Growing up on a sheep farm in New Zealand, Michelle Collie had no idea she’d one day be the owner of a thriving Rhode Island business, Performance Physical Therapy, with nine locations across the state.
Collie earned a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy from Otago University in Dunedin, New Zealand. After a year of working in orthopedic care in a private practice in Queenstown, New Zealand, she was part of a group of seven physiotherapists recruited to work in the U.S. for what was to be a one-year assignment.
“There was a shortage of physical therapists in America then and they came to recruit us,” said Collie.
Her job was at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket. One year turned into four as she initiated and developed a pediatric physical-therapy program at Memorial, worked with adults in orthopedics and ended up managing 18 therapists in outpatient, acute care and rehabilitation for the hospital.
She worked as a physical therapist and clinical director at Performance Physical Therapy from 2001 to 2003. When she was four months pregnant with her first child, she was approached by the owner when he decided to sell the business. Was she interested in buying it?
“I didn’t have any money, but the previous owner financed the deal,” said Collie.
Buying the business just seemed the right thing to do.
“After that, I got a small-business loan. So there I was with a new business and a newborn,” said Collie. “I didn’t sleep very much then, but I was passionate about having this awesome practice. When I bought Performance, it had three locations and 16 employees.”
The business grew mostly by referrals from family-care doctors, internists and pediatricians. One of the specialties at Performance is working with sports injuries.
As the business continued to grow and open new locations, Collie focused on setting up infrastructure and empowering employees to be leaders. The company’s growth now provides 70 jobs.
“Most of our employees were born and bred in Rhode Island. I’m one of the few people at Performance who doesn’t have a Rhode Island accent,” said Collie, her New Zealand accent still strong.
Her quality physical-therapist employees find Performance, many through the four-year physical therapy degree program at the University of Rhode Island, said Collie. Education and training are critical for the variety of therapies Performance provides and the detailed medical screenings done before each patient’s treatment is determined, she said.
“I would go to New Zealand for 10 days at a time. I was trying to be a good mother and I was still trying to run a business,” said Collie. “I was tired. I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia – twice.”
She considers that a wake-up call. With two children and the growing business, she knew she had to make a change.
“Something had to go and at first I thought it was going to be my business,” said Collie. “Then one day I woke up and thought, ‘Am I going to sell it or am I going to kick it up a notch?’ I love physical therapy and I was still really happy with the work I was doing.”
She stepped back from treating patients and focused on developing leaders within the company, spending more time coaching and mentoring.
Growth continues, with four new clinics – in Smithfield, Barrington, East Greenwich and Woonsocket – in the last 18 months, two of them by acquisition. An existing clinic on the East Side of Providence was expanded and a new clinic, to replace the existing one in Pawtucket, will be complete at the end of the summer, with indoor and outdoor pools for therapy and related services such as massage and Pilates.
While some in the business community have concerns about whether Rhode Island has a business-friendly climate, Collie has found it nourishing territory to plant roots and grow a business.
“I understand the challenges of being a small-business owner, but I’ve found Rhode Island to be a very good place for my business,” said Collie. “I love the smallness of it.” •
COMPANY PROFILE
Performance Physical Therapy
OWNER: Michelle E. Collie
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Outpatient physical therapy
LOCATION: Flagship clinic at 129 School St. in Pawtucket, currently has nine locations in Rhode Island
EMPLOYEES: 70 including 65 full time and 5 part time
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1999
ANNUAL SALES: WND