SBDC Client Success Story
Joan says it was difficult to determine how to parcel out the tasks of refining their product, marketing, sales and the books, when there was only two staff, she and Clark, and to shift those responsibilities as the staff grew to seven.
Soon the young company faced more complex business issues as more challenging business opportunities arose. For example, says Joan, “A company may call us to say we are interested in your controls but we need something different; can you make that for us and maybe we can market and commercialize it together.” At that point, Joan says she’d have many questions for Meriby, “How do we start off the negotiations? What is reasonable to ask for? What can we expect? What do we need to be careful of?”
MMQC operates in a very heavily regulated, peer-scrutinized industry. “It requires significant determination, stamina, and cool headedness to succeed in this environment,” says Meriby, “Joan and Clark were able to leverage their experience and maturity to succeed in this challenging emerging technology arena, which is often regarded primarily as a springboard for the young.”
Working with the Maine SBTDC, their greatest achievement, says Joan, came when their quality control for cystic fibrosis testing was the first in the country ever approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). “It can be very scary to work with the FDA,” says Joan, who called the process “a major undertaking.”
“Taking Meriby’s advice, we took it step by step, we hired a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) consultant, did due diligence science-wise, and set up a complete regulatory environment in our lab.” When the letter arrived in the mail from the FDA, “it was a huge milestone,” says Joan.
Joan and Clark challenged the long-held assumption that retirement, not an exciting career as entrepreneurs, would follow their careers at Maine’s largest healthcare facility. When asked why he answered the call to entrepreneurship, Clark simply answers, “The idea that you can make a difference.”
Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc.
Scarborough, Maine
www.mmqci.com
“There have been several moments that we felt we couldn't go forward any further, that this is too hard because we don't have a business background," says Joan, "but what we've learned is that even though it feels like we've hit a stone wall, there are always new doors to open, you just have to be creative to find them... and sometimes you just have to call Meriby [at the SBDC].”
Maine Small Business Development Centers
A medical technologist, Joan Gordon enjoyed her job in the clinical lab in Maine’s largest hospital, Maine Medical Center, and worked there for over 30 years. But in 2000, in her fifties, Joan shed the safety of her 30-year routine and embarked on an entirely new venture, co-founding a company involved in the emerging field of molecular diagnostics and genetic testing. “I’d never owned a business in my life and, in fact, never thought of owning a business,” says Joan. But when her boss at Maine Medical Center, Dr. Clark Rundell, proposed the idea, she jumped at the opportunity.
“I couldn’t stand the idea of counting down the years to retirement,” says Clark of his decision at age 62 to start a company to commercialize the genetic testing controls he had invented. Clark knew that he needed a partner and said he thought immediately of Joan, with a strong background in clinical laboratory testing, as well as extensive research and development skills in the molecular biology field.
According to Joan, as the pair launched their company, Maine Molecular Quality Controls, the future was full of promise. Scientists had just finished sequencing the human genome, unleashing a giant, new sphere of knowledge about which genes were associated with what diseases. That meant dozens of new genetic testing processes could be developed to test for various diseases. All those tests needed controls to ensure their reliability. “The problem was,” according to Joan, “neither Clark nor I had any business background.”
Early on, as Joan explored SBIR and other grant funding, she met Meriby Sweet, Center Director for the Maine Small Business & Technology Development Center. “Meriby has helped us with everything,” says Joan, “We have relied on Meriby hugely to help us build our business infrastructure.”
Joan Gordon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc., and Maine SBTDC certified business counselor, Meriby Sweet
