Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Newman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michael, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The South Jamaica section of Queens New York has a tough and dangerous history plagued with drugs, crime and poverty. Growing up in the 80s I was exposed to living in the midst of ghettos in the height of the well documented crack era, and
“South Side” as we still call it today was at the heart of it all. Witnessing the infamous drug crews make millions, robberies turned to homicides and the street culture of hip-hop, my environment and the people I grew up around were a major influence on the paths I chose to follow as I traversed such a tough urban terrain.

During my pre-teen years I started to really hang out in the streets with a lot of the older guys who were tied into the drug distribution trade throughout Queens as a whole. These same “street guys” from the area created a lifestyle that would also attract a host of the up-and-coming rap talent from all across New York and beyond, looking to bear witness and even participate in all of the wild stories and events taking place at all times in Jamaica Queens. With some of raps founding fathers like Run DMC, and LL Cool J, living 10 minutes away from me, 50 Cent a few blocks down and Nas always present from Queens Bridge, South Side was the place to be for hip-hop artists to solidify their street credibility. The Wu-Tang clan and even Tupac, could be seen going in and out of the local corner store, or at the Colosseum Mall on Jamaica avenue causing a frenzy.

From childhood I was always creative, so drawing and writing were 2 of my favorite things to do, but I loved listening to music and being brought up in the epitome of iconic musical talent, I naturally started writing music of my own. Another one of my hobbies was reading so when I wasn’t getting arrested or suspended from school for fighting, I was always reading non-fiction books or watching documentaries about whatever fascinated me, because I needed to know how things worked. From what makes animals attack, to how drugs are manufactured I wanted to understand the mechanics.

I was already numb to the violence taking place around me on a daily basis, so when I was around 17 my brother in-law who was a Mortician at that time, asked me if I wanted to help him remove a body from a home where someone was killed and bring it back to the funeral home, I was all for it because now I needed to know how the human body works and what happens when it stops working. That following year I went to mortuary, become a mortician and stayed in the funeral service business for almost 15yrs.

After performing thousands of funeral services, I was only interested in the medical aspect of the business as far as embalming and transportation of the cadavers, death certificates and medical equipment. That’s when I created and launched my medical courier company BLU-BIO SOLUTIONS LLC.

On the flipside over the years, I never stopped creative writing or recording music. While writing a screenplay based on my life experiences, I turned the screenplay into a proof-of-concept short film called HALFWAY HOME, which included some of the music I recorded as a soundtrack. After winning 3 international film festivals with HALFWAY HOME, I decided to start an independent film company and called it FLYING LAND-YACHT FILMS. Everything came full circle.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

With BLU-BIO SOLUTIONS, I pursued independent contracts with hospitals, medical facilities, funeral homes and other private companies that cater to health and medical supplies.

After relocating to the south, I continued to promote my company and align myself with other entrepreneurs. While attending networking and small business events, I applied to be a state vendor in the states of South Carolina and Georgia to open more doors for opportunity in the government and local contracting arenas.

I was able to secure a medical courier sub-contract with Johnson & Johnson, transporting medical supplies to hospitals and surgery centers in both states. While at the different medical facilities, I was able to cultivate more business relationships and expand my services. Currently my main contracts are with Emory Hospital, Wellstar North, Northeast Georgia Medical Centers and Piedmont location across the state of Georgia.

We provide 24-hour a day delivery services of emergency trauma surgical equipment to all of these companies, on demand.
So, if there is a need for immediate surgery, they contact my company to transport the trauma equipment they need for particular situations, and I provide the service in a timely and professional manner.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I welcome scenarios where I have to make tough choices and possibly have to pivot in another direction. I see it as an opportunity to learn and grow versus a hurdle.

While attending a civil service meeting in Columbia, SC I met a phenomenal woman veteran named Laurie Strange, Founder of the developing non-profit organization, PTSD Veterans Village located in Bishopville, SC.

Laurie’s initiative is to help provide health educational services, counseling, introduction of trades and housing for the homeless women veteran’s population in South Carolina. Recently she has acquired a 68-acre plot of land, formally an equine farm and arena in Bishopville to develop the facilities and services needed on a grand scale. This is a huge undertaking and has the potential to grow and be duplicated in other states in need of PTSD Veterans Village services.

With several structures already in place, there is still an abundant amount of work to do in order to reach the goal of a fully functioning compound with everything from multimedia buildings to teach residents and visitors computer technology in film and media arts, to creating green spaces for cultivation of provisions and even recreational areas to assist our veterans in need on every level. The possibilities are truly endless in a much-needed serene setting, well deserved by the very people who fought for our freedom. With the goal of expanding to services to the male and formally incarcerated population of veterans, I wanted to offer Laurie my services as a private contractor for what I’m proficient in which would be medical courier services, and creative development in the media and film areas I’m in full support of all she has done and continues to do, to bring her vision to fruition. What is being established is purpose driven and having many veteran and active-duty family members, I am committed to trying to help remedy such a worthy cause.

We are currently in the phase of fundraising to help rehab the existing structures, and to build out the planned facilities throughout the property, so we are calling on all companies from fortune corporate sponsors, to mom-and-pop run businesses that support veteran’s services, to individuals, political figures and celebrities alike, to donate funds, equipment and or services. Media outlets and anyone else that support veteran’s assistance initiatives are encouraged to reach out, Let’s create partnerships and make history.

To donate in support of PTSD Veterans Village, visit Givelify.com and just type in our name.

Have you ever had to pivot?

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Contact Info:

• Website: www.bbscourier.com www.iflyland.com www.ptsdveteransvillage.org
• Instagram: @land_yacht_filmco @bbs_drive @ptsdveteransvillage
• Facebook: @Michael Newman @Flyland Films @PTSD Veterans Village

Image Credits

Michael Newman and Laurie Strange