ESU Success Stories – Manfred Polk

Posted by: admin on June 15, 2009, No Comments

Like many entrepreneurs, Manfred Polk ’87 points to a few critical prerequisites for success: diligence, persistence, patience, and the willingness to eat a lot of fast food.

As vice president and chief operating officer of Anderson-Polk Engineering & Consulting, founded in May 2003, he has combined a degree in physics and biochemistry with experience managing projects for Raytheon Engineers & Constructors.  The result is a thriving business providing process validation and development for biopharmaceutical manufacturers like Merck and Sanofi Pasteur.  His background doesn’t end there, though.

“I also received a lot of hands-on experience through Schering-Plough Pharmaceutical,” Polk says, referring to three summers spent working in the company’s biochemistry and analytical lab while he was at ESU.

Six years ago, Polk and co-founder/partner Garth Anderson decided the time was right to step out on their own. The move was not without sacrifices, though.

“We started the company with our personal finances,” he says.  “A few of our first projects did not include any expense money; we ate fast food a lot, and with some companies taking 30 or 45 days to pay their invoices, I came close to sleeping in my car!”

The company was able to weather those first turbulent years, and today the two partners have the luxury of choosing those projects they would like to work on.  They also enjoy another primary perk of self-employment—direct feedback from happy customers.

“The most rewarding thing is having the freedom to perform your job above expectations,” Polk says. “Clients truly appreciate and welcome our expertise.”