Talk with Jack Berberian about business and you learn quickly the values he grew up with in his family are the same values that guide his company on a day-to-day basis.
Jack’s family moved to the United States from Lebanon in 1975. His dad was a hard worker who couldn’t read or write, but he managed to start an auto repair business. It was the family business and everyone, including his mother, worked there. Jack started working in the business when he was 12.
His parents believed in hard work, but they also wanted their children to get the education they never had the luxury to achieve. So Jack got his undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University while spending summers working in the auto repair business. After graduating from college, he enrolled at Whittier Law School in Los Angeles. While in law school, Jack met Robert Shapiro, who befriended him and became a mentor. During the last year of law school, Jack got connected with some entrepreneurs who were setting up an online legal business. Shapiro not only invested in the company, but suggested that Jack start working there, as he thought the business, later known as Legal Zoom, was going to be successful. Jack worked there for five years and because it was a start-up business, he was paid mostly in shares of stock. The company has since gone public, and Jack remains a shareholder in the business.
Jack and his wife Rozi grew tired of the hectic lifestyle in Los Angeles and looked to move somewhere else. It was important to them to raise their children in a family-oriented environment, where the values of Jack’s childhood would also be appreciated and shared by others. Jack took a position with a registered agent company in Delaware, and his family moved to Rehoboth Beach where he met and hired his future business partner, Drew Laroche, who was working for Northrop-Grumman at the time. The duo had goals to eventually start their own business. After doing some research, Jack and Rozi determined there was a real need for a medical supply business in this area, and started a company called Med-Tix. They eventually expanded to five locations in Delaware and Maryland. At the same time, Jack and Drew had work history in the information technology world and started a second business called SecureNetMD. Jack soon recognized that information technology had far greater upside possibilities and sold Med-Tix to a larger company.
SecureNetMD started as an information technology company that supported solo-practice physicians. As technology evolved, they saw the opportunity to develop phone services that utilized an internet platform. They developed a HIPAA-compliant technology and expanded their offering to smaller medical groups and hospitals. From there, they added data analytics to their services. With physical locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Texas, they now operate in more than 25 states. Their customers range from solo practitioners to publicly traded companies.
As Jack looks to the future, he would like to expand to all 50 states, driven by the company’s strategic plan. Innovation is key to the future of SecureNetMD, but Jack believes none of their plans will be realized without a strong team. The company invests in its people, ensuring they receive the latest education and supporting each team member to become certified in their areas of technical expertise. They also focus on the importance of culture, including those same values that Jack learned growing up – gratitude, hard work, service excellence and integrity.
Besides hard work and education, Jack learned at an early age the importance of giving back. His family donated money, but, more importantly, they spent time with people who were largely forgotten by our society. Jack’s experience spending time with people who mostly had no one in their lives had a profound impact on his view of the world. As Jack said, “If you’re blessed enough in this world to be able to help others, you should always go out of your way to do so.” Recognizing that it is a privilege to be able to help others not only continues with Jack and his four daughters, but also is embraced by all who work at SecureNetMD. Jack and his colleagues spend time with veterans at Home of the Brave, support first responders in our community and volunteer their time with countless organizations in Delaware.
Most businesses talk about culture and core values. Far fewer businesses are able to successfully integrate the two concepts. At SecureNetMD, core values are embedded in every aspect of the business. It’s walking the talk, as they say. It feels natural to Jack because they are the same values he always knew growing up as a boy in his father’s auto repair business.
-
This column provides an opportunity for readers to connect with the personal side of business leaders in area communities. Many of our local business owners and CEOs are thought leaders in their community, and they can provide valuable insights and ideas on issues of common interest to all of us. Successful businesses are essential for a healthy and growing society, especially as people continue to move to this area looking for employment opportunities. This column will highlight leaders who are not only successful, but also making a difference in our communities.
Jeffrey Fried has been an executive in the healthcare industry for over 40 years, including serving as the president/CEO of Beebe Medical Center for 24 years. After leaving Beebe Healthcare, Jeff started his own consulting and executive coaching company, and has coached executives in a variety of industries. In addition, Jeff has partnered with a company called Vistage, the oldest executive coaching company in the country, where he serves as a local chair on the Delmarva Peninsula and leads/supports a group of medium-sized business owners and CEOs. Jeff and his wife Sherry reside outside Lewes and between the two of them have three children and five grandchildren. Last but not least, they are the parents of two rescue dogs.
