We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Thom Volz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Thom, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The decision to launch this business came from a drive to give communities a chance to learn lifesaving skills they can use to help the people they care about. Before launching, I was an EMT responding to emergencies in the Bay Area. In the Army Reserve, I was a medic. I have also worked in a hospital where my focus was patient mobility. As I responded to emergencies or walked the hospital halls I would talk to patients’ family members, the things I heard most often seemed to center on lack of training or information. Things like “I didn’t know what was happening” or “I didn’t know how to help”. Patients were dying because people did not have enough information or confidence to act when emergencies happen. VCT seeks to change the narrative. We want to turn “I didn’t know what to do” to “I’m ready to help”.

Another influencing factor was all the politics at play in healthcare. I understand hospitals need money to provide their valuable services. However, an intensive care unit where patients are fighting for their lives is not an appropriate place to discuss finances. I worked at a hospital before launching VCT. The last thing I remember before leaving that hospital was the CEO walking into the ICU and saying something like “CHA-CHING” after seeing patients on ventilators. That encounter left such a negative impression on me I will never forget it. I wanted to do anything I could to help patients and families avoid such a tragic situation. The quicker someone can recognize a life-threatening emergency, call for help and start care, the higher chances of survival for the person who needs help. CPR saves lives – get trained!

I would not say that no one was working on this problem. But there was a shortage of training providers in the areas where we were living. People would sometimes have to drive for over an hour to find training. My goal was to simply make lifesaving training more available. Seeing people motivated after one of our classes, or knowing someone has the OSHA compliant training required for their career so they can meet their professional goals is very fulfilling.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Happy to! I am the Owner of VCT Services, a safety training services provider serving California and Nevada. I am a two-time veteran having served active duty in the US Marines and in the US Army Reserve. In addition to managing VCT, I work an overnight shift at a men’s homeless shelter. I am married to my best friend and business partner, Vanessa. We work together to raise our daughter, Ember, and our two cats. I am an avid reader. I read mostly Political Science and Biography. I am currently reading “Napoleon: A Life” by Andrew Roberts. I live in Southern California. I am blessed with the opportunity to travel America spreading CPR gospel.

First aid and CPR certification have been professional requirements throughout my career. I have been attending these training courses regularly for years. After taking so many of these training courses, one of the things that I have seen the most is how rigid these classes can be. A micromanaged class is not suited for all learning styles. Another observation is that there is a lot of the jargon in the medical field that can make training hard to understand which can cause participants to disengage. What sets our classes apart is our ability to deliver lifesaving training in a way that is engaging, empowering and respectful of a person’s lived experience. VCT’s high ratings on Yelp and Google reflect that.

VCT provides American Red Cross training and certification for businesses and community organizations in:
– First Aid CPR/AED
– Basic Life Support
– Wilderness/Remote First Aid
– Naloxone training
– Babysitters’ Training (designed for middle school aged kids)

My military and professional experience has helped me connect with people with diverse backgrounds and industries across the nation so we can deliver quality training in lifesaving skills that will empower communities to act in an emergency. I am confident VCT can provide a training solution for groups of all sizes and industries.

In addition to the confidence participants get after taking one of our classes, one of the things I am most proud of is VCT’s continued partnership with the American Red Cross. VCT has been a dependable partner of the American Red Cross since 2020. The Red Cross is one of America’s most recognized humanitarian organizations committed to alleviating human suffering at home and abroad. I am proud to support the Red Cross in this mission.

I would like readers to know that training with VCT not only supports a family-owned small business, but also supports American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. At the time of this writing, two hurricanes have rocked the East Coast. Training with VCT helps the Red Cross stay ready for the next disaster that challenges our nation.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Definitely! Books and libraries are vital to developing one’s philosophy, for business, and life in general. In the Marines, the belief that continuous self-education and improvement are key to success and personal development is a key part of the culture. I have embraced this belief throughout my life.

High moral character is the most important trait a business owner can have. My business philosophy is simple: treat your customer as fairly and respectfully as possible. Real Golden Rule stuff. Business is a moral endeavor. One that drives the world through the transaction of goods and services. People go into business because they see a need in the community that their product or service can satisfy. They should work to fill that need to enrich the lives of the customers they serve. The main goal should not be personal gain. If you serve your customers fairly, success will come. Your community will be better for it. Businesses with high moral character lift their communities. Morally corrupt businesses will bankrupt themselves and the neighbors they fail to serve. “Business as a Calling: Work and the Examined Life” by Michael Novak provides readers with seven responsibilities business owners have to their communities. Businesses must work constantly to fulfill these obligations. When the community thrives, the business thrives. The two work in symbiosis.

Biography/Memoir is my favorite genre to read. Seeing the challenges the subject faces and the choices they make as those situations unfold can be an enjoyable experiential learning experience. It is like being there. One that comes to mind is “Titan” by Ron Chernow. Reading the story of how John D. Rockefeller built an empire that not only enriched himself and his family to a degree beyond anyone’s dreams but lifted communities across the country by using his business to fund libraries, universities, and national parks for all to enjoy. The oil his companies produced helped people each day as they work towards their goals. The discipline and stoicism (especially in the face of challenges) of Rockefeller is an example I strive to emulate.

I also think about “Coco Chanel: An Intimate Life” by Lisa Chaney. The journey of an orphan becoming one of the most recognized names in fashion (whose name endures today) is simply inspiring. She did things her way, stayed true to herself but was also able to collaborate with others. Collaboration is essential for success. No one knows everything. No one can see or anticipate every challenge. Being able to work well with others while preserving your vision is vital if your business is going to succeed.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Passion is what helped build our reputation. To be successful, one must believe in their product or service, and they must have a drive to serve. If you are only doing this “for the money”, you are going to burn out. Customers will see that and look elsewhere. No one likes a jaded service provider. I have total belief in the skills we teach and their power to save someone’s life in an emergency. We all have a duty to use our talents to better our communities. This is especially true for veterans like me. A veteran’s mission to serve does not end upon separation from the military. Veterans must work to improve themselves so that they may continue to answer the call to service. Believe in yourself, your team, your service/products and the passion will show.

VCT is committed to fostering a positive learning environment for our participants and our instructors. Each class is a chance for instructors and participants to learn from each other. Participants in our classes learn lifesaving skills, and our instructors learn from residents the best ways we can serve that community. We’re constantly looking for ways to make trainings more efficient, so participants can have more time with instructors or practice time with training equipment. Our goal is to make sure everyone has the confidence to act when it matters. VCT provides lifesaving training wherever there is a need. Since 2020, we have had the trust of schools, neighborhoods, local businesses, and non-profits all over California and Nevada. Thank you for your support!

I get to meet people from different industries and backgrounds. It is inspiring to see that even though we come from various places, we are all united by a willingness to help someone when they need it most. In these divisive times, it is extremely rewarding to use these classes as an opportunity for participants to connect and think about how they can help their communities and the people they care about. We are in this together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vctservices.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomvolz

Image Credits

Thom Volz, Vanessa Volz