Today we’d like to introduce you to Diva Herazo and Jose Habib.
Diva and Jose, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far?
Diva has always been characterized as being a person with the ability to initiate interaction and establish connections with others. That’s why she pursued a degree in communications at the Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia. For a decade, she worked in Bogota doing public relations for print, television and radio outlets. The ease with which Diva opens doors allowed her to work as a representative for Colombian and foreign artists. She was also a communications professor and event planner in Colombia. Jose pursued his passion for dentistry at the Colegio Ondontologico Colombiano in Bogota, Colombia. He practiced dentistry in Colombia for 12 years privately and in the public sector, where he focused in public health and prevention programs. Diva and Jose moved to Houston in 2001. Jose, using his previous experience in public health, started working for a healthcare prevention company that focused on cardiovascular care. Meanwhile, Diva dedicated her first two years to studying English at Houston Community College and then became the representative for a non-profit focused on smoking cessation, prevention and awareness. In 2005, Jose and Diva realized their dream of having their own business and founded Biomedent, where they were able to put together Diva’s communication and public relations experience along with Jose’s experience in dentistry and public health.
Let’s talk about business. Tell us about Biomedent – what should we know?
Biomedent is a health services management company with over 13 years of experience serving patients across Texas. Biomedent uses an innovative approach to dental health that provides preventative dental care through the use of on-site and mobile facilities brought directly to schools, businesses and communities. Biomedent’s mission is to create affordable and accessible high quality preventative dental care through the use of state-of-the-art mobile dental equipment delivered in a friendly, professional, and convenient manner. All Biomedent services and offerings are built around our core principles of flexibility, affordability, convenience and technology. We bring dental services directly to the patient allowing them to save countless hours normally needed to go to a conventional dental office. We also encourage the patient to take advantage of their dental health benefits, which often go unused. Our preventive dental health program provides the same quality of care you would receive at a conventional dental office. Our preventive services include: Oral Cancer Screening, Comprehensive Oral Exam, X-Rays, Prophylaxis Cleaning and Fluoride.
Biomedent has many notable mile stones such as being awarded a contract in 2010 to provide x-ray identification services to a major multi-national corporation for personnel sent to high-risk areas and designing, building, staffing and managing Legacy Community Health’s mobile dental project. Currently, Biomedent is partnering with Houston Independent School District, Harris County, City of Pasadena and the University of Houston-Downtown among others to bring dental prevention and wellness to their employees and their dependents. Biomedent is certified by the City of Houston, Metro, Port of Houston and Hire Houston First as a Minority and Women-Owned Business. Diva’s ability to establish partnerships and Jose’s technical and operational knowledge of dentistry have earned Biomedent Inc. several awards and accolades.
Nominations and accolades:
2009 Female Executive of the Year Tribute to the Hispanic Woman by Success and CITGO Petroleum Company.
2010 Nominated for Emerging Business of the year by Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
2011 Goldman Sachs 10, 000 Small Businesses
2011 Houston District SBA Minority Small Business Champion of the
Year.
2011 Telemundo Houston Hispanic Salute Award
2013 Prominent Business Woman “Colombian Pride” by Concurso Srta. Independencia de Colombia
2017 The State of Texas Governor Small Business Award.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been an easy road. Being a small business owner can be very difficult at times due to the personal and professional demand involved. You have to always be prepared for challenges and more importantly opportunities, which can sometimes be hard to come by. Being the pioneer in dental health prevention has also been challenging. We started this business before communities, corporations and the public in general worried about prevention and wellness. Getting in front of decision-makers as a small business can be very difficult. This is why becoming part of business organizations, chambers of commerce and engaging with the business community is essential for a small business.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
We would like to thank God, who has given both of us the ability and strength to persevere through difficult times. We would also like to thank our family, specifically our kids Valentina and Jose Alejandro, who have helped us endlessly throughout this journey. The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Laura Murillo have been extremely supportive of our business and have opened doors to great opportunities. Without their support we would not be where we are today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.biomedent.com
- Phone: 2816469700
- Email: info@biomedent.com
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