Entrepreneurial career leads to Distinguished Alumni Award for Michael Loder
By Chad Harnett
For College of the North Atlantic (CNA) alumnus Michael Loder, entrepreneurship was never a choice — it was in his DNA.
“My mother was always an entrepreneur, and she has always encouraged me to be one, too,” said Loder.
Loder is the 2024 recipient of CNA’s Distinguished Alumni Acclaim Award, presented to a graduate who has made a significant impact through their professional achievements and service to the community.
He is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Biolantic Services Inc., and a graduate of CNA’s Biomedical Engineering Technology program.
Loder’s company employs highly trained biomedical technologists and diagnostic imaging specialists who service medical equipment in Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada and beyond.
“Michael Loder’s impact in healthcare technology and entrepreneurship spans more than 15 years,” said Heidi Staeben-Simmons, Associate Vice-President of Public Affairs and Advancement at CNA. “His dedication has driven innovation in the biomedical field. His commitment to both his profession and his community is inspiring.”
Loder describes the mission of his company with pride.
“What we do as a profession is to see that clinicians have the equipment they need, when they need it most, to treat and diagnose patients,” he said. “We started out supporting local clinics here in Newfoundland and Labrador and grew to the point where we support some of the world’s largest medical device manufacturers.”
Biolantic Services has expanded rapidly over the past few years and is now growing into other parts of Atlantic Canada.
Loder credits the company’s success to his employees.
“We have a great team here at Biolantic, and that is the number one reason we have reached the levels of success that we have,” he said.
Loder’s contributions to the community extend far beyond his company. Over his 15-year career, he has amassed a long list of achievements.
He was selected as a Canadian delegate to the Young Entrepreneur Alliance (YEA) G20 Summit for two consecutive years, and he has served as a mentor with Futurpreneur Canada. He remains an active member of the Biomedical Engineering Technology Program Advisory Committee at CNA, providing valuable industry insight to help guide the program’s future direction.
In addition to CNA’s Distinguished Alumni Award, Loder has received multiple honours throughout his career, including recognition from the private medical industry, accolades from the Young Entrepreneur Alliance and awards through the Youth Ventures program.
Despite the many accolades, Loder believes his most important contribution is his service to others.
“I am responsible for all my employees and their sustainable employment. At the end of the day, they depend on me to keep this organization going. That is my motivation — that my family has a bright future, and so do my employees,” he said.
Born and raised in St. Anthony, Loder is still involved in the family business, Rebel Coffee House, alongside his parents, Colleen and Allen. He said his father also influenced his career path.
“My father worked in the biomedical engineering department at the hospital in my hometown, so I had an idea of what was involved, and I enrolled in the program at College of the North Atlantic. It was very intense and required a lot of work, but I enjoyed it,” he said.
Loder now lives in Conception Bay South with his wife, Courtney, and their daughters, Rebel and Zoey. He is an avid powerlifter and has competed at provincial, national and international tournaments.
When asked why he chose entrepreneurship, Loder said, “I am just not a good fit for traditional jobs. I prefer to create my own.”
“It gives you the freedom to make a real difference and work with people who are like-minded,” he added. “You have a say in the team that you build, and we have built a great team.”
“Entrepreneurship to me — it is a way of life,” he said.
And it is a life that has made a lasting impact — for his family, his team and the place he calls home. Nominations for the 2025 Alumni Acclaim Awards are now open. Visit www.cna.nl.ca/AcclaimAwards to nominate a CNA graduate today.
