Franchisee Voices: Andy Mark of ARCpoint Labs

Andy Mark has forty years of experience in sales, marketing, business management and small business ownership. His most recent appointment has been launching medical clinics in the South and Midwest, specializing in hormone replacement therapies. Among his duties were site location, clinic setup, hiring and training staff, patient seminars, media marketing and team building. He also was appointed Clinic Director for several years in Charlotte, North Carolina, ranking number two among 43 joint venture partnerships.

Andy is a military veteran who served during the Vietnam War from 1965-1969. He was a Navy Hospital Corpsman and operating room technician assigned to the Marine Corps Air Wing at Cherry Point, NC, before serving his final tour in Vietnam in 1968. After his discharge from service, he enrolled at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California, graduating with an associate degree in business. He continued his education in business at Cerritos College and Fullerton College. Although his initial dream was to become a doctor, his skills learned in Vietnam and his prior business experience created a great combination for an ARCpoint Labs franchisee.

How did you learn about the brand and why did you choose to become a franchisee with ARCpoint Labs?

I was looking for an opportunity to serve my Spartanburg community by developing a medical related business where I could use my prior business experience to be my own boss. When I moved to Spartanburg in 2012, I began to look for opportunities that fit a strict list of qualifications I had as a new entrepreneur. ARCpoint fit the bill.

I didn’t want to reinvent the wheel for a lab facility and was looking to be associated with a company that had a template I could build off of quickly. I wanted the support of a franchise but wasn’t looking to be micromanaged. I wanted to find a company with great leadership and friendly associates. I wanted an industry that supported my prior experience but was unique enough to stand out from the larger labs. With the larger labs primarily focusing on clinical, and mom and pops with a focus on toxicology, ARCpoint had the national presence and resources needed to run a brick and mortar in a local community.

Why do you feel you’ll be successful with ARCpoint Labs?

With over thirty years of business experience, I have a very strong opinion regarding what makes an operation successful. It all starts with great customer service. Most lab testing centers aren’t focused on treating their customers with respect, they’re focused on results. I focus on making the testing facility friendly and upbeat, looking to make the experience as fun as it can be. No matter what the industry, I believes customer service is the top priority, and I include my staff in that category. I works to serve my staff by training and hiring quality individuals who are striving to create the best possible customer experience. I sees my job as creating that opportunity and acting as an extension to change the stigma behind testing.

Do you have any development/extension plans with the brand?

I am looking to expand in Asheville and Gastonia.

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