Today we’d like to introduce you to Luke Sessum.
Luke, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in a smaller town about two hours west of Dallas called Mineral Wells. I was raised by a loving family and taught to work hard, because nothing in this world is free. I grew up spending a lot of time outdoors playing, hunting, riding motorcycles, and working. Pretty much your average Texas kid trying to figure out what I wanted to be in this world. I have always had a passion for two things: music, and strength. All through high school, I spent most of my time in the weight room training for football or playing hardcore music with my friends. I ended up going to college at Tarleton State University and earning my BBA in Business Management. A lot of my life was shaped during my time at college. This is where I joined an amazing fraternity (Sigma Chi) which helped mold and shape me into the person I am today. It also granted me with some of the deepest most meaningful friendships I have ever had. It was also during my time in college that I became a follower of Jesus.
Not having a lot of direction as to where I wanted to be post-graduation, and towards the end of my junior year at Tarleton, I received an offer to join a hard rock band known as Drive Thru Society out of Denton, Texas. I ecstatically accepted… of course. I spent three awesome packed years with this band and played music in some really neat places throughout the country. We filmed music videos, got invited to play some really amazing shows, and even recorded with a Grammy-nominated producer out of Tennessee. Though we were based out of Denton, we called Dallas home because we played Deep Ellum so often! I was on cloud nine getting to do what I loved with people that I loved. Unfortunately, this chapter of my journey was brought to an end when we as a band had conflicting views of how to proceed with some offers extended to a couple of members.
Shortly after the band split, I moved home to Mineral Wells. I struggled to find work outside of music. Unfortunately, my knowledge of the music world was not enough to pay the bills, and I needed to find a job. I had no professional experience to put towards my degree. Once I moved home, I found work on a trophy game ranch with a friend from the church I was attending. I worked hard in the Texas sun and elements for just about a year, all while searching for an opportunity to utilize the knowledge and degree I worked so hard to obtain. Finally, after a long search and roughly 100 job applications, I was given a break. There was a new ambulance manufacturer moving to Mineral Wells, and they extended an offer. I have been working as the fleet purchasing agent for American Medical Response NextFleet for almost two years now. At this facility, we take the older ambulances within our international fleet and remount/refurbish them into new ambulances.
Over the last two years, I have faced many struggles with anxiety and stress. I have had some very high and very low moments. I struggled to understand my place and purpose in life. But during this time, I also gained an incredible wife who encourages me daily to grow and better myself. She has pushed me to chase old passions of strength, and to keep the flame alive in my musical ambitions. I am now competing as an amateur strongman in the DFW area, I am blacksmithing and making custom knives, and I am working to begin writing and recording my own solo music project. I guess you could say my life has been all over the map, and I have chased the passions of my heart. I firmly believe that I have been able to chase these passions because I have had an amazingly supportive family, a remarkably supportive wife and because I live in a state that has so many open doors to incredible opportunities. The DFW area and surrounding communities have so much to offer, and I could not be more blessed.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My life has had many ups and downs, just as most people can relate. From struggles of identity to struggles of careers to just day to day struggles like your car breaking down. I struggled for a long time to find a job that would give me a chance. Most employers I have dealt with over the last few years all wanted a Masters degree and 5 years of experience for an entry level position I would have otherwise been qualified for. I have learned the hard way that it is more often than not about who you know and not just what you know. Which is why I have become a strong advocate for socialization and networking. I think it is very important to be as involved with your community as you can be. Not only does this increase your chances for success, but it brings life into the community around you. I firmly believe we were put into the situations surrounded by the people we are surrounded by for a reason. You never know who around you can help you in your times of need, and you never know who really needs you. Step out of your shell and get to know your neighbor, they may just be the key to the life you are looking for/need.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the American Medical Response story. Tell us more about it.
AMR NextFleet is an ambulance re-manufacturer. We take them out of service ambulances from within our international fleet and remount the salvageable boxes onto new chassis. We are our own customer in this sense, as we currently only remount units within our fleet for our fleet. This is a really special job because we are able to recirculate valuable instruments of aid back into a community that needs them. I take great pride in my part with this company, because what we do really makes a difference in so many lives across the world. Vehicles that we have successfully re-commissioned have been involved in the countless delivery of babies, transporting critical care patients, and responding to so many incidents in which lives were saved. It may be a small role that I play in this system, but it is a role that I am proud of and honored to be a part of. There are very few others in this particular industry that do what we do, especially at the volume we produce, and we anticipate to grow exponentially.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m honestly not much of someone that believes in luck. I believe in hard work and the fruit of your labor. I think that sometimes good things happen not because of your hard work, but I believe those things happen for a purpose. A purpose that can push us closer to the right path/goal. My faith in God really defines my stance on this topic, and I understand not everyone shares my beliefs. But I have seen enough evidence of divine intervention that I can’t refute the presence of God all around us. I think bad things happen to us because we live in a broken world, and the broken pieces of this world can cut us pretty deep. But I have put my hope in a God that heals and restores and can clean up the broken pieces when I let Him. I would never want to push my beliefs on anyone, truthfully I have not seen a situation where that has worked out for anyone. I just hope that my life can be an example of God working to others, to stand as evidence that faith is a big deal, and maybe help give a little hope to people around me that are hurting.
Contact Info:
- Address: 525 Tradeway Drive, Mineral Wells, TX 76067
- Website: amr.net
- Phone: 940-654-3400
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devastator_strength/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luke.sessum
Image Credit:
Concert Fotos/Chad Fenner
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