SBA’s 2022 New Hampshire Small Business Manufacturer of the Year Mark Sullivan of Environmental Devices Corporation, Plaistow
Mark Sullivan is the founder, owner, and managing director of Environmental Devices Corporation (EDC), in Plaistow. He started his journey nearly 30 years ago after obtaining his BA in Chemistry at the St Anselm College, Manchester, NH in 1984 and his MBA at the University of Massachusetts in 1990. Mark has been involved in design of scientific instrumentation for research purposes for over 30 years and an early career working for a few companies designing scientific instrumentation and monitoring equipment. He has written and published articles, including “Real-Time Particulate Monitors Gaining Acceptance in Complementing PM-10 Ambient Air Sampling Procedures’” along with “Anthracene as a Standard in HPLC Fluorescence Spectroscopy.” His main research interests are infrared light scattering technology, currently implemented in real-time, portable, aerosol air monitoring instrumentation, which EDC utilized in manufacturing of its product line.
Mark started EDC at his kitchen table, where he designed the first circuit board, with a lot of help from friends. This circuitry was installed into EDC's first product - a handheld respiratory aerosol monitor manufactured in his garage. EDC's first 'computer' was a typewriter and the PC and internet as we know it now, was not available.
As technology has evolved over the last 30 years, so have their products. Now products are capable of air sampling with remote viewing capabilities through cellular, Wi-Fi, RF, and internet of things (IoT) technologies.
From that cornerstone, EDC has developed and offers two distinct product lines and has created more than fifteen different air quality monitors. The HAZ-DUST product line offers, handheld, area and personal respiratory air monitors. The HAZ-SCANNER product line offers a customizable instrument, that samples and records particulates, meteorological parameters, as well as, atmospheric gases, in real-time. EDC, now sells worldwide, and has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The company has grown from a single idea and with the help of many friends into a small business specialized manufacturer with a global presence. EDC's HAZ-SCANNER instrumentation has been established as an air sampling method, in some regions of the world.
Mark always says, 'it takes a village.' Over the years, EDC has established and maintained long term relationships with its customers, distributors, and vendors. One example of a close relationship is Rooney's Welding and Fabrication, also located in Plaistow, NH. Henry Rooney & Mark have had a long-standing friendship that began designing and drawing ideas on a paper napkin. To this day, Rooney’s designs and fabricates EDC’s products and is one of their long-term primary vendors. Mark and Henry still enjoy designing and problem solving after hours over a beer.
Mark explained, “Recently, the SBA and NHPTAC has become part of the village, so to speak.” At the onset of Coronavirus and its uncertainty facing all business, the NH SBA offered and promoted a variety of programs and assistance that made it possible for EDC to continue its quest to design a new state- of- the- art handheld respiratory air monitor specifically for firefighters and emergency first responders. EDC thanks and appreciates the SBA and its dedication to helping small businesses. We also extend a thank you to Danielle Bishop from NH Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). With her support and assistance, we were able to apply for and receive approval to have EDC’s products included in the GSA Schedule which creates a much easier path for the government to purchase.
When asked about the future, EDC’s mission is to remain a small, specialized manufacturer and intends on continuing to partner with other local small business and vendors. EDC also continues to give back to the local community through STEM, youth, and environmental programs. For more information on Environmental Devices Corp. www.environmentaldevices.com
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