CAN DO, Inc., working together with its partners of the “Partnership for Regional Economic Performance” (PREP), including Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) and the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), came together recently to welcome Performance Biomedical LLC to the CAN BE Innovation Center and celebrate the five-year, multi-million dollar contract the company received from the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Performance Biomedical is owned and operated by Ronald Carter, a United States Air Force and Army veteran, and his wife, Jane. In addition to its operations in the CAN BE incubator, the company has a showroom and office space in Mountaintop. The contract will allow Performance Biomedical to provide durable medical equipment services to veteran beneficiaries of the Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center’s Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Services run out of the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center. Performance Biomedical will handle storage, delivery and set-up of equipment for veteran patients, including wheelchairs, hospital beds, traction equipment, canes, crutches, walkers and lift mechanisms.
Carter initially contacted NEPA Alliance several years ago and worked with Frank A. Migneco, NEPA Alliance’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center manager, on building the framework of this proposal as well as several others. He then reached out to CAN DO to enquire about warehousing space should he be successful with his contract bid. James C. Kelshaw, CAN DO’s Director of Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, assisted Carter with space in the CAN BE Innovation Center and reviewed his proposal for the VA contract prior to its submission. Jim connected Mr. Carter with the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center for assistance with his business plan and the financial portion of the contract proposal.
“I’m honored to receive this contract and realize many of the dreams I’ve had for this company. This will allow us to grow and continue to provide medical equipment for all those in need,” Carter said. “The help I have received from CAN DO, NEPA Alliance and the SBDC has been so instrumental in securing this contract. It’s comforting to know that I have a team of people who know how to help me and connect me with others that can help. I can pick up the phone at any time and they will help me solve any challenges.”
Performance Biomedical began its operations selling compression stockings and lymphedema pumps and servicing VA hospitals in Wilkes-Barre, Altoona, Philadelphia, Syracuse and Virginia Beach. Today, the company has five employees and serves 16 health care facilities, including the Lehigh Valley Health System, and has a primary radius of 150 to 200 miles from Northeastern Pennsylvania. The company provides a variety of equipment including customized orthotics; back, body and foot braces; diabetic supplies; respiratory equipment and medical diagnostic equipment.
Kelshaw said that CAN BE’s Innovation Center is an ideal location for businesses to get the tools they need to succeed that they would otherwise have to find on their own or take away valuable time from their work to locate. The incubator provides subsidized rent, a mentorship program and shared business equipment. Tenants also gain access to business development activities such as grant and loan packaging, legal and financial management assistance, human resources services and marketing and promotion help.
