy business in 2005 in Casper, Wyoming. Before that, A.J worked in some random jobs, but once he started in the pharmaceutical industry, he knew that is what he wanted to pursue.
He worked as a pharmacy tech before attending college at the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy where he graduated with a degree as a Doctor of Pharmacy in 2015.
School was rigorous. The pharmacy program at UW begins with a two-year pre-professional program followed by the four-year professional program of three years of coursework on campus and a full year of experiential coursework performed off campus. Graduates of the program meet the educational requirements for registration as a pharmacist in Wyoming, and all other states and in the District of Columbia.
Married for nine years to Niquole, the couple has two sons, Kayson, age six, and Oliver, age two. “They keep life interesting,” said A.J., smiling broadly.
Niquole is a nurse who works at home doing electronic medical records. “Her company let her keep her job when we moved here. She works 100 percent remotely,” said A.J.
As for housing which can be hard to find, the couple found a place on Highway 7 which has Internet access, which is essential for Niquole’s job.
“We enjoy being outdoors, camping and hiking. I like to hunt, and my wife loves to fish. I also fish but I wouldn’t call myself much of a fisherman. We also love to snowboard, but we haven’t done much of that since our oldest son was little.”
For now, the couple is getting settled in, and learning about the community and the things it has to offer.
As for Bob, he said he is glad to have A.J. working beside him. And for the 64-dollar question, no, A.J. isn’t related to former Minnesota Viking kicker Fred Cox. “At least, not that I’m aware of,” he said when asked.
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