Leading in Central MA: Bob Caron, Co-Founder of Body Therapeutics

Monday, February 03, 2014

Susan Wagner, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Bob Caron, co-founder of Body Therapeutics and Assistant Professor at Assumption College.

Bob Caron is an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Studies at Assumption College, the co-founder and Director of Business Development at Body Therapeutics and the Chairman & Chief Instructor at the Worcester Institute for Zen and Aikido (WIZA). He earned his doctoral degree in Rehabilitation Sciences from Boston University with a focus on Human Movement and Biomechanics. He’s been published in journals like the Journal of Biomechanics and Human Movement Science. His masters and bachelor’s degrees were completed at Assumption College. Dr. Caron has a background in leadership development and executive coaching, having worked with author and leadership expert, Dr. Ginny Whitelaw, and has been leading the WIZA organization (also known as Zenshinkan Dojo) since 1999. He is a 4th degree black belt in Aikido and has been training in Aikido and Zen meditation for 19 years. Dr. Caron also serves on the board of directors for the Worcester Young Businessmen’s Association.

A Conversation with Bob Caron

SW: You are the co-founder of Body Therapeutics. Can you talk a little about the concept of that business?

BC: Body Therapeutics (BT) is an integrated holistic medical center, where a number of different complementary medical practitioners work collaboratively to deliver quality care and results that one practitioner would likely be unable to provide in isolation. Our team consists of acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists and a nutritionist. We use conservative, holistic approaches to address people’s everyday health problems ranging from musculoskeletal injuries and pain to fertility issues to insomnia. The concept and clinical aspects of the business originated from my co-founder and partner, who is also my wife, Jennifer Caron. She is the Licensed Acupuncturist on staff and the managing partner. My role has really been the guy-behind-the-curtain: doing marketing, business development, caring for the legal, financing, leasing and contracts aspects of the business. There are examples of similar businesses where multiple services are offered under one roof; however, what makes our business unique is that these professionals team-treat our clients, when appropriate, and actually collaborate in the delivery of the patient’s care. (Jennifer Caron will be profiled in Leading next week!)

SW: What led you to your current career paths?

BC: My passions are teaching, leadership and entrepreneurship. Combining those in a career that makes some sense has not been easy and I’m not really a focus-on-one-thing kind of guy. While my experience and resume might seem scattered, those diverse experiences are part of what makes me a capable leader. Every successful entrepreneur knows you have to be multi-talented to survive. Start-ups simply can’t afford an IT person, a sales person, a staff coordinator, and a finance and contracts person. In a small business, those numerous roles are usually wrapped up into a couple of founders or key employees. Rather than considering myself completely confused, I’ve chosen to see the winding road of many different experiences as perfect for my life and what I want to do with it. I’ve always loved teaching. I’m a natural public speaker and I think academia is a great platform for research and development of ideas and teaching the generation. My long-term goal is to successfully bridge my research in biomechanics and human movement into viable product-driven businesses in the private sector.

SW: Can you describe a day in your life?

BC: My two boys (3 years and 19 months) usually wake me up and we’re off and running from the start. My day is filled with teaching classes, doing research, dealing with the multitude of challenges and needs of the businesses and organizations I’m involved with and then at night I might be teaching Aikido or watching my kids. Like most of your readers, my energy is spent each day and I need a good night sleep to get up and do it again. My martial arts and meditation practice are good for my health on many levels. Time with my wife, kids and friends also helps renew me and keeps me sane.

SW: What led you to your work at WIZA?

BC: I found martial arts and meditation when I was 17 years old. Now I teach Aikido and Zen at the Worcester Institute for Zen and Aikido (WIZA) and chair their board of directors. It’s so much a part of who I am and has developed so many skill sets for me: from perseverance, leadership, and teaching skills to having the ability to find focus and peace in chaos. I wouldn’t trade my education in Aikido and Zen for anything, yet it has come with its costs. Any time you dedicate so much of your life to developing a unique skill set like that, you give up other things. Recently, I’ve been able to find some balance by limiting my involvement in teaching these arts to two nights per week. For years I was teaching and training 5 or 6 days per week and traveling the world to train with the best teachers I could find. Apart from wanting to teach the things that have made such a huge difference in my life, my interest in human movement, leadership, teaching and entrepreneurship are all integrated into what I do at WIZA.

SW: Are you involved with any other organizations?

BC: I’m also on the board of directors for Worcester’s Young Businessmen’s Association. It’s a not-for-profit educational organization that’s meant to teach younger (under 40 years old) guys how to be successful and how to be stand-up men in today’s world. I think it’s a worthy pursuit. Young men need mentorship and leadership. I hope I can make a meaningful impact on the community of young businessmen in the greater Worcester area.

SW: Who or what has had the greatest influence on your life?

BC: I’ve been blessed to have a number of excellent teacher and mentors. Most of those were either Aikido or Zen teachers, like Fumio Toyoda Shihan and Edward Haupt Sensei, and some crossed over into my professional life, like Ginny Whitelaw Roshi. Without a doubt my practice in Aikido and Zen has had a very important influence on who I am and what I’m able to offer the world.

I’ve also had some great mentors in academia and research including my dissertation mentor from Boston University, Dr. Ken Holt, the chairperson in my department at Assumption College, Dr. Susan Scully-Hill, and my research collaborator from Holy Cross, Dr. Richard Schmidt. However, having been with my wife, Jen Caron, for 18 years and her being the wonderful person she is; I’d have to say that she has had the single greatest influence on my life.

SW: What is something that few people know about you?

BC: Perhaps only my high-school football teammates would remember that I once “won” a contest for doing the most horrible cartwheel on the football team. The “prize” for such contest was that I was dubbed the new “Meat” on the football team in my freshmen year. A nickname that didn’t exactly make a positive impressive on the high school ladies but endeared me to the seniors on the football team. By the time I was a senior I had the best cartwheel on the team.

SW: How do you spend your free time?

BC: Mostly playing with my sons and spending quality time with my wife. They light me up and make it all worthwhile. I also like doing yard work. There’s a sense of peace and accomplishment that comes from working your own land. I also like to read, watch movies, exercise and share time with friends.

SW: How do you define success?

BC: Doing what you want with your life. It’s a darn good thing we all want to do different stuff. That diversity makes the world a unique place. However, I think you also have to look at the consequences of your actions. If you get what you want at the expense of others, I would not call you successful. Our greatest success comes from lifting others up along with us so we all share in the benefits of a better world.

SW: What is on the drawing board for 2014?

BC: I’m hoping to publish one or two papers and get some grant funding for a new research project. I’m building two new classes at Assumption in Exercise Physiology and Healthcare Policy Issues and I hope to improve the program I’m involved with at Assumption. This is our 5th year in business at Body Therapeutics and I’m looking forward to a banner year with expanded services. We’re also celebrating our 25th anniversary at WIZA and have a couple guest instructors from Europe coming to teach a big seminar here in Worcester. It should be a great year all-around!

GoLocalWorcester presents Leading in Central Ma, a weekly profile of an outstanding community or business leader. Join us every Monday for an inspiring look at the careers and lifestyles of Central Massachusetts’s most influential citizens. If you have suggestions for a profile, please email [email protected].

Susan D. Wagner is president of Susan Wagner PR, a boutique public relations firm invested in meeting client's goals with integrity and creativity.

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