Retired Army veteran Verdell Taylor grows The Lab Vault into a healthcare business

Verdell Taylor, a retired 25-year U.S. Army veteran in Savannah, Georgia, has built The Lab Vault from a mobile testing service into a clinic offering phlebotomy, drug testing and wellness screenings. She now also trains aspiring phlebotomists and is pushing for stronger clinical placements to help new graduates move into the workforce.

Why it matters: - Verdell Taylor’s path shows how military experience can translate into healthcare entrepreneurship and job training. - The Lab Vault is also part of a broader pipeline issue in phlebotomy, where certification does not always lead to enough hands-on experience or employment readiness. - Taylor’s focus on patient comfort matters in a field where blood draws and testing can trigger anxiety.

What happened: - Verdell Taylor, a retired 25-year U.S. Army veteran, founded and owns The Lab Vault in Savannah, Georgia. - The business provides CLIA-waived clinical laboratory services, including phlebotomy, drug and alcohol testing, paramedical exams and corporate wellness screenings. - Taylor was recognized by Influential Women for her work and her story of service through healthcare entrepreneurship.

The details: - Taylor started after leaving the military by focusing on mental health and volunteering before moving into the medical field. - Her first business efforts centered on mobile drug testing services. - She later expanded from a mobile operation into a 500-square-foot facility and then into a larger clinic space. - The business originally operated as LabLady Diagnostics before Taylor rebranded it as The Lab Vault. - The Lab Vault’s tagline is “Clarity is key.” - Taylor earned her phlebotomy certification and expanded into CLIA-certified laboratory testing and clinical training. - Taylor is known for creating a calm environment for patients who are nervous about blood draws and medical testing. - Taylor often talks with clients during appointments to help reduce stress and make the experience more comfortable. - In addition to running The Lab Vault, Taylor trains aspiring phlebotomists. - Her training emphasizes professionalism, empathy, preparation and emotional resilience. - Taylor says technical certification alone does not fully prepare students for every situation they may face in a clinical setting. - Taylor said her early months in business brought very little income, but she kept working with determination and optimism. - Taylor credits 25 years of military service with teaching her to adapt, overcome challenges and stay focused. - Her daughter supported her early on, and her two grandmothers shaped her approach to business and life. - Louise, her maternal grandmother, taught resilience, discipline and the importance of doing the right thing even when no one is watching. - Bessie, her paternal grandmother, stressed preparation, education, saving money and thinking like an entrepreneur.

Between the lines: - Taylor’s story blends personal recovery, military discipline and small-business growth into a model for second-career entrepreneurship. - Her emphasis on empathy suggests she sees healthcare service as both technical work and emotional care. - The training gap she identifies points to a practical barrier for new phlebotomists: certification can still leave them unprepared for employers who want real clinical experience. - Taylor’s interest in more structured clinical placements and possible nonprofit outreach suggests she sees workforce development as part of her business mission.

What's next: - Taylor plans to keep growing The Lab Vault while supporting the next generation of phlebotomy professionals. - She wants expanded access to clinical training, mentorship and real-world practice to help students bridge the gap between certification and employment. - Taylor also sees potential for nonprofit initiatives tied to clinical placements and outreach.

The bottom line: - Verdell Taylor has turned military discipline and family lessons into a healthcare business built around clarity, compassion and preparedness. - Her next chapter is as much about building people up as it is about building The Lab Vault.