Josh Kearns, C’09

A Shared Mobility

Life has a funny way of changing a person’s plans, and while Josh Kearns, C’09, followed the path he believed would grant him the most success, life had a different plan in mind. Upon graduation, Kearns accepted a position with Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED) and moved to Tampa, Florida. But, after thirteen years, he realized he was not happy and left his job, wanting to figure out a way that he could give back to the community.

During his self-reflection and inspired by his passion for refereeing wheelchair rugby, he pursued a new career: he opened his own franchise of Next Day Access in Tampa in October 2023.

As a business that sells and installs mobility and accessibility equipment, where the primary reason is for those to age in peace, Kearns discovered that the goals of Next Day Access aligned with his. He divulged how the McKenna School of Business aided in his success and encouraged the business in Tampa, keeping the business going forward.

Kearns remains glad of the journey he has taken, and he looks forward to both the growth of his business and the next Paralympics he will referee.