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CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
Business in Vancouver December 30, 2008-January 5, 2009; issue 1001 Robert Penz President and CEO, Medtrical Solutions Inc., Age: 38 Life for Robert Penz was all about volleyball before he founded his successful health-care company Medtrical Solutions Inc. Shortly after he graduated from the University of Manitoba, Penz joined the pro beach volleyball tour and stayed there for four years. “It was a great experience, a great life,” recalled Penz. He earned money at tournaments, but it wasn’t long before he felt business pull him back. He joined Intrawest Corp. in 1997 as a development manager of attractions, but eventually moved on to Titan Recruitment where he was a managing partner before he went out on his own in 2004. “Starting this company was a big highlight and actually seeing it prosper and grow is huge for me. It’s like I’m almost living in a dream,” he said. But getting Medtrical off the ground wasn’t easy, said Penz, who explained that the health-care industry in B.C. is one that’s often dominated by large multinational corporations. At Medtrical, Penz developed the Endosock Reprocessing Kit, an infection control and sterile processing unit. With a startup revenue of only $200,000, Medtrical grew to an annual revenue of $1.4 million and it counts the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Fraser Health Authority, Surgical Tables Inc. and Stryker among its list of clients. It’s not all about work though, said Penz, who’s been married for nine years and has two daughters aged six months and two-and-a-half years. He tries to take breaks whenever he can, but he said he’s a firm believer that success happens to people who work hard. “If you do that, good things will tend to happen to you, whether it’s on a volleyball court or in a business,” said Penz. “You have to keep pressing forward, and it’s the ones who keep doing it [who] are the ones who are successful.” • Birthplace: Richmond Where do you live now: Delta Highest level of education: University Car or chosen mode of transport: Mini convertible Currently reading: Enlisting Father Profit to Save Mother Nature by Thomas L. Friedman Last CD bought or music downloaded: Viva La Vida by Coldplay Favourite movie: The Good The Bad and The Ugly Favourite local restaurant: Il Giardino and Bishops Profession you would most like to try: Screenwriter Mentor: My parents and grandparents Toughest business or professional decision: Risking everything to build this business What’s left to do: Continue the growth of Medtrica and establish a foundation that will donate medical products to individuals in need |
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