Tom Melpolder, 60

Tom Melpolder
The job: Director of operations.
The employer: National Healing Corp., based in Boca Raton, Fla., partners with hospitals nationwide to manage their hyperbaric wound healing centers. Hyperbaric wound healing centers use oxygen chambers to accelerate the healing of chronic wounds.
My role: I work out of a home office in Overland Park and am responsible for managing the processes and profitability of the wound healing centers under my responsibility. I manage 13 centers in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Mississippi (none in the Kansas City area).
How long have you been in this position?
Since June 2008.
How did you find your job?
I had known the vice president of development for National Healing for 10 years because of a previous professional relationship. When I was in the midst of a job change, caused by downsizing at my previous place of employment, I thought of him. I used the White Pages on the Internet to get his home address. I sent a letter to him there, and he responded immediately. I then had a telephone screening interview with human resources, followed by an in-person interview with the regional vice president in Chicago. Next, I had two phone interviews with the person I would be replacing. After that, I had an interview with a colleague with whom I would work closely.
What helped the most in the job search?
Working with Lee Hecht Harrison, a talent solutions company with offices in the Kansas City area. My previous employer had contracted with the company to provide its services to me for three months, as part of a severance package. I became part of a three-person job search team and learned a lot about organization, tips and motivation.
Did you reach a low point in this process? If so, how did you overcome it?
Low points normally come when a couple of days go by with no activity. I overcame it by being confident that I had talent, and I kept very busy. My goal was to apply for a job a day, although sometimes that just didn’t happen.
What is your best advice for others in the job search?
The job search is your full-time job — allocate 30 hours per week on your job search if you are unemployed. And network. I didn’t believe that I had a good network of contacts, but once I got started I found that I was better prepared than I thought.
What is your educational and work experience?
I have a bachelor’s degree in engineering and an MBA in management, both from Michigan State University (1970 and 1972). I’ve had seven jobs total, mostly in marketing and sales management.
Is there anything else you would like to share related to the job search?
I am convinced that there are jobs available even in these tough times. The key to success is commitment to finding the right opportunity, and persistence.
How does this job fit into your long-term career plans?
At 60 years of age, I define “long term” differently. National Healing is a young, fast-growing company. My “wisdom” is valued by the company, and I believe that I have a great deal of growth potential over the next few years.
| Sue Dye Babson, special to The Star