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John and Neoma Kenwood were still newlyweds in Saskatchewan, Canada when they were asked to open a hearing aid business in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Recruited by the Maico Company in Minnesota, Neoma already had an established medical career, which included teaching, patient treatment and administrative duties, and John was a young businessman when they made the move that would change their professional and personal lives forever. Opening J.C. Kenwood & Associates in 1947, the Kenwoods are still enjoying a business they founded more than six decades ago.
The business has changed significantly over the years, and today the company that they built is owned by audiologist Robert DeNyse, who bought the company in 2004. But the Kenwoods continue to work and contribute to the growing business, remaining the face of the company to a loyal clientele. Through their tenure at J.C. Kenwood, the couple has seen a number of changes in the field of audiology and the manufacturing of effective hearing aids, and their ability to adapt has helped them thrive. DeNyse, with many years of experience predating his purchase of J.C. Kenwood, has seen how changes in technology have altered the nature of his business.
"The field has grown up thanks to advances in technology," he says. "Hearing aids used to be fairly basic instruments- amplifiers more than anything. They used volume to compensate for the loss of hearing. But now they have the smallest computer chip available inside of them."
"As the devices became more complicated, my husband pushed for more education," adds Neoma. "The field of audiology is the answer to that. It's more than just selling hearing aids - it's about counseling the people who come in here and need help."
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