IRMO, SC – Why leave the health technology sector for the HME world? For Rob Cardone, North Carolina/Virgina territory manager for South Carolina-based distributor Skye Medical, the answer is opportunity.
As a relatively new employee at Skye, the 43-year-old Cardone got the lay of the land at last month’s Medtrade where he spoke with providers and made new contacts. “One of the companies we distribute for is Aetrex, a maker of diabetic shoes and inserts,” says Cardone. “Providers can get into that space…As for Medtrade, I thought it went well. I met providers in my territory who will be good prospects going forward.”
Skye is a small, family-owned business, an attribute that Cardone says makes the company more responsive to new opportunity. “With Skye, we can pick and choose who we want to distribute,” he says. “We go with groups we believe in. We met another group out of North Carolina at Medtrade called Donn-it On, and we are excited to work with them.”
Cardone acknowledges the challenges of government regulations, and agrees that competitive bidding needs to be fixed. He has hope, especially “if the industry can come together.”
Cardone has been biking and running a lot with his two sons, 9 and 6 years old, even going so far as completing their first parent-child triathlon together. “It’s making me get off the couch and work out,” he says with a chuckle. “I hung up my lacrosse stick and cleats a long time ago, and my wife said that as soon as they get the age and interest, I can get them into that.”