10 | Diversified Medical Services
exactly what you promise to do, doing it the
best you can, and doing it for a fair price.
Growing the company wasn’t easy.
Though Mangum is of that generation and
geographic mindset that still holds a hand-
shake is as good as a binding contract, most
companies do not honor such traditions. In
fact, most of the national carriers that pro-
vide medical waste collection employ very
strict, long-serving contracts which specify
very narrow time frames and procedures
for switching service, or automatic renewal.
Contracts are so binding to make it difficult
to switch service, even when mean securing
safer, more cost-effective service from a local
company.
To grow Diversified, Mangum has care-
fully tracked contract renewal dates that
healthcare organizations have with the na-
tional carriers. By maintaining vigilance, and
contact with healthcare, when the opening
presents, Diversified Medical Services is pre-
pared to move on the opportunity. Mangum
doesn’t rely on binding, long-term contracts
either. Again, he says his approach has been
to live-up to the commitments he makes to
