Meet Andrea Owens

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Owens.  

Hi Andrea, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a born and raised Grand Rapids native and come from a large family of seven. I started out my professional career as a medical assistant and from there went back to school to get my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in management and leadership from Cornerstone University.

What started it all, well…my mother endured a debilitating accident years ago at the hands of someone who was under the influence and that is what fueled my passion. That experience cultivated the thought process of creating a safer workplace, safer roadways, and safer communities—and not wanting people to ever have to be involved in something like that. 

My work as a medical assistant evolved into managing drug and alcohol testing programs for employers. Thirty-four years of experience in the drug and alcohol testing industry has allowed me to train drug screen collectors, breath alcohol technicians and employers on policies, compliance and regulatory issues that affect productivity and job performance.

As the work evolved so did my passion to provide a more personal, customized approach for businesses. In 2013, I was approached by a young lady, a dear friend who at the time was the transportation director at Rockford Public Schools. She believed in the work that I was doing and said, “If you can get your business up and running, I will be your first client.”  In that same year another dear friend, an HR manager for a local exterior building products distributor, signed on and our journey as HourGlass Testing Solutions began. I am forever grateful for these women and all who have believed in me!  

We started out by providing same-day- onsite collections, consortium services and training.  Now we have expanded our services offering employers a choice- same-day onsite services or a walk-in collection facility.  We have also partnered with an organization to provide fingerprinting services.  We have also increased our training efforts to understand the importance of substance use disorder and its effects on employees and employers.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, because of the time and hard work, it takes as a small women-owned business, the road has been bumpy at times. Working with a tight budget while trying to wear many hats can oftentimes be challenging. Knowing what to do, when and how to do it has also provided struggles. There have been many long hours and lots of tears, but it takes patience and perseverance. Doors close, but doors also open.  Asking for help and turning to resources that are available has helped me tremendously.

I knew what I was getting into and with lots of prayer, it has been an awesome journey.  

Having a support system is crucial for any success, and I’ve been blessed with lots of that!

Mostly, you just have to take a deep breath when things get tough and keep moving forward.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work resides in the drug and alcohol testing industry; an industry that promotes prevention and safety.  In my role as owner of HourGlass Testing Solutions, I provide drug testing resources to employers locally and nationally. Transportation, manufacturing, construction, court systems, etc., are employers we work with the most.

HourGlass Testing Solutions specializes in same-day, onsite testing. And though we are not the only one out in the community providing this service, some folks are not specializing in it. If someone calls at 10 am, we can go and be there—within the Greater Grand Rapids area—within a very small window of time. The collection and resulting process can be customized to fit the employer’s needs. This approach works well in a manufacturing setting because in some cases after the collection, the employee can go right back to his/her work area. We also manage drug testing programs and offer education and training.  

I think we are known for the relational side of business. This allows for a trusting and collaborative environment. We listen to the employer as they talk about what they are struggling with. From there, we can create the appropriate drug and alcohol testing policies and procedures that will provide a safe drug-free workplace. 

I’m most excited about 2 things: 

1. My work in the community – being a part of the local chambers, working with Junior Achievement to reach students about what we do and the importance of making good choices, and working/collaborating with industry organizations to educate on the harmful effects of substances within the workforce.
2. The opportunity to begin the conversation of what a Recovery Friendly Workspace (RFW) could look like for employers in West Michigan. What benefits will it afford both the employee and the employer?

What is an RFW? A recovery-friendly workplace promotes individual wellness by creating work environments that further the mental and physical well-being of employees; proactively preventing substance misuse and supporting recovery from substance use disorders in the workplace and community.  

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
God first in everything I do and a passion for what I do 

Love of community 

Integrity “always” 

There are 6 plaques on my wall that I look at and reflect on every day I enter my office: 

Persistence 

Execution 

Hustle 

Success 

Perseverance 

Grind 

No particular order in which to reflect, I just reflect on each daily. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hourglasstesting.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hourglasstesting
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4LiJh32AnM&feature=youtu.be

Image Credits
Carolina Lopez-Ruiz