Small businesses represent the most important part of our economy and the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) National Small Business Week is an important way to recognize America’s entrepreneurs. MMIC’s Rick Cochran, the 2011 National SBA Person of the Year, will be contributing his entrepreneurial expertise by participating in the National Small Business Week Town Hall forum, which will also be available via live webcast, on Monday, May 21, 2012 in Washington, DC. Cochran, Cathy Martine and Darlene Miller will join SBA Administrator Karen Mills at the forum to share their thoughts and experiences with fellow small business owners about “Small Businesses Creating an Economy to Last.” This will feature a group discussion about how small businesses play a vital role in the long-term health of the economy.

The National Small Business Week Town Hall forum consists of free networking and educational events with leading business experts to inform small businesses about their role in a healthy economy, social media, how the SBA can help small businesses, federal contracting and more. The “Small Businesses Creating an Economy to Last” forum is taking place on Monday, May 21 from 10–11:15 a.m. at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Conference Center, as well as online. The webcast allows small business owners from all across the U.S. to tune in and listen to a number of our nation’s most influential small business people share their stories and business advice on a range of topics.

The Town Hall forum will be available live via webcast at www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com, and is free of charge. Registration is required to attend the sessions in person.

Rick Cochran accepting his award as the 2011 National Small Business Person of the Year

Rick at last year's Small Business Administration awards

On May 10, 2012, MMIC employee Kimberly White was honored by the St. Johsnbury Academy Community of Concern for being recognized as a Community Hero. She and four other honorees were celebrated at the annual Heroes Dinner which was sponsored by the Academy’s Community of Concern, the Academy’s Culinary Arts Learning Kitchen, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and the University of Vermont Extension Service.

Kimberly White with MMIC President and CEO Rick Cochran

Kimberly receiving her award

The five award recipients: Dr. Daisey McCoy, the Academy’s Deb Priest, Linda Garey, Kimberly White and Martin Fortin

Please see our previous blog post for details about Kimberly’s accomplishments.

We are proud to announce that MMIC employee Kimberly White, human resource manager, has been named a “community hero” by the St. Johnsbury Academy Community of Concern selection committee. She and three other honorees will be recognized at the Annual Heroes Dinner taking place at 6 p.m. on this Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the South Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury, VT. Each year, the Academy’s Community of Concern, the Academy’s Culinary Arts Learning Kitchen, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and the University of Vermont Extension Service join together to honor those who have made an exceptional impact on their Northeastern Vermont community.

“Kim goes above and beyond the normal duties of HR manager and contributes an incredible amount to our local community,” said Mary Jane Miller, the marketing coordinator at MMIC who nominated Ms. White. A long list of her past and present community activities include Trustee on the NEK Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Chair of the Colors of the Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival & Parade, Kiwanis member, American Cancer Society Relay for Life participant, Eastern Star member and River Valley Human Resources Association Board of Directors.

At MMIC, Ms. White has promoted the American Red Cross blood drives, held fundraisers to help the needy in the community, collected goods for the food shelf and sent cards to employees during illness and on special occasions. She provides extraordinary support for MMIC guests and organizes annual holiday parties and barbecues to boost employee morale and promote teamwork. Ms. White’s contributions, both at work and to her community at large, demonstrate the extraordinary character traits deserving of this recognition.

The Community of Concern program began in 2002 with the goal of improving the quality of life for area youth and their families.  Those who are interested in attending the dinner must RSVP by calling Crystal Prevost at the St. Johnsbury Academy at (802)748-7717.

By following his dream of bringing world-class healthcare technology to communities all across the globe, MMIC President and CEO Rick Cochran has had a significant impact on the mobile healthcare industry. Introducing the first state licensable, Joint Commission accreditable, and CMS certifiable Mobile Surgery Unit™ to the world has changed the way that we deliver healthcare and continues to do so as these technologies progress and the need for mobile solutions around the world is on the rise.

Rick was recently asked to contribute his expertise on mobile medical solutions to the healthcare trade publication Healthcare Building Ideas. This article appears in their new Shop Talk column that educates readers about specific healthcare products and technologies. Rick explains the development of and ideas behind mobile medical solutions as a whole, and details the specific money-saving benefits that hospitals and healthcare facilities can experience in using this technology.

You can read the article here.

A Mobile Surgery Unit being put into place at the Muskogee, OK VA Medical Center

MMIC will be exhibiting at the annual Vermont Chamber Business & Industry EXPO on May 23 and 24, 2012 at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel & Conference Center. The EXPO is the region’s largest business-to-business trade show and we will be representing our commercial medical solutions as well as the military product line.

