A local entrepreneur has achieved a measure of distinction in the world of commerce by starting three businesses and developing a business plan for a fourth.
Patrick Wyman, who lives just outside Brighton in Hamburg Township, founded Freedom Corp. in 1990 and Freedom Dental Co. in 1999. The 48-year old Wyman is chairman of the board and CEO of the companies, which have offices in Brighton, Grand Rapids and Traverse City.
"We are small in terms of the global economy but have a niche market,'' Wyman says.
A December graduate of Cleary University, Wyman was honored for his business acumen with the 2006 Cleary University Trustee Entrepreneurial Award at winter commencement exercises Dec. 10 in Ypsilanti.
His most recent effort is "Fruitrition,'' a plan to place vending machines that dispense fresh fruit in offices, schools and college campuses.
However, Wyman is in the process of selling the business plan for Fruitrition to a group of investors.
Fruitrition was in its embryonic stage, with Wyman having placed several vending machines in test markets, when he was approached by the investor group.
"They were really excited about the plan,'' he says.
Pending completion of the deal, the group will purchase the contracts that give Wyman the rights for placement of fruit vending machines in several states. Since his umbrella company, Freedom Corp., deals in medical supplies, Wyman decided it would be in the firm's best interests to stay in its chosen field.
"Our intent was to make (Fruitrition) the next division of our company, but it's not in our long-term strategy,'' Wyman says. "I saw it as a need being unmet, with the schools pulling all of their soda vending machines out.''
Cleary Dean of Students Donna Franklin likes the fact that the hard-working Wyman formed three new businesses, and yet saw the need to get his degree. "In addition to having been successful in business, he needed that degree for career advancement,'' Franklin says.
Wyman was recognized as the student whose new product or business venture was judged as the best of those submitted. He was nominated by several faculty members for his "outstanding work, leadership and involvement in the classroom.''
"One of the things I loved that he said to me was he learned (new) skills in the classroom,'' Franklin says. "That really impressed me and validated what we do.''
Wyman is married to Lynn Wyman, and Franklin says she was impressed with the fact that both Wymans enrolled at Cleary at the same time, each graduating with degrees in business management. They have three children who are enrolled in the Brighton Area Schools.
"We've been very blessed, being in this community,'' says Wyman, who has been active in church and community recreational programs.
The President's Award, the other major award presented at the ceremonies, went to James M. Smith Jr. of Lansing, manager of IT services at Ogihara America Corp. in Howell. The President's Award is given for demonstrating "teamwork, scholarship, communication and presentation skills and an application of the course work into the business world.''
Tom Tolen can be reached at ttolen@livingstoncommunitynews.com or at 810-844-2009.
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