JUNE 23– Last month, we had the pleasure of interviewing board member Mike Grice. Mike is the COO of Boost Oxygen, former COO of MedTechVets, and Retired Marine. We discussed his transition out of the military, advice for Veterans, and his experience appearing on Shark Tank with Boost Oxygen.
“You will be hired based on the value you can provide in the future, not the things you did in your past.”
Mike grice
Grice served 27 years in the United States Marine Corps as an artilleryman and Joint Terminal Attack Controller, with combat service in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He later attended the Marshall Business School at the University of Southern California where he earned his MBA. After connecting with a parent while parking cars at his son’s Boy Scouts event, Mike was given the opportunity to help build MVPVets, now MedTechVets.
Transition from the Military
His path after life in the military wasn’t always easy. Grice experienced many difficulties through his military transition saying,
“It was much more difficult than I had expected. The entire time I was in uniform I was surrounded by people just like me, who were focused on accomplishing whatever mission we were assigned in the most effective manner possible. Leaving the military was challenging because the entire support network of my fellow Marines went away and I was making decisions and plans without the guardrails and guidance that came with military service.”
Mike Grice’s main advice to any veteran transitioning out of the military is to network and not take yourself too seriously. The support network experienced through the military still exists, you just have to foster those connections to suit your new needs.
“I had never thought that I would be on reality TV, but there we were standing in front of five of the most intelligent and dynamic people around-–pretty amazing.”
Mike Grice
In the Tank!
In October 2021, Grice along with CEO Rob Neuner pitched their company Boost Oxygen, a portable 95% pure supplemental oxygen for all-natural respiratory support, on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’. They left the tank with a $1 Million Dollar deal from shark Kevin O’Leary, marking the deal as one of the biggest in ‘Shark Tank’ history.
When asked about his experience with Shark Tank, Grice said, “It was intense and very interesting. We had to open our business up to a lot of scrutiny while preparing to present our value proposition on national television. We rehearsed relentlessly for months leading up to the filming date, and when that date arrived it was a surreal and intense experience.”
Since the pandemic, Boost has expanded their market to meet the surging demand of respiratory support. With O’Leary acting as a partner and advocate and help from the other sharks on social media, Boost Oxygen is well positioned for future growth and success.
“Success is being able to do something well and enjoying doing it.”
Mike GRICE
Michael is currently a board member of MedTechVets, the COO of Boost Oxygen, and remains active with his two sons in the Boy Scouts of America.
About MedTechVets
MedTechVets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Veterans during career transition and beyond.
Our Vision is to build a bridge to help Veterans find meaningful employment in the Medical Technology Industry.
We bridge the gap for Veterans by providing personalized career transition services, mentorship, and career development guidance. We serve Veterans who plan to enter the MedTech, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical, or Medical Device industries.
MedTechVets is proud to be endorsed by Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed).
When a Veteran’s military skills and experiences are translated to civilian language, recruiting managers see the benefits of hiring a qualified Veteran. Veterans are able to see the roles within the MedTech, Medical Device, Life Sciences, and Pharmaceutical industries that would best suit their skill set and career aspirations.
MedTechVets Academy is a specialized program that provides more than generic advice about transitioning into medical-related career fields.
If you would like to learn more information about MedTechVets, please go to our page https://medtechvets.org/contact-us/.
