Spotlight On…
Respironics breaths new life into ventilation equipment
By Erika Finch-McCaffrey
Respironics is a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of innovative products and programs that serve the global sleep and respiratory markets. Focusing on emerging market needs, the Company is committed to providing valued solutions to help improve outcomes for patients, clinicians and healthcare providers. Respironics markets its products in more than 125 countries and employs over 3,700 associates worldwide. Respironics, Inc. is a publicly owned company traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol RESP. The Hospital Division in Carlsbad focuses on products that serve the needs of critically ill respiratory patients who require ventilation support. The products treat, monitor and manage patients.
Executive's name: Paul L. Woodring
Title: President
Company name: Respironics Hospital Division
Address: 2271 Cosmos Court, Carlsbad
Phone: (760) 918-7300
Web site: www.respironics.com
Founded: Respironics was founded in 1976. InVentive Technologies was founded in 1996. InVentive was eventually acquired by Respironics in 1998, and became the Hospital Division of Respironics in 1999.
Prior experience: I spent 19 years with Puritan-Bennett in a number of engineering management and general management capacities.
Source of starting capital: InVentive was funded as a start-up by a company called Healthdyne Technologies, which was acquired by Respironics in 1998.
Average hours worked weekly: 55, 65 hours
Number of teammates: 520 associates in three locations and three countries
Residence: Del Mar
Family: Wife, Sharee; a daughter, Heather, who lives in L.A. and two dogs.
Hobbies: Reading, exercise, audio and video equipment. I am also a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Browns.
What got you into this business? I joined what was the precursor of Puritan-Bennett in 1976. I was recruited to introduce microprocessor technology to ventilation equipment.
What makes your business a standout? We focus on supplying a complete line of solutions to our customers, not just products with features but a diverse line of invasive and noninvasive ventilators, noninvasive monitoring, and products for management of the respiratory departments. We focus on understanding each customer's unique needs and supplying the right mix of solutions including products, clinical assistance, service, and consulting to the customer. We call this Total Ventilation Solutions.
Drawbacks to your line of business: It's a regulated business and has a great deal of regulatory scrutiny, which creates overhead. As a consequence, many people don't like the business. But we are proud that our products help critically ill patients, and all the scrutiny and overhead are worth it. We make a contribution to the lives of people.
Why is your company located in Carlsbad? I moved the Ventilator Division of Puritan-Bennett to Carlsbad in 1984, attracted by a better quality of life than Los Angeles where we were previously located.
How do you plan to grow? Through continued implementation of our Total Ventilation Solutions strategy, and providing new and innovative ways to treat, monitor and manage patients.
Toughest career decision: Leaving Puritan-Bennett to start up InVentive Technologies.
Ongoing challenges: The rapid growth of the Hospital Division creates challenges associated with supplying the human capital to meet our demands, and to maintain an entrepreneurial culture.
Best way to stay competitive: Stay close to your customer, and understand their known needs and their unmet needs better than anyone else.
In five years, where would you like your business to be? To be No. 1 or No. 2 in all the markets in which we compete.
What does your company contribute to the Carlsbad community? We believe we are an excellent place to work, with unique challenges, allowing for unique opportunities. We are also striving to make Carlsbad the community of choice for high tech companies, and a location that has the quality of life, education and community spirit to complement this.
What are your guiding principles? Work hard. People are good. If employees understand what you are doing and why, they will understand the contribution they make, and maximize that contribution. Empower people. It's all about people.
What's one thing other people do not know about you? My secret ambition is to be a successful novelist.
What would you change if you could do it all over again? Start up a company earlier in my career.
Choice for a second career: An author of fiction novels.
People you look up to and why: John Kennedy because of his ability to motivate our country, and win a race to the moon, without really knowing how we were going to do it.
Favorite quote: "The right people don't need to be tightly managed or fired up; they will be self motivated by the inner drive to produce the best results and to be part of creating something great. If you have the wrong people, it doesn't matter whether you discover the right direction, you still won't have a great company. Great vision without great people is irrelevant." Jim Collins, "Good to Great"
Advice for new entrepreneurs: Go for it now. Put the best possible team together. It's all about the people and teamwork.
