Larry Borden, Founder and CEO of West Conshohocken’s Aardvark Mobile Tours has been named a winner of Ernst & Young LLP (EY US)’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Greater Philadelphia Award. Borden was selected by a panelist of independent judges for his entrepreneurial leadership, ambition, and ingenuity in 2020.
One example of his innovative mentality and tenacity over the past year was the establishment of Aardvark’s newest business segment, Aardvark Mobile Health. Facing concerns of whether the business would be able to continue operations amid the pandemic, Borden rallied his team to reconfigure Aardvark’s patented vehicles – typically used for customizing mobile marketing experiences for some of the world’s largest brands – into purpose-driven mobile health vehicles that were used for COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and other community health needs.
“Whether it was working in my father’s deli shop or curating playlists as a self-made DJ, I’ve had an entrepreneurial spirit and a laser focus on customer experience since I was a teenager,” said Borden. “It was instinctual for me to find a way to pivot when experiential marketing and events came to a halt, and it’s a true honor to have my team recognized for its inventive achievements.”
In his acceptance speech, Borden credited his colleagues for their part in his and Aardvark’s success. Tim Considine, General Manager at Aardvark, remarked: “What’s particularly innovative about Larry is his hyper focus on perfecting solutions to his customers’ needs and inspiring us to do the same. Leading by example, he worked hand-in-hand with medical professionals to ensure Aardvark’s mobile health trucks were equipped with everything from air conditioners, generators and the ability to create positive and negative air pressure to WiFi and private appointment rooms, all with the clinician and patient experience in mind.”
Borden and his team were at the forefront of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 by creating a mobile health vehicle that could be used immediately for testing. Since then, Aardvark’s trucks have been modified for vaccine administration and can be used well into the future for other community health needs, especially in underserved and rural communities.
Aardvark has partnered with numerous organizations to provide mobile health vehicles and mobile infrastructure, including the City of Philadelphia in its home state, and nationally, FEMA, New York State, the Florida Department of Health, Gila Indian River Community, and Waco-McLennan County in Texas as well, among many others. Additionally, Aardvark has produced thousands of mobile tours for brands in all 50 states and four countries.
Borden added: “As we continue to operate in the mobile marketing space and grow in the healthcare industry, we won’t stop innovating until every community and county in the U.S. has access to our mobile health vehicles, which can be utilized well beyond the pandemic.”
As a Greater Philadelphia award winner, Borden is now eligible to be considered for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 National Awards, which will take place this November.