Business in Your Backyard: Joe Gordon, Entrepreneur, EDC Chair
Read Joe Gordon's critique of the medical system to the right. As of today, space is still available for "Starting Your Own Business" with Joe Gordon, Thursdays, March 4 to 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Branford High School. For more information, visit www.erace-adulted.org.
As of today, space is still available for "Starting Your Own Business" with Joe Gordon, Thursdays, March 4 to 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Branford High School. For more information, visit www.erace-adulted.org.Joe Gordon was a Fortune 500 executive when he started a business in his backyard barn. Nineteen successful years later, Joe, the new chair of Branford's Economic Development Commission (EDC), has learned a thing or two about running your own business-and he's willing to share.
Joe Gordon was a Fortune 500 executive when he started a business in his backyard barn. Nineteen successful years later, Joe, the new chair of Branford's Economic Development Commission (EDC), has learned a thing or two about running your own business-and he's willing to share. On March 4, 11, 18, and 25, Joe leads "Starting Your Own Business" with ERACE (the East Shore Region Adult Continuing Education organization). Classes run 7 to 9 p.m. at Branford High School.
On March 4, 11, 18, and 25, Joe leads "Starting Your Own Business" with ERACE (the East Shore Region Adult Continuing Education organization). Classes run 7 to 9 p.m. at Branford High School.Already decidedly busy running his company and as EDC chief, Joe, a 40-year Branford resident, says he's offering the ERACE classes to help others successfully launch their own business, especially in this challenging economic climate.
Already decidedly busy running his company and as EDC chief, Joe, a 40-year Branford resident, says he's offering the ERACE classes to help others successfully launch their own business, especially in this challenging economic climate.Joe points out that recessions, rife with lay-offs and cutbacks, are historically a time when many strike out on their own. Again, he speaks from experience.
Joe points out that recessions, rife with lay-offs and cutbacks, are historically a time when many strike out on their own. Again, he speaks from experience.With dual masters degrees in engineering and small business management, Joe was an engineering head for IBM, then Standard Motor Products (SMP, which bought Echlin) in successful careers spanning many decades. At SMP, Joe saw a need for a pressure gauge with two dials that could be read from front and back.
With dual masters degrees in engineering and small business management, Joe was an engineering head for IBM, then Standard Motor Products (SMP, which bought Echlin) in successful careers spanning many decades. At SMP, Joe saw a need for a pressure gauge with two dials that could be read from front and back."I tried to buy an indicator to tell me when filters were clogging. I couldn't find one I could see from all sides," he says.
"I tried to buy an indicator to tell me when filters were clogging. I couldn't find one I could see from all sides," he says.The notion to develop the indicator himself struck in 1991, just as the Gordon's two kids headed for college. It seemed a good way to supplement his income, Joe recalls.
The notion to develop the indicator himself struck in 1991, just as the Gordon's two kids headed for college. It seemed a good way to supplement his income, Joe recalls. "So I started out in a red barn in the backyard where I would put these things together," he recalls. "It was me and my cat!"
"So I started out in a red barn in the backyard where I would put these things together," he recalls. "It was me and my cat!" The design was quickly picked up by filter manufacturers (today, Joe even exports to China). Demand grew, but Joe still kept his corporate job.
The design was quickly picked up by filter manufacturers (today, Joe even exports to China). Demand grew, but Joe still kept his corporate job. "I started making more money in my backyard than I was as engineering head at a Fortune 500 company. Then, they made the decision for me," he says. "I was laid off."
"I started making more money in my backyard than I was as engineering head at a Fortune 500 company. Then, they made the decision for me," he says. "I was laid off." Joe's been an entrepreneurial success story ever since (selling his first two businesses, holding onto his third). He notes 70 percent of all jobs are created by small businesses, powering the economic engine.
Joe's been an entrepreneurial success story ever since (selling his first two businesses, holding onto his third). He notes 70 percent of all jobs are created by small businesses, powering the economic engine.His Branford company, Differential Pressure Plus, Inc., now employs six. A former corporate instructor of Japanese manufacturing techniques (during 1972's recession, Japan used algebra to devise the practice of manufacturing in small batches, winning the worldwide edge), Joe also employs his knack for implementing innovative workplace practices. His employees enjoy pure flex time, salaries, bonuses, and Joe's open mind.
