CEO and CFO , QLabs , Inc .
Steve and Mary Collins
CEO and CFO , QLabs , Inc .
PAGETT DUSIC
“ Owned , operated and staffed by West Virginians , serving West Virginians .”
That is one of the trademark statements for QLabs , Inc ., an independent clinical laboratory located in Charleston , WV , created by husband and wife Steve and Mary Collins . As CEO , Steve is responsible for oversight of the company , business management and sales . As CFO , Mary is responsible for network credentialing , marketing and operational procedures .
QLabs began primarily as a toxicology lab but quickly expanded to offer specialized molecular diagnostic testing . During the COVID-19 pandemic , while the rest of the world was learning about PCR testing , QLabs was already an expert . In fact , QLabs was the primary COVID testing lab provider in the state and is also the primary reason West Virginia University ’ s ( WVU ) football team was able to play during the 2020-2021 season .
“ We were testing the football team and staff three times a week with a result turnaround of less than 12 hours . This allowed the team to practice every week and play games on weekends ,” says Mary . “ In fact , WVU Athletics sends Steve and me WVU apparel every Christmas because of it .”
So , why a medical laboratory ? Both Steve and Mary are graduates of Marshall
University in Huntington , WV . Steve received his master ’ s degree in community and agency counseling while Mary has a bachelor ’ s degree in zoology / chemistry and nursing . They came into this field in an unusual way .
Steve began his career in juvenile social services , working for Pressley Ridge Schools as an entry-level staff member . Within five years , he became a program director , managing multiple sites across Southern West Virginia and Virginia . He transferred into a similar field , working with adults at the Mercer Day Report Center . It was there he became involved with toxicology testing , establishing an innovative on-site lab for drug testing .
Photo by Tracy A . Toler Photography .
Through that exposure , he learned about and became impassioned with the lab industry . He worked for a large clinical reference lab based in Atlanta , GA , for five years before developing QLabs .
Mary began her career as a registered nurse working in labor and delivery , first at St . Mary ’ s Medical Center then at Bluefield Regional Hospital . As a student at Marshall , she spent summers working in the CAMC lab . Mary eventually worked in medical case management with BrickStreet Insurance and finally for a multinational coal and steel corporation . In 2006 , Steve and Mary opened The Training Edge , a boutique personal training and health and fitness
70 WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE