North Wilkesboro, N.C. — Owen Medical Products, LLC, a woman-owned small business (WOSB), is opening in the Town Square business complex in North Wilkesboro this month. The new company will manufacture and supply non-woven disposable ASTM Level 1 procedural face masks and distribute other disposable and medical products. These disposable medical products will be sold direct to the end user (hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient medical clinics, long-term care, dental, veterinary and consumer markets) and through distribution channels to diversify the customer portfolio.
Jill Parsons Owen, owner and chief executive officer, says the company was created to address the United States’ dependence on China and other foreign suppliers for critical medical products. Joining her in this venture is her husband Brian Owen, who will serve as chief operating officer.
“Wilkes EDC is grateful that Jill and Brian Owen of Owen Medical Products shared their vision and allowed us to assist in a building search for their new endeavor. We look forward to a successful start-up and product launch that will provide critical medical supplies to those in need, while also creating local job opportunities in Wilkes County. As they grow, we will strive to be a continued resource that offers support and celebrates their success,” said Wilkes EDC President LeeAnn Nixon.
The Owens plan to employ five workers initially in phase one but anticipate employing approximately 10 as they add additional automated mask lines by the end of their second year in business. Phase two of expansion, anticipated in the third year of operation, will include the manufacture of additional disposable PPE (personal protective equipment) products such as isolation gowns.
According to Brian Owen, Owen Medical Products is in the early phase of discussions with healthcare systems both in North Carolina and across the United States, and the intial feedback from these organizations has been very positive; they are excited and eagerly awaiting the start-up on its manufacturing line. The same can be said for long-term care facilities throughout the United States.
Other sales channels for the company include large industrial, commercial and transportation companies where the need to protect their workforce as well as their customer base is essential to their business operations. The company also plans to target local, state and national government organizations where the use of PPE is now the norm.
The company also plans to target the “direct to consumer market” utilizing different channels, first by way of national retail store chains and national wholesale store chains and secondly by way of e-commerce utilizing an Amazon store front.
“Owen Medical Products puts a 21st century spin on North Wilkesboro’s long tradition of manufacturing, using high technology in a lab-like environment to make products that are essential in today’s environment,” said Wilson Hooper, town manager for Town of North Wilkesboro. “What’s more they’ll be occupying a landmark property downtown, helping bring commerce and activity to Main Street. On behalf of the Mayor and Board of Commissioners,
I welcome Owen Medical Products and thank them for choosing North Wilkesboro.”
Jill Parsons Owen is a native of Wilkes County and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with majors in economics and history. She obtained her nursing degree in 2013 and has a total of 16 years of experience in the healthcare market, including marketing, administrative and clinical experience.
“My extensive knowledge of the regulations and requirements associated with the healthcare market and the products used in this field will give the company a definite advantage with selling our products into the major healthcare systems, long-term care and other vertical healthcare markets we will target,” explained Owen.
Brian Owen, a graduate of Elon University’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, has more than 30 years of experience in the areas of sales, manufacturing, operations, product marketing and supply chain in the medical device market. In particular, he has over 15 years’ experience in clean room manufacturing. He has worked with healthcare systems and long-term care facilities throughout the U.S. supplying essential medical products and other value-added services.
For more information about Owen Medical Products, call 336-818-2160.
ABOUT
###
