C-Suite: Vance Clement

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Class of 2021 C Suite Vance Clement CEO Lineus Medical, Fayetteville

Fast Fact: Clement has worked in the medical device industry for more than 25 years. He joined Lineus in 2015 and became CEO in 2018.

If you weren’t in your current profession, what would you be doing? I would be starting a decoupage glass business, making something artistic with my hands.

What is the most used app on your phone? Definitely Pandora, listening to either The Killers or Young The Giant radio stations.

What is the best business advice you have ever received? Diversifying your skillset and being willing to relocate will help you advance your career more quickly as opposed to staying in one department and one town for the majority of your career.

In your company/industry, what are the main differences between pre- and post- COVID-19? Our customers are nurses and hospitals. Both are completely overwhelmed by COVID-19, and it is understandably difficult for them to consider new products. We have to convince them that our product helps them handle COVID.

If you had $1 million to give, what would you support? The University of Arkansas College of Engineering, and I would make several investments in other startup companies.

What is one thing you would change about your company if you could today? With more funds, I would hire more people for the United States and start international sales so that we could grow more quickly.

What keeps you up at night or worries you the most? Hitting sales goals.

What’s the most recent book you read? “The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough, a biography about the Wrights and the birth of flight.

What’s the most interesting thing about you that isn’t on your resume? I am optimistic and will persevere through difficult situations. Being an entrepreneur is challenging and requires grit.

What is the best business advice you have ever given? If you want to be an entrepreneur, you can’t do it working at a big company. You have to start something either on your own or with others. You must own a piece of the business.

In one sentence, can you express what the most important thing about being a leader is? Listening to others, gathering information and advice, then making the best decisions you can based on the information you have.