Dr. Charles Quick knew what he wanted, and he had a vision of what could be. After leaving academia and setting up a private practice, he realized what he missed most was the consultative nature of the academic environment. He knew he wanted to create a business where he could work with other professionals who shared his passion for veterinary medicine and the animals they serve, in an environment that supported his ideal of work-life balance.
The idea of a specialty hospital came to Dr. Quick, a specialist in radiology. It would be a big and expensive one, but he thought about it often during his morning run near I-59 and Highway 6 in Sugar Land. In fact, it occurred to him that the very spot he ran past each morning would be the perfect place to open a facility. And so the seed was sown.
His first task was to convince his wife. "I don't do anything without her blessing and approval." Next, he contacted investors to share his dream and help provide seed money for the new venture. Surprisingly that was the easy part. It was harder to find a bank that was not feeling the pinch of the banking industry's shakeup. Armed with his feasibility study and a three-inch binder-sized business plan, he thought he was ready for a loan. However, the local bank that funded the land acquisition refused to fund construction. After talking to numerous banks, he eventually found one in Colorado that saw the project's potential and could help with his multimillion-dollar vision. The banker there suggested that Community Business Finance assist Dr. Quick and his investors in getting through the small business loan maze.
Preparing the paperwork for the SBA was not an easy task. The paperwork seemed unending, but Bill Ebersole worked with Dr, Quick to pull it all together. "Bill is a very knowledgeable individual and gave us some good advice," said Dr. Quick. "The CDC's loan process manager also worked closely with us. Together they helped us every step of the way."
The hospital opened in December 2007 after two years of planning and construction. The Sugar Land Veterinary Specialists facility has 9 examination rooms with areas for internal medicine, diagnostic imaging, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine. It includes a surgical unit, isolation ward, chemotherapy room, CT scanner, and all the equipment necessary for emergency and critical care. Today, the practice is thriving. Dr. Quick is adding more staff and an MRI suite as well as looking to expand the treatment areas to the upper floor.
"We planned with the end in mind," declared Dr. Quick. "It was a tough time, but Bill is a good guy and has given me good advice. I still call him for advice from time to time."
