For decades, Flagstaff has quietly become a hidden gem in the country as a medical technology hub. Behind much of that movement is Dan Kasprzyk, founder and CEO of Poba Medical, whose passion for startups and belief in Northern Arizona University's student-athletes have built a lasting impact across the community.
Kasprzyk's journey to the Dark Sky City begins far from the mountains of Arizona. A Milwaukee native from a blue-collar family, he left the Midwest for Arizona State University to study bioengineering, driven by a love of sunshine and curiosity. That leap
set off a career spanning more than 35 years in the medical device industry. His fingerprints are on technologies that transformed cardiac and vascular treatments, work that began in the late 1980s with startups in California and Colorado but continues today through Poba Medical's design and manufacturing of advanced balloon technologies.
But the technical success is only part of Kasprzyk's story. What makes his Flagstaff chapter stand out is his deep investment in people, especially NAU's student-athletes.
"We've landed interns and employees from track and field, women's soccer, football, tennis, swimming and diving — really across the board," Kasprzyk said. "They bring an incredible balance of discipline, teamwork, and drive. Those qualities translate perfectly to a startup in the medical device industry."
That connection between classroom, competition and career has become part of Poba Medical's DNA. Kasprzyk estimates that more than 25 student-athletes have worked for his ventures over the years, many of whom transitioned from interns to full-time engineers, business analysts or marketing professionals.
The Student-Athlete Advantage
Kasprzyk sees something special in the NAU student-athlete experience — a mindset shaped by an underdog mentality of hard work rather than entitlement.
"Our student-athletes aren't given everything like maybe they are elsewhere — they work for everything," he said. "They're students who know education is going to guide their career. They're 90 percent student, 10 percent athlete, but that 10 percent is what drives their motivation and aligns with the startup world."
In the high-intensity world of medical startups, every employee must share a single purpose, move quickly, and trust their teammates, much like a team sport. Whether they come from the golf course or the football field, Kasprzyk says those habits show immediately.
"When you hire a captain of a football team who's also a 4.0 software-engineering major, you don't have to explain accountability," he said. "Or a track athlete who earns both a bachelor's and master's degree in three years — that's who you want in your business."
Strengthening Ties Between Campus and Community
Kasprzyk's ties to NAU run deeper than employment. His wife, Kelly, was part of NAU's first women's golf team, the foundation for a legacy they continue to honor through an endowed golf scholarship.
"Kelly was part of year one, season one," Kasprzyk said. "The program has grown so much since then. That endowment was our way of giving back to what originally brought her to Flagstaff from Wyoming."
NAU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics
Uri Farkas says the Kasprzyks embody the spirit of what makes NAU special. "Dan and Kelly are a perfect example of how a family can make a lasting impact on both the university and the community," Farkas said. "Their support of NAU Athletics and their leadership through Poba Medical reflect exactly what it means to be a Lumberjack."
Supporting NAU athletics, he says, goes beyond nostalgia. It's also a strategic investment in the Flagstaff ecosystem, helping strengthen the pipeline of talent that powers local industry.
"Our community is key to our success," he said. "In a small mountain town, you have to build a brand people want to work for. We recruit from the community, and NAU is a huge part of that."
Flagstaff's medical-technology sector is thriving yet understated. Companies like Gore and Machine Solutions employ thousands, while smaller innovators like Poba Medical quietly push new boundaries in device design. Kasprzyk believes those opportunities help define Flagstaff as more than a scenic stop on the way to the Grand Canyon.
"People think of Flagstaff as a ski town or a summer getaway," he said. "But it's a bustling startup community developing life-saving technologies that will touch all of us someday."
Paying It Forward
Kasprzyk's career has spanned global corporations and successful startups, including Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, B. Braun Medical, and Machine Solutions. He's navigated IPOs, acquisitions, and private-equity exits, yet he still measures success by the people and partnerships formed along the way.
That's why the endowment and internships matter just as much as patents or profits. They reflect his belief that opportunity and mentorship should multiply.
"It's fun to support the local team," he said. "But it's even more meaningful to support a program rooted in academics as well as athletics, like Northern Arizona."
The connection also remains personal. The Kasprzyks' Flagstaff roots have grown deeper through NAU golf tournaments, including the one where Dan and Kelly first met. When asked who's the better golfer, Dan laughs without hesitation.
"One hundred percent, Kelly. And I'm not shy about admitting it."
A Community Built on Teamwork
Today, as Poba Medical continues to design next-generation medical balloons for cardiovascular, peripheral, and structural heart applications, its founder sees parallels between his company and the university that fuels it. Both rely on collaboration and perseverance, qualities embodied by the student-athletes who walk across graduation stages each spring.
"Your startup is a team," Kasprzyk said. "Everyone pulls in the same direction and every day you're trying to win. That's what student-athletes understand better than anyone."
From a small shop in Flagstaff to an influence that spans the medical-device world, Dan Kasprzyk has built more than companies. He's created opportunities for students, balancing labs and late practices, for a university shaping future innovators and for a mountain town whose heart beats with loyalty. His story is proof that when community and competition align, everyone wins.
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