I was fortunate to be recruited while still studying Medical Technology, by Scientific Products (S/P) in 1971. As a straight commission salesman (the next best thing to owning your own business) I began a long career of service to my customers. By combining my knowledge of the lab with the capabilities of a major distributor, I was very successful. The recognition I always valued most came from my customers. I still have a nameplate on my desk today with the inscription: “In appreciation, Floyd Memorial Hospital” that I admire every time I see it.At 50, I went back to work for VWR as a sales representative in the Knoxville, TN area. I really enjoyed what I was doing - again! I was very successful at the job measured by both customer loyalty and income. The decision to quit and go full time with our family business, Meta Enterprises, LLC, kept being pushed further into the future. I was promoted to Region Manager which made it even more difficult because I loved mentoring the reps who reported to me and their customers.I stayed with VWR until I turned 65 – 15 years. The last four years of my career there were spent as a major accounts manager serving a single account – Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, TN.While at Eastman, I watched as service and discounts to the smaller customers was literally taken away! While I understood why this was being done financially, my human side said this was simply not how customers who had been loyal to you for years deserved to be treated!What if a company was out there that would simply look out for what you spend money on and had the time and resources to find the best value while you focused on lab work?That was the idea that launched Lab Pro Services five years ago. And the greatest satisfaction I have today comes from customers who tell us what a great job we do for them. Some things never change.