By Roger A. Bowles, MS, EdD, CBET
When I enrolled in the biomedical equipment technology program at Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas, over 35 years ago, starting a business was the last thing on my mind. Growing up, I was always taught that I should get a steady job, work 40 hours a week for 40 years with one company and then retire. That was the American dream, or so I thought.
In those days, the main things I thought about were how much I was making an hour and what the health benefits included. The program had classes in electronics, biomedical equipment, the typical academics like English and math, a computer course (Word Perfect, databases, and a spreadsheet program I can’t remember) and a couple of internship courses. There wasn’t a business course. I worked for two great hospitals as a biomedical equipment technician.
When I had the chance to teach at Texas State Technical College over 27 years ago, I jumped at it. It was a steady job, doing something I loved doing and I didn’t care that it didn’t pay as much as I could have made in the field. I figured I would retire here and that will be the case in a few more years. I can’t complain. It has been a good run.
Recently, I began noticing that many former students of mine are now entrepreneurs and run their own businesses in HTM (and some outside of HTM). I have also started a couple of part-time businesses outside of HTM and they may soon become full-time endeavors. Some of the things I’ve learned along the way of starting those businesses could have been easier if I would have had the sense to take an entrepreneurial class or two first. These former students of mine are doing excellent. I thought I would ask them some questions about how they started and why they gave up the regular 40-hour week working for someone else.
Jacob Rowan, CEO of Prime Solutions Biomedical LLC, told me that while he was in school he really didn’t think about starting a business but he was definitely interested in pursuing a leadership position. His drive to start his own business stemmed from his experience as a BMET and his connections. He said a basic business course about the process of starting a business, taxes, deductions, etc., would have been helpful. He believes, as do I, that financial instability/security is a big reason BMETs don’t start their own business. His business is doing well, growing tremendously in the past 6 months, with 8 total employees and much more growth expected in the coming months.
Bill Picot, CEO of Q1 Medical Equipment LLC, is a familiar name to many BMETs because he has been around a while. He has worked as a BMET for a major hospital in Dallas and as a senior manager for a medical supply company. He has always been an entrepreneur and even thought about it when he was a student at TSTC. He has a couple of businesses, but Q1 Medical Equipment is the most recent and is growing quickly. He plans on a tenfold increase in business in the next 5 years. He agrees that being your own boss can be risky, but it is rewarding at the same time.
Ted Kehtel, CEO of IXS Technologies LLC, is another former student with the entrepreneurial spirit. He believes that some people just have that attribute. I agree with you Ted! I just wish I would have started sooner. IXS Technologies has about 14 employees now and is growing. Ted is also part owner of another biomedical company and has three real estate companies and a gun company. He believes that having several income streams is the key. I’m just starting to realize this myself. It is amazing what teachers can learn from their students!
Omar Ahmed Sandhu, CEO of Mr. Biomed Tech Services, another former student, knew from the beginning that he wanted to have his own business in the biomedical industry. He set out to earn his technical degree and gain experience in the field in order to accomplish this. He credits his upbringing with having the entrepreneurial mindset. He too is doing very well, and I admire his success.
There are more students that are successful business owners, and I wish I could list them all. Looking back, I wish I had started my entrepreneurial journey much earlier. However, it is never too late. I plan on introducing some of these entrepreneurial concepts to students, if even on a conversational basis in class.
Technical College.
