Andover Wellness Group

Name, age:
Ira Margolis, 44.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business from Wayne State University, 1989.

Last career: Vice president of Midwest Home Mortgage for 10 years and president of Andover Title Agency for five years.

New career:
Founder and president of Andover Wellness Group LLC. The Troy-based company specializes in workplace wellness by providing onsite flu clinics and blood pressure and glucose screening for businesses.

Why he decided to change careers: “The No. 1 reason was the shift in the economy. After all of the banking issues, which focused on real estate transactions, I found it very difficult to survive as a sole proprietor. Everything in that industry switched to a national level of doing business, and it was time for me to move on.”

How he made the transition: “I spent a lot of time researching different career options. When I weighed it all out, I thought not only of my service-oriented business knowledge, but a lot of my life experience would be a perfect fit for the wellness industry.

“My father was a doctor. I felt that after last year’s flu pandemic, vaccinations were not going away and would increase over time. And when I read about how much an employer could save in the long run — by spending $25 for an employee now — I was almost dumbfounded.

“Also, many of my friends, family and peers have fled the state, and I felt like I wanted to do something here, the place I have been my whole life. I want to be part of the resurgence of Southeast Michigan.”

Obstacles overcome: “There were many. One was not having a medical degree. That was easy to overcome by hiring a medical doctor to oversee my business.

“Also, to keep my prices competitive I did my homework and got a Manufacturer Wholesaler License from Michigan. Another was getting people educated about the flu vaccine. There are so many misconceptions about the actual vaccine.

“I need to … show business owners that sometimes you have to spend money to make money. I have to educate business owners and human resources departments on keeping their workforce productive.”

Advice for others:
“When the world hands you lemons, make lemonade. When one door closes, pick yourself up and move on the next one until you find the one that is right for your personal house.”

If you have made a similar change in your career or know someone who has made an interesting career transition, contact Andy Chapelle, managing editor at Crain’s Detroit Business, at achapelle@crain.com.