Respironics breaths new life into ventilation equipment
By Erika Finch-McCaffrey
Respironics is a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of innovative products and programs that serve the global sleep and respiratory markets. Focusing on emerging market needs, the Company is committed to providing valued solutions to help improve outcomes for patients, clinicians and healthcare providers. Respironics markets its products in more than 125 countries and employs over 3,700 associates worldwide. Respironics, Inc. is a publicly owned company traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol RESP. The Hospital Division in Carlsbad focuses on products that serve the needs of critically ill respiratory patients who require ventilation support. The products treat, monitor and manage patients.
Executive's name: Paul L. Woodring
Title: President
Company name: Respironics Hospital Division
Address: 2271 Cosmos Court, Carlsbad
Phone: (760) 918-7300
Web site: www.respironics.com
Founded: Respironics was founded in 1976. InVentive Technologies was founded in 1996. InVentive was eventually acquired by Respironics in 1998, and became the Hospital Division of Respironics in 1999.
Prior experience: I spent 19 years with Puritan-Bennett in a number of engineering management and general management capacities.
Source of starting capital: InVentive was funded as a start-up by a company called Healthdyne Technologies, which was acquired by Respironics in 1998.
Average hours worked weekly: 55, 65 hours
Number of teammates: 520 associates in three locations and three countries
Residence: Del Mar
Family: Wife, Sharee; a daughter, Heather, who lives in L.A. and two dogs.
Hobbies: Reading, exercise, audio and video equipment. I am also a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Browns.
What got you into this business? I joined what was the precursor of Puritan-Bennett in 1976. I was recruited to introduce microprocessor technology to ventilation equipment.
What makes your business a standout? We focus on supplying a complete line of solutions to our customers, not just products with features but a diverse line of invasive and noninvasive ventilators, noninvasive monitoring, and products for management of the respiratory departments. We focus on understanding each customer's unique needs and supplying the right mix of solutions including products, clinical assistance, service, and consulting to the customer. We call this Total Ventilation Solutions.
Drawbacks to your line of business: It's a regulated business and has a great deal of regulatory scrutiny, which creates overhead. As a consequence, many people don't like the business. But we are proud that our products help critically ill patients, and all the scrutiny and overhead are worth it. We make a contribution to the lives of people.
Why is your company located in Carlsbad? I moved the Ventilator Division of Puritan-Bennett to Carlsbad in 1984, attracted by a better quality of life than Los Angeles where we were previously located.
How do you plan to grow? Through continued implementation of our Total Ventilation Solutions strategy, and providing new and innovative ways to treat, monitor and manage patients.
Toughest career decision: Leaving Puritan-Bennett to start up InVentive Technologies.
Ongoing challenges: The rapid growth of the Hospital Division creates challenges associated with supplying the human capital to meet our demands, and to maintain an entrepreneurial culture.
Best way to stay competitive: Stay close to your customer, and understand their known needs and their unmet needs better than anyone else.
In five years, where would you like your business to be? To be No. 1 or No. 2 in all the markets in which we compete.
What does your company contribute to the Carlsbad community? We believe we are an excellent place to work, with unique challenges, allowing for unique opportunities. We are also striving to make Carlsbad the community of choice for high tech companies, and a location that has the quality of life, education and community spirit to complement this.
What are your guiding principles? Work hard. People are good. If employees understand what you are doing and why, they will understand the contribution they make, and maximize that contribution. Empower people. It's all about people.
What's one thing other people do not know about you? My secret ambition is to be a successful novelist.
What would you change if you could do it all over again? Start up a company earlier in my career.
Choice for a second career: An author of fiction novels.
People you look up to and why: John Kennedy because of his ability to motivate our country, and win a race to the moon, without really knowing how we were going to do it.
Favorite quote: "The right people don't need to be tightly managed or fired up; they will be self motivated by the inner drive to produce the best results and to be part of creating something great. If you have the wrong people, it doesn't matter whether you discover the right direction, you still won't have a great company. Great vision without great people is irrelevant." Jim Collins, "Good to Great"
Advice for new entrepreneurs: Go for it now. Put the best possible team together. It's all about the people and teamwork.