Medical-devices

Entrepreneurs Made Here

 
Many people want to be their own boss, start their own company, be the next Mark Zuckerberg. The problem is they don’t know what they want their product to be. What’s the next big thing they can create or invent? What will get people talking? And that’s where many entrepreneurs miss the mark. It isn’t always about reinventing the wheel; oftentimes it’s about taking something that’s already being done and make it better.

 
Take for instance Brian Emerick, president and CEO of Micropulse Inc. He was a tool-and-die maker in the manufacturing sector – not a flashy career that gets frequent media buzz. But he didn’t try to make over the manufacturing industry; instead he worked hard and focused on the needs of customers. He started his tool-and-die business out of his garage in Columbia City and now that same garage sits next to a 100,000 square foot medical device manufacturing facility that he opened next door.

 
Why not leave and move to a big city to try and make a name? “My roots are here,” Emerick said, “The location is perfect. The people are great. And Whitley County is a good, positive place to do business.”

 
Emerick and Micropulse are proof that Northeast Indiana is an ideal location for manufacturing and Emerick is working to help other entrepreneurs find a way to root their business in Northeast Indiana too. Emerick is a member of the Vision 2020 steering committee for the Entrepreneurship pillar.  This pillar is working with Jumpstart Inc. to help entrepreneurs, like Emerick, get the guidance and support services needed to grow their ideas.

 
“Northern Indiana is rich with skilled manufacturing talent, and the work ethic is second to none,” he said, adding, “Hoosiers have a ‘roll up your sleeves and do what needs to be done’ attitude.”

 
Emerick and Micropulse don’t only fall within the reach of the Entrepreneurship pillar; they span all five Vision 2020 pillars. Emerick has access to a highly skilled workforce right in his community (21st Century Talent); a strong manufacturing base and business-friendly taxes (Business Climate); an ideal location next to the medical device capital of the world (Infrastructure); a welcoming community that he calls home (Quality of Life); and Emerick himself is the embodiment of an innovator (Entrepreneurship).

 
Northeast Indiana is proud to have Emerick and Micropulse within its ten counties, but we aren’t the only place that’s taking notice of Micropulse. In July, Micropulse was chosen as one of 43 Indiana businesses to be awarded with the distinction of “Company to Watch,” which is an annual award given by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Micropulse was a recipient in 2008 as well. But Micropulse received an even more exclusive designation this year; the company was given a “Spotlight” award, which only five of the 43 companies received. The award is given to past “Companies to Watch” recipients who have shown continued growth.

 
Brian Emerick and Micropulse are great examples of the success that entrepreneurs and businesses can have in Northeast Indiana. Vision 2020 is working to provide the tools needed to be successful; the rest is up to you!

 
To read more about the “Spotlight” awards, click here.

To read a case study on Micropulse Inc., click here.

To visit Micropulse Inc.’s website, click here.