Danny Defino
Dominican University
Al Rosenbloom
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In the world today, there are roughly 1,500 environmental laboratories. These laboratories are testing everything ranging from water and soil to manure and chemicals. Doing this benefits the future and our human well- being.
Environmental laboratories have a huge impact on the environment. The innovation itself has allowed the environment to better in different ways. Something that has a huge impact on the innovation of environmental testing, is the EPA. The EPA was established on December 2nd, 1970. A majority of environmental laws were passed in the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Once the first law was passed, many more followed. This is what really opened up the innovation and start of such an amazing field. A field that allows us to better our Earth and understand how we are getting things done.
When having my interview with the CEO, Vice President of Sales and Chief Marketing Officer, John Riley, he explained TekLab to be “An environmental testing laboratory”. TekLab was taken over by the Riley family in January of 1982. Mr. Riley’s brother-in-law worked for TekLab part-time and sadly, the original owner passed away. The owner’s wife eventually wanted to sell it. Once the Riley family found out it was going to be for sale, they spoke about it to there father. They then decided to make an investment in the company and purchase it. Where it is today, has no correlation to where it used to be when it was first purchased in 1982. Since then, they have grown to have four locations, and have been advancing their technology ever since. When I spoke to Mr. Riley about innovation, he told me that TekLab has,"Revolutionized the turnaround time”. He went on to explain that a typical environmental laboratory takes about 4-6 weeks for them to get the data back to their client. Whereas TekLab only takes five business. What this does is allows those working with TekLab to react quickly to fix the problem. Mr. Riley stated,” Were responsible for the data that can affect the public health” and they want to “produce data in an efficient matter”. TekLab as a whole has become such an amazing company and has allowed itself to grow since it began.
The inspiration of TekLab went far beyond the start of this company. Inspiration is all about growth and components of others to fulfill one goal. When speaking to John Riley he expressed that his sister was an RN by trade and his brother was a chemical engineer. He also stated that his background was business. Before the start of TekLab, they were all doing their own thing. But, once TekLab was taken over by the Riley family, they joined together to form the company it is today. Johns sister, Mary Lynn, worked in a laboratory at Washington University in St. Louis. With each having a different background, it allowed them to combine all their skills together to start the base of TekLab. Mr. Riley stated,” It allowed us to each focus on our own area without stepping on one another's toes”. He and his siblings have grown along one another and one of the biggest things is that they all go to lunch every Wednesday. They do this so that they can each stay on task with what they are doing and to understand other things that are going on within the business. This then allows them to look ahead to figure out what is needed to better them in the future.
TekLab has allowed companies and other groups to trust them over the years. The innovation of TekLab has given them the title of a “quick and trustful company”. The advancement and innovation of TekLab allows them to not only grow as a business but as a family. John Riley stated,” This is a true family business”. With multiple family members working there, three couples, a mother and son, and around 65 employees, TekLab has opened up the innovation to become a family known business. Regarding society, TekLab is one of a kind. Right now they have 4 offices, a major one being in Chicago, and they work out of a major laboratory in St. Louis. The innovation of environmental laboratories has changed drastically since they first started. Also, the demand for these types of services are very high.
Today, everything is about data and analytics. The types of services produced by TekLab give the community and other companies the right view on the environment. The impact on the environment is by far the largest reason these companies begin. What TekLab does is, “Protect the public’s health, ensuring that our clients use of our data in an efficient way and in a timely manner”. TekLab not only wants the best for the environment, but they want the best relationships with their clients. The innovation has changed the way companies compete and grow with one another. TekLab is a great example of that because of how they are with other companies.
I asked Mr. Riley if there were any short-term or long-term effects about TekLab and he gave me a great reason why TekLab is better than other environmental laboratories. On the short-term side, reminded me that TekLab only takes five business days to get the data back to the client they are working with. This allows them to be more efficient and give a response quicker than other labs. When looking at the long-term effects, Mr. Riley stressed that we need to be better at getting quicker responses. Because of that, TekLab tries to use the data they produce to better the future and to lower the amount of danger for the future. By being more productive and useful, we will be able to figure what is needed or not to change the way things are done for years to come. He gave me a great example, and one of the biggest issues in the world today, the effects of lead on a child’s brain. Lead has been in drinking water and has greatly affected humans. It can leave an impact on someone's health for the rest of their life. By figuring out how to fix or change things like this, we will be able to protect the youth to better our future.
TekLab works with many other companies and business to benefit themselves and the environment. In my interview, Mr. Riley announced,” The mission is not to solve the problem, but to present the issues and results to consultants”. The service given to others by TekLab allows them to solve the issue. TekLab is there to provide the service to do it. The benefit they have is that they work with over 800 clients. Each client giving them different areas to work and different samples to test. Other businesses that work with TekLab have the benefit of working with this amazing company.
As I said above, lead is a major problem in drinking water. But, by working with another company and with the help of TekLab, they found that one of the major changes that have to be made is to just change the faucets. Another major benefit that TekLab offers is to gas stations. They are able to see if gas is leaking underneath a gas station, which allows them to make the area safer than it was before. Someone goes to get a sample, then it is transported to TekLab, and they then test the sample to see how hazardous it actually is. TekLab then recommends to the clients how to clean up the site and how much of it to take out. Many of the 800 clients they work with are small companies. Since 1982, they have been better every step of the way. Mr. Riley stated,” What’s helped us grow is being a family business and communicating”. They have the benefit of working with their siblings. They step in for each other when the other is busy and can handle certain things that others can’t. It is all about communication in the business world and the Riley family working together has made it easy along the way. TekLab wants to be,” The largest single rotation laboratory in the country”. They have allowed themselves to grow into what they want to be and are excited for things to come.
TekLab has had a positive effect on both social and environmental terms. They have been able to help not only themselves but other companies as well. The social and environmental benefits have given TekLab an amazing background. They have given other companies their trust and are very open to working with them. What TekLab does to protect the environment is something that all companies should start to do. TekLab has,” Taken steps to reduce our carbon footprint by reducing the amount of solvents we use through innovation in technology”. They are trying to benefit the environment in various ways.
Over the last 15 years, TekLab has hosted toy drives, food drives, and work with local groups that assist in the clean up of creeks and rivers. They also sponsor local sports teams and have become a major key in the community. This is the definition of a family business. Those who go beyond work. TekLab has done this because they want the best out of everyone. They want to benefit not only there company but all those around them. With TekLab being one of the most dependable environmental testing laboratories out there, they have been benefiting everyone and everything to this day and for years to come.
*Everything in quotes is credited %100 to CEO, Mr. John Riley.
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John Riley, CEO, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Chief Marketing Officer
TekLab is an environmental laboratory that has been around since 1982. They focus on the control and stabilization of the environment. With resources provided by over 800 clients, TekLab allows themselves to be one of the largest environmental laboratories in the country. They test a variety of samples including the quality of air, water, land, and oil. The advancement and commitment over the years have enabled TekLab to grow into a company that others would aspire to be like.