FAMILY: Mary DeMerle, Rick DeMerle (parents); Traci Wood-Reynolds (sister)
EDUCATION: LPN, HIS (hearing instrument specialist)
FIRST JOB: Baby-sitting
WORST JOB: For a short amount of time I thought that I wanted to be a hairdresser, but I quickly realized it was not the career path for me.
HOW DID YOU END UP OWNING THE HEARING AID PLACE? I worked for the previous owner a little over a year when she asked me to purchase the business.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BUSINESS DECISION YOU’RE WRESTLING WITH? None at the moment. However, the choice to buy the business was a huge struggle. I changed my mind several times before I finally made the leap.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB NOW? My favorite part of my job is when I have a new patient who hasn’t been hearing for a few years. There is no better feeling in the world then putting hearing aids on them and seeing their faces light up as they begin to hear the clock in my office and the birds outside the window.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOUR JOB? Nothing! I absolutely love what I am doing. I wake up every single day looking forward to helping my patients and hearing about their lives
WHO WAS YOUR HERO AS A CHILD, AND WHO IS TODAY? I was blessed to have a good friend and mentor growing up who was also a monk. Before joining the monastary, he was a doctor. He dedicated his life to helping others not only physically but mentally as well. I aspire to be as great a human being as Father Mark was. He passed away two years ago, and I wish he could see the business I have purchased and hear all of my goals and aspirations as a hearing care specialist. Ironically, he also suffered from hearing loss, and I wish I had the business before he passed so that I could have helped him with better understanding, thanks to new technological advances in the last couple of years.
WHO WAS YOUR MENTOR? WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE HE OR SHE EVER GAVE YOU? I had an amazing second-grade teacher when I was attending Montfort Academy, Ms. Sue Kessler. She always taught me to “let my light shine.” I still hear her in my head during tough times today.
WHAT ARE THE BEST LOCAL RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN GETTING STARTED OR EXPANDING? The Chamber of Commerce as well as the Better Business Bureau.
WHAT BUSINESS BOOK DO YOU MOST RECOMMEND? WHY? “Today Is Your Day.” This book is amazing to me because it is focused on professional as well as personal success. For me, my professional success is my personal success, and so I found this book to be incredible! I keep it in my office to read certain passages whenever I am feeling a little uncertain or stressed about anything!
HAVE YOU EVER WORKED WITH A NOTABLE PERSON OR CELEBRITY? IF SO, WHO? I feel that all of my patients are extremely notable for dealing with hearing loss on a day to day basis.
CAN YOU SHARE A WEIRD FUN FACT ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION THAT WE MIGHT NOT KNOW? Most people are reluctant and somewhat “grumpy” when they first come to see me. However, I always know that by the time they leave my office they will be smiling because I am able to open their world back up with just a small and simple hearing aid solution.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT STARTING A BUSINESS RIGHT NOW? Don’t let your dreams be dreams, put them into motion.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE SPOTTED DOING WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING? Walking my pups Marley and Chipper.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? I want to be more heavily involved in my community and bringing about a much greater awareness of hearing loss and the importance of aiding the loss as soon as noticed.
WHO WOULD YOU RATHER SPEND A COUPLE OF HOURS WITH: WARREN BUFFETT, DORIS BUFFETT OR JIMMY BUFFETT? Doris Buffett. She is a strong, amazing woman who has donated so much of what she has made to charity organizations. I aspire to be even half the woman she is. She is a wonderful “rags to riches” story.