We will be exhibiting at booth 184B. Be sure to stop by!

On March 29 – 31, MMIC employees Mark Munroe, VP of Sales & Marketing, and Mark Jenks, Military Sales, attended the Hawaii National Guard Conference in Honolulu where MMIC was a Platinum Corporate Member. MMIC brought a Mobile Single Pallet Unit (MSPU) to the Hickam Field Golf Course to be viewed by the military and was used as the registration booth for the golf tournament. Soldiers and Airmen from the Hawaii National Guard attended the annual meeting. Active duty military personnel from PACOM and from all branches of service, as well as federal, state and county officials from Hawaii, including police, fire, and first responders, attended the conference.

Mark Jenks in front of the MMIC booth

MMIC's Mobile Single Pallet Unit set up at the Hickam Field Golf Course in Honolulu, HI

Hawaii National Guard towing the MSPU to Hickam Field Golf Course

MMIC's fellow Platinum Corporate members

On April 1-3, the annual Association of VA Surgeons (AVAS) meeting took place in Miami, FL where MMIC was an exhibitor. MMIC also coordinated a tour of the Miami VA OR Renovation Project where Dr. Seth Spector, chief of surgery, led a tour of the six Mobile Surgery Units (MSUs) that are currently in use. The use of MMIC’s MSUs has allowed the facility to continue providing surgeries and other procedures to South Florida veterans while the OR is undergoing renovations.

The Miami Herald recently published an article about these renovations, including details about MMIC’s involvement in the project. MMIC President and CEO Rick Cochran estimates that the use of the MSUs is saving Miami $10 million per month. You can read the article here.

MMIC employees Mary Jane Miller, Marketing Coordinator, and Paul Schweizer, Southeast Regional Sales Manager, at the MMIC booth

AVAS exhibitors

Drawing the winner for MMIC's raffle to win an iPad 2

Paul Schweizer at the MMIC booth

This past Friday, MMIC President and CEO Rick Cochran had the opportunity to meet with President Obama during his visit to Vermont. Having the ability to meet with a standing President is a rare occasion, and Rick is honored to have had the opportunity to visit with Mr. Obama. During his time with the President, Rick discussed MMIC, the company’s current projects and also thanked the President and First Lady for their personal contribution to the Vermont Red Cross during Tropical Storm Irene. President Obama personally congratulated Rick on being named the 2011 National Small Business Administration Person of the Year.

Photos from the event:

Air Force one in Burlington, VT on March 30, 2012

Rick Cochran meeting President Barack Obama

Rick speaks with President Obama about MMIC

Rick details MMIC's project in Miami where MMIC is saving the government over $10M per month!

President Obama addresses the Democratic Fundraising Event at the University of Vermont

We have more photos to come, so stay tuned!

Last week’s fundraiser to support the American Red Cross was a great success. Thank you to all of the area schools and businesses that took part in supporting this local organization!

Here are some photos of the Red Cross supporters dressed down or dressed in red:

MMIC employees all dressed down and in red

4th and 5th graders at the Lyndon Town School

 

Lyndon Town School kindergarteners looking cute in red

 

MMIC President and CEO Rick Cochran poses with the St. Johnsbury Merchants Bank employees

 

Rick with employees from St. Johnsbury's Natural Provisions

 

Rick with employees of the Passumpsic Savings Bank in St. Johnsbury

 

Students from the Barton Graded School

 

Gary Nelson handing his donation to Rick Cochran

 

Lake Region Union High School students

Don’t forget: donations are being accepted until March 31st!

March has been deemed Red Cross month in Vermont and the people and businesses of the Northeast Kingdom are coming together on this Thursday, March 22, 2012 to recognize and support this dedicated organization.

MMIC President & CEO Rick Cochran, an American Red Cross board member, along with the Vermont and the New Hampshire Valley American Red Cross, have organized a community-wide fundraiser to mark March as Red Cross Month. March 22 has been designated as a day to “Dress Down or Dress in Red” to demonstrate support. A donation is encouraged with participation, and area schools and businesses are asked to match the donations of their employees to help meet the end goal of raising $10,000 by March 31.

All donations will help the American Red Cross continue to provide assistance to families in the Northeast Kingdom. March 31 is the deadline for donations.

For more information please contact Rick Cochran or Mary Jane Miller of MMIC at (802) 748-2322.