His Branford company, Differential Pressure Plus, Inc., now employs six. A former corporate instructor of Japanese manufacturing techniques (during 1972's recession, Japan used algebra to devise the practice of manufacturing in small batches, winning the worldwide edge), Joe also employs his knack for implementing innovative workplace practices. His employees enjoy pure flex time, salaries, bonuses, and Joe's open mind."Everyone contributes to the method. If you come to me and say you know a tool to make the process better, then we'll get you that tool," he says. "I have two assemblers, they pick their own hours and have keys to the building."
"Everyone contributes to the method. If you come to me and say you know a tool to make the process better, then we'll get you that tool," he says. "I have two assemblers, they pick their own hours and have keys to the building." Joe does face a typical small business pitfall, however: finding reasonable medical insurance. This, he says, is because the insurance industry has far more power than necessary. Joe says the problem can be easily remedied.
Joe does face a typical small business pitfall, however: finding reasonable medical insurance. This, he says, is because the insurance industry has far more power than necessary. Joe says the problem can be easily remedied. "Allow doctors to go back to being small businessmen," he says. "Allow more to open up private practices that accept cash."
"Allow doctors to go back to being small businessmen," he says. "Allow more to open up private practices that accept cash." Joe says the incredibly low medical school acceptance rate (about three percent) is also created by the insurance industry and the American Medical Association (see Joe's submission online, at www.zip06.com).
Joe says the incredibly low medical school acceptance rate (about three percent) is also created by the insurance industry and the American Medical Association (see Joe's submission online, at www.zip06.com). On the other hand, one part of the medical world has helped Branford grow economically. As EDC chair, Joe, a 10-year member, continues its effort to welcome bio-medical enterprises.
On the other hand, one part of the medical world has helped Branford grow economically. As EDC chair, Joe, a 10-year member, continues its effort to welcome bio-medical enterprises. "The priority's been to attract bio-medical. With Yale here, we have a highly educated population. The town's really become proactive on attracting those businesses, and more," he says. The EDC "is there to grease the mechanism the town's providing."
"The priority's been to attract bio-medical. With Yale here, we have a highly educated population. The town's really become proactive on attracting those businesses, and more," he says. The EDC "is there to grease the mechanism the town's providing."
Medical Profession as a Guild
Opinion
By Joe Gordon
The medical delivery system is now a complex system that has reached a tipping point and the results are killing small business.
I am passionate about this subject as a small businessman, as chairman of the Branford EDC, and as teacher of “Starting your own business” with ERACE in Branford High School.
• Critics of the American Medical Association, including economist Milton Friedman, have asserted that the organization acts as a guild and has attempted to increase physicians' wages and fees limit by influencing limitations on the supply of physicians and non-physician competition. In Free to Choose, Friedman said “The AMA has engaged in extensive litigation charging chiropractors and osteopaths with the unlicensed practice of medicine, in an attempt to restrict them to as narrow an area as possible.”
• Profession and Monopoly, a book published in 1975, is critical of the AMA for limiting the supply of physicians and inflating the cost of medical care in the United States. The book claims that physician supply is kept low by the AMA to ensure high pay for practicing physicians. It states that in the United States the number, curriculum, and size of medical schools are restricted by state licensing boards controlled by representatives of state medical societies associated with the AMA. The book is also critical of the ethical rules adopted by the AMA that restrict advertisement and other types of competition between professionals. It points out that advertising and bargaining can result in expulsion from the AMA and legal revocation of licenses. The book also states that before 1912, the AMA included uniform fees for specific medical procedures in its official code of ethics. The AMA's influence on hospital regulation was also criticized in the book.
• The AMA and other industry groups predicted an over-supply of doctors and worked to limit the number of new doctors. But recently, the AMA has changed its position, predicting a doctor shortage instead.
