COLTON, CA – In the sprawling southern California region known as the “Inland Empire,” Tony Myrell is a fixture. From his days as a student at Cal State San Bernardino, to his presidency of the Colton Chamber of Commerce, the 60-year-old Myrell has made his presence known.
An HME provider since 1978, Myrell switched his focus about 13 years ago, delving heavily into a niche that he felt passionately about. “We now concentrate on the hospice agencies,” he says. “I also do medical transport, and these are niche markets where I feel comfortable.”
While he no longer deals directly with the many challenges that affect DME providers (such as competitive bidding), Myrell studies the issues closely in his capacity as president of the California Association of Medical Product Suppliers (CAMPS).
“I believe strongly in the industry,” he enthuses. “I have an affinity for it. I grew up in the DME business, and I’m committed to it. When legislation gets in the way of that, I’m a hands-on kind of guy. I believe in giving back. When we see things going awry, we all need to step up and help.”
Even with his considerable responsibilities, these days Myrell puts grandfather duties at the top of his priority list. In addition to seeing his three grandkids, he tries to get out to his 40-foot Sea Ray power boat whenever possible. “I find myself spending more time with my grandkids than I do with my boat,” he says with a laugh. “I used to play a lot of electric bass, and I still pick up my guitars and play. I love Jack Bruce’s style in Cream. I don’t think people ever really appreciated his bass lines.”