Merrillville-based Around the Clock Transportation puts community first
Alex Dunlap’s journey to entrepreneurship began like it does for many. An opportunity was presented, and he took a leap of faith.
A longtime IT professional at PepsiCo, Dunlap’s career shift was prompted by the growing trend to outsource in his field and a desire for a new challenge. He said he saw “the writing on the wall,” which led him to his cousin’s wheelchair transport service.
“I always tell people now that, if you don’t manage your life, somebody will manage it for you,” Dunlap said. “I ended up joining (my cousin) a little bit before 2017, still working for PepsiCo and working there. But in 2017, I retired from PepsiCo and went full time with the transportation company.”
Business model change
By 2018, he had purchased his cousin’s business interest and transformed it from a wheelchair transportation service into a full-fledged ambulance company: Around the Clock Transportation. His business savvy, gleaned from years spent in a corporate career, led him to make a strategic move that has paid off.
“We removed all of our wheelchair operations, and I converted it over to an ambulance company,” he said. “Previously, we had maybe 15 wheelchairs running out there every day.
Patients and employees were everywhere. It was stressful, but the money didn’t compensate for the stress level. Instead, I could take one ambulance and really handle two or three wheelchair operations in a day.”
Beyond the impact on the bottom line, Dunlap said the aging population was another reason to go in this direction. Older people tend to need assistance getting around, and there’s an opportunity to fill a gap in services.
In this way, the Gary native said his Merrillville-based business is about more than turning a profit. ATC partners with numerous hospitals, nursing homes and dialysis centers. These partnerships ensure that ATC is a go-to service for nonemergency and emergency medical transportation.
Community endeavor
Ultimately, his service is about helping people’s loved ones access health care.
Dunlap said ATC’s motto, “neighbors caring for neighbors,” underscores his commitment to the community. He is involved in local events and charity work.
Dunlap also serves on the Merrillville Community School Corp. board and participates in various community and professional organizations.
Methodist Hospitals’ EMS Director Tom Fentress can attest to Dunlap’s character and follow-through.
“His unwavering dedication to his community and those he serves always comes to mind,” Fentress said about Dunlap.
“I first met Alex when he was determined to start an ambulance service to support his existing clientele better, recognizing their need for additional services.”
Looking ahead, Dunlap said, the company is just getting started.
“Part of my growth plan just started this year,” he said. “We want to make sure that we get two or three wheelchair vans that we want to add yearly in order to accommodate that. We also want to continue to expand our service area and cover all of Indiana.”
Additionally, he’s exploring avenues like a telehealth partnership. This arrangement would allow ATC to be a liaison for doctors’ offices and hospitals.
His staff would visit the patient’s home to facilitate remote consultations and necessary transportation. Dunlap said this initiative could significantly reduce hospital readmission rates, benefiting patients and health care providers.
Investing in relationships
Whatever happens, Dunlap said he is focused on the fundamentals. That means maintaining the culture he’s worked hard to establish.
“It’s a family-oriented environment,” he said. “We have 30 employees and around 10 ambulances, so we have a really comfortable feel of a family.”
This sentiment resonates with customers, too. Dunlap recalled a touching gesture from a customer’s family.
“We were just transporting a patient as normal,” he said. “Next thing you know, we received a $1,000 gift in the mail for my employees to buy food and things for them.”
Despite its success, ATC faces challenges, particularly in recruitment and competition. The limited number of paramedics in Indiana means that ATC must work hard to attract and retain talent. As the first African American-owned ambulance company in Gary to achieve the advanced life support designation, Dunlap is aware of the systemic challenges. Yet, he remains hungry and humble.
“(Dunlap) told me (when he first took over the business) that his primary goal was to help those who rely on him,” Fentress said. “This commitment is evident in all aspects of his work, including his interactions with his employees.”
Read more stories from the current issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine.
