Badur Ramji
Owner of PunkMedics

“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.” —Arthur Ashe

I sometimes joke that I am not only the oldest apprentice but have also had the longest piercing apprenticeship in the industry. Though I’ve been a part of the modification community for a very long time, I have never officially become a piercer. Instead I have used my love of body modifications, learning, and research to improve both my knowledge and the products I have developed specifically for our industry. After ten years of developing aftercare products I can still say I am #foreverlearning.

My first Conference was in 2006 and, like most first timers, I was amazed at how large and organized the modification community was. That year I took some classes, slept very little, and spent a lot of time catching up with old friends I had originally met through BME. I arrived as a person wanting to build relationships and network so I could better market my products to the industry.

In 2009 I became a corporate sponsor of the APP. Sponsorship is a great opportunity for businesses trying to break into the market. However, for me it was a way to become further involved with the Association and show my support. I continued to attend Conference and by doing so learned more about the APP as an association. I also became better acquainted with its dedicated staff, the Board, and the volunteers that were involved in making everything work.

I saw our community and Conference evolve as my company and products evolved. When I became a vendor and began to interact with the volunteers, I saw so many people dedicated to bettering our community. In 2012 I took a break from being a vendor and instead signed up as a volunteer. I realized that this would be a wonderful opportunity to give back and become even more involved. I did not yet realize how much I would get from that experience. In 2013 I continued volunteering and retired from being a direct vendor. I wanted to give back to the volunteers that worked hard and thank them for helping.

The goal has always been to support the Association, help it grow, be a part of the community I love, get involved, and help others see the success I have seen. I’ve always wanted to give back, but feel that I have gotten more than I’ve given by volunteering. I’ve gained new skills and knowledge about the industry, but also about what is wanted from me as a business. I found that giving others your time brings you interesting and challenging opportunities that might not come along otherwise. I’ve developed and grown as a person. Volunteering has forced me to interact with others, getting me out of my introverted bubble and giving me a new perspective. I’ve gained a better understanding of the body modification community and what drives us to be who we are. The passion this community has constantly helps me grow and reminds me why I continue to stay involved. Most importantly volunteering and sponsoring Conference has allowed me to make significant and positive change in people’s lives.

The APP and the body modification community have supported me for ten years. I hope I can spend the next ten years supporting them by continuing to volunteer and finding new ways to give back each year. I hope that on the 30th anniversary I can look back and see I’ve had a positive influence on the community and have helped it grow.

“No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” —Author Unknown