Chad Redinbo and his wife Cat first learned of hyperbaric therapy while exploring treatment options for their six-year-old daughter, who was experiencing health challenges. “We were so impressed with the results that we decided this was something we needed to share,” says Redinbo. They did research, put a team in place and opened New Leaf Hyperbarics in Lacey in 2013.
What is hyperbaric therapy? According to New Leaf’s website, “Hyperbaric therapy (HBT) is the medical use of creating a pressurized environment at a level higher than 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA). Increased pressure allows oxygen to dissolve and saturate the blood plasma (independent of hemoglobin/red blood cells), which yields a broad variety of positive physiological, biochemical and cellular effects. This noninvasive therapy is the most trusted way to increase oxygen levels to all organs of the body. The typical treatment lasts 60-90 minutes, during which the patient lies down and breathes normally.”
New Leaf Hyperbarics strives to progress the field of mild hyperbaric therapy utilizing unparalleled customer service, compassion and professionalism. They have an excellent team of skilled and experienced staff, referred to as “Team Green,” working in a clean, caring and professional environment. Their focus is on overall health and well-being. New Leaf works with athletes, stroke and cancer patients, children with autism and ADHD, veterans with PTSD and clients of all ages. Hyperbaric therapy can help with a variety of conditions, healing and strengthening the body’s cells and improving the functioning of all the body’s systems.
While exploring some options for grants and resources during COVID-19 through the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC), Redinbo was referred to Michele Winn, Training & Development Manager for the Thurston Chamber. Michele serves the business liaison for the Future of Work Employee Development Program. The Pacific Mountain Workforce Development (PacMtn) board set aside $100,000 for their five-county region (Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor, Pacific) to foster public-private partnerships to upskill their workforce. Employers can apply for up to $15,000 per year to upskill their staff, helping them acquire new skills that help them move into higher skilled and higher-wage jobs in the company. Employers must agree to cost-sharing requirements based on the size of their workforce, and contributions can be in-kind with the employer paying employees their wages to attend the training.
PacMtn contracts the Thurston County Chamber as a business solutions provider for the program, where Winn acts as the business liaison for the program in the five-county region. She promotes the program to Chamber members, as well as the community at large. Lee Childs, Senior Program Specialist at PacMtn, assists businesses with paperwork and other tasks required of the business after the grant is awarded. 
Christina Chestnut, Business Solutions Coordinator for the Thurston Chamber, helped to determine eligibility for both New Leaf Massage and New Leaf Hyperbaric, both owned by Redinbo. “It was so great to learn this resource is available,” says Redinbo. “Being a small business owner can be overwhelming at times, as there are so many different hats to wear that it’s a relief to have support and resources. Everyone at the Chamber was incredibly helpful and informative with the process. It’s as if I didn’t even know I was thirsty, but the Chamber offered me a glass of water,” jokes Redinbo.
Redinbo will utilize training that will allow two of his baseline technicians to move into management positions, educating and providing customers with more comprehensive information about their treatment as well as doing additional back-end business administration. Additional training will allow his therapists to better integrate their services with other services provided at New Leaf and count as education credit for their field.
“Not only was everyone so helpful with this process during the current COVID-19 crisis, but this program allows us to not only deal with what’s happening now with our business but continue to put us on a growth path for the future by providing additional training and skills to our employees. I’m so thankful I learned about this amazing resource in our community,” says Redinbo.
For more information about New Leaf Hyperbarics, visit www.newleafhyperbarics.com.
For more information about the Future of Work Program, visit: thurstonchamber.com/workforce/the-future-of-work
