Sonus Invests Millions in Network Members to Help Them Succeed from School to Retirement
Plymouth, Minn. (July 24, 2007) - Sonus, the largest professional hearing-care network in North America, has boosted its network member benefits to provide superior support to audiologists at all stages of their careers. From earmarking scholarship funds for college students, to extending $7 million in loans to encourage business ownership, to matching members' retirement funds, Sonus offers a wide variety of programs that help hearing professionals strengthen their practices while maximizing customer service and satisfaction.
"We've had a terrific response from the audiology community, particularly among Au.D. students, who are excited to learn how Sonus can help them enhance both their business and professional skills at any point in their careers," said Dan Quall, senior vice president of the Sonus Network. "There is no other company that can claim the same."
Quall highlights a range of Sonus Network benefits, including:
Sonus College Scholarship Program
Sonus, in partnership with Scholarship America, now offers a scholarship for third- and fourth-year doctorate of audiology students. Launched in early 2007, the $2,500 award helps up to eight students per year finance their education. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on academic record, leadership, honors, professional experience, statement of goals and outside appraisal.
Greenhouse Training Program
For new graduates, Sonus provides a unique training program designed to go beyond traditional classroom instruction. Training begins at the Amplifon USA corporate office for two weeks and continues in the field at Sonus clinics for another two weeks. Newly minted audiologists learn more about clinical audiology, hearing aid dispensing, business development and service delivery from Sonus experts and meet with other professionals in the industry from across the U.S. and Canada.
Mid-Career Greenhouse Training Programs
In addition to the Greenhouse training program for new graduates, Sonus provides ongoing mid-career training for network members to build business, sales and clinical skills. Sonus Greenhouse courses are nationally accredited by the American Academy of Audiology and the International Hearing Society and offer continuing education units (CEUs) to participants. The courses are available in a variety of formats, including seminars, conference calls, CDs and online courses.
Sonus Loan Program
At any point in their careers, audiologists can look to Sonus for help in providing the resources to purchase or expand their own clinics with the Sonus Loan Program. Experienced industry professionals at Sonus are able to offer flexible financing options customized to the needs of the hearing healthcare professional. Some of the highlights of the program include access to multiple manufacturers, fast turnaround time and a comprehensive business plan advisory option. To date, Sonus has provided $7 million in loans to help audiologists either start their own clinics or buy existing ones, and network members can also use the program to cover the costs of new equipment.
"We like to think of ourselves as a 'gentle giant' who is helping the small-business owner with the Sonus Loan Program," Quall added.
Business Tools to Ensure Success
Sonus Network members are given priority access to proven marketing programs, competitive pricing on equipment and products from the industry's leading vendors, unparalleled educational courses, managed-care contract referrals, professional and personal wealth-building plans and data management systems. Altogether, more than 30 programs are available to Sonus Network members.
Sonus Savings Plan
Sonus not only provides services to professionals during their career, but also assist members to plan and invest in their retirement. The Sonus Savings Plan matches $10 for every $50, and $25 for every $100, that a network member saves for retirement. Sonus works with Charon Planning, which was instrumental in the design and implementation of retirement strategies since the early 1980s, and UBS Financial Services Inc., the world's largest private bank, to implement this savings plan. Enrollment is now at an all-time high since the program began two years ago, with Sonus network members contributing, and Amplifon USA matching, a total of $4 million in small-business retirement funds. When it comes to selling a practice, Sonus helps out as well by helping network members find and fund qualified buyers.
About Sonus
Since its founding in 1993, Sonus has grown into the largest professional hearing-care organization in North America. Today Sonus offers private-label and multi-brand products to hearing-impaired consumers at more than 2,000 locations in the United States and Canada, including company-owned clinics and independent providers who are licensed Sonus Network affiliates. As an innovator and leader in hearing health care, Sonus is the premier provider of small business services to the hearing healthcare industry.
For more information, please visit www.sonus.com or the Sonus Web Channel on Audiology Online at www.audiologyonline.com/channels/sonus.asp
