Opening the doors to Zoom Diagnostic Imaging in his hometown of Enid, Okla., in 2017, was a significant milestone for Jermaine Wade. The long-time dream of becoming a successful business owner was coming true. The drive and hard work were paying off for the Northwestern graduate who earned his business administration degree in 2002.
“Launching my own business with incredible partners continues to be rewarding,” said Wade. “I had developed a business plan and fine-tuned it for a year. Finally, the dream had become real.”
Zoom Diagnostic Imaging (Zoom) provides patients with low cost, high quality and timely diagnostic imaging services.
“I had heard so many stories of patients in Enid and surrounding communities who couldn’t afford imaging services due to being uninsured or having high deductibles in their insurance plans. Zoom is committed to eliminating the price barrier.”
Wade’s commitment to giving back to his community was a lesson he learned from his grandfather.
“My grandfather would repair the cars and trucks of friends, neighbors and relatives in his driveway. He wouldn’t charge them anything. I asked him once, ‘Grandpa, why didn’t you charge them for your work? We need the money.’ He said, ‘They have mouths to feed and they need their money more than we do.’ He was giving to those who needed a hand, those who had greater needs. This lesson stuck with me.”
Keeping focus through chaos
Wade’s childhood environment was challenging at best; he recognizes it was dysfunctional. He and his siblings maneuvered the constant moving back and forth between his young single mother and his divorced grandparents in Enid. At an early age, Wade chose to look past the distractions and focused on his goals for a better future.
“There was nowhere to go but up.”
Others in the Enid community recognized the strengths Wade possessed. He had a positive spirit, great energy and a drive to succeed. Teachers, coaches and counselors were willing and ready to provide encouragement and support.
“And along the way, I gained a family.”
“We love you like our own”
Dr. Richard Rivers, a family practice physician, and his wife, Janie, were accustomed to finding a houseful of friends of their son, Briley, and daughter, Emily. It wasn’t unusual for either parent to arrive home and turn around to purchase sandwiches or pizza to feed an army of teenagers who loved being in the Rivers home.
Wade came to know the Rivers family through the connections of several of the Rivers’ houseguests. And he came to learn the unconditional love and the commitment required to be part of a family. As a senior at Enid High School, he moved in to the Rivers’ home.
“Janie and I had spoken with our children about Jermaine coming to live with us,” said Dr. Rivers. “They were all for it. And Jermaine was ready to move in immediately. But I asked him to think about the commitment, the responsibility, and the rules of being a member of the family. He moved in the next day with a duffle bag to his name.”
“We taught him that the actions, the behavior and the speech in a family affect every person in the family,” added Janie. “In a family, we all learn to deal with disagreements and still celebrate with love. Jermaine had never had a safety net; we were adamant to give him one as we did for our own children. We told him more than once, ‘we love you like our own.’”
“Jermaine gave us the experience of witnessing his happy outlook on life,” added Janie. “It has served him, and us, well.”
“The Rivers brought me into their home and into their lives,” Wade said. “They refer to me as their oldest child. They continue to be instrumental to who I am."
Life as a Ranger
After two years at Western Oklahoma State College, Wade was recruited by then-head coach Bob Battisti to play on the Rangers basketball team.
“Coach was tough and I didn’t want him yelling at me,” Wade said with a laugh. “I thought, ‘This may be like boot camp in the Army,’ but I appreciated his philosophy of ‘no excuses and work hard all the time.’ There is no doubt that Coach impacted my life.”
While taking business classes at Northwestern, Wade became reacquainted with Joni Aldrich, from Hunter, Okla., who earned her business degree in 1999. The couple had their first dance at the Nite Lite, a favorite night spot for Ranger students. They married on September 1, 2001.
Working his way to business owner
After graduation, Wade worked in Enid as a sales manager and financial manager in auto sales. He eventually moved to the Dallas, Texas, area and worked in the mortgage industry, rental car business and eventually a diagnostic imaging company. His high-level energy and business acumen led to successfully growing this imaging company from seven to more than 1,000 employees. He was ready to step out on his own.
Wade has grown his business with centers in the Oklahoma communities of Ardmore and Durant.
He is looking at securing other locations to serve those in need of the services Zoom offers.
“We are a low-cost service provider,” said Wade. “Every employee – 50 at this time – is committed to patient care and satisfaction. It is satisfying to hear our employees say ‘I love coming to work here.’ We also form strong partnerships with suppliers in order to offer the best in imaging technology.”
Family time
When not on the road between locations, Wade relishes his life with Joni and their sons, Kylan, 15, and Tristan, 13, in the Dallas suburb of Frisco. Joni has been successful in her banking career, and is currently a senior vice president with Bank of America.
“I have been fortunate to benefit from great role models in my life who were willing to invest in ‘Jermaine’. Work ethic, family values and giving back were instilled in me from people who cared. I owe the same to my family and my community.”
At home, Wade will occasionally engage in a pick-up game of basketball with his sons.
“Life is great. It is busy. And it is fun. When I’m missing shots and losing to my sons, it’s ‘Game over. Time to mow the lawn, boys.’”