Aria Medical Equipment is showing up in some great places these days. Most recently, on the backs (and fronts) of two runners taking part in the AT&T Austin Marathon. Annie Rothstein and Ernest Obregon, sporting some snazzy new Aria Medical Equipment running jerseys, took the 2007 Distance Challenge. And boy, did they live up to the challenge!

The day prior to the marathon, Annie and Ernest went out for a small, yet satisfying dinner at an Italian restaurant. When Ernest didn’t clear his plate, they chalked it up to anxiety. The morning of the marathon, Ernest still didn’t feel quite right, but again, they figured the impending 42.2-kilometer run was a major contributing factor. A few days after they finished the marathon, we learned that Ernest had taken on the AT&T Distance Challenge with an intestinal virus that was slowly dehydrating him throughout the night and through the course of the marathon! Talk about dedication!

These two determined runners finished the 26.2 grueling miles of uphills, downhills, turns and twists through Texas’ capital city strong and proud, and with the Aria logo emblazoned across their backs and chests. Even though Austin offered some beautiful sights for us spectators, I could tell that the most beautiful sight Annie and Ernest saw was the finish line. I jogged alongside each of them as they rounded the capitol building and trotted up Congress Avenue toward the glorious finish line, their faces lit with relief.

The most impressive part of it all? This was Annie’s first marathon! Great job, Annie!

Danny Charbel is the less-than-in-shape public relations and marketing specialist at Aria Medical Equipment, whose participation in any given marathon is limited to watching, cheering and snapping photos. You can reach him at danny [at] ariamedical [dot] com or (800) 330-3591 ext. 102.

Roses are (sometimes) red, violets are (a shade of) blue.
Medical equipment is our lives, but having fun is too!

Joe may not be a studly 23 years old anymore … ahem … but the man knows how to treat his employees. And what kind of employer would he be if Valentine’s Day came and went without celebration? Valentine’s Day never goes unnoticed if Begley has a say in the matter. And let’s face it, Joe has a say in the matter!

Joe arranged for a stretch Cadillac Escalade limo to drive him and 10 of his favorite employees to a nearby posh locale for dessert and drinks. And wouldn’t ya know? They had a blast! Peruse the pictures in our photo gallery!

Danny Charbel is the studly, 23-year-old public relations and marketing specialist at Aria Medical Equipment, who is a bit jealous that Joe didn’t take the boys out on Valentine’s Day too. You can reach him at danny [at] ariamedical [dot] com, or (800) 330-3591 ext. 102.

Let’s get the serious stuff out of the way. Ahem.

In an effort to continually deliver better customer service and supply the medical industry on all fronts, Aria Medical Equipment has joined First Friday Network. The network is a monthly gathering of “professionals who are focused on promoting advocacy for the senior citizens of our community through sound business practices.”

Okay, so that’s the “official” announcement. Now, let’s really talk.

The First Friday Network is a great bunch of people from all facets of the San Antonio medical community. The 100 or so people who attended the meeting this morning included doctors, nurses, insurance agents, nursing home directors and medical equipment companies like us. Some were seeking employment, while some were seeking employees. Some people like me just wanted to get out of the office, shake some hands and pass out some business cards. The more people you know, the less strangers there are in the world!

Today’s presentation was by an orthopedic surgeon who taught us all about minimally invasive ways to perform hip replacements. It was a fascinating presentation, and now I know more about the medical equipment and medical instruments orthopedic surgeons need. I’m already looking forward to the March meeting. (Plus it’s a great way to make sure I eat breakfast at least once a month!)

For more information, visit the First Friday Network’s website at www.firstfridaynetwork.org.

Danny Charbel is the public relations and marketing specialist at Aria Medical Equipment, who still gets a little squeamish looking at pictures of surgery in process. You can reach him at danny [at] ariamedical [dot] com or (800) 330-3591 ext. 102.