Paul Haines
Paul Samuel Haines, son of the founders of Nationwide Flashing Signal Systems Inc. (NFSS), is this issue’s ‘Hearing Friend.’ Haines is a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), the only child of Howard and Elaine Haines and is fluent in sign language. He currently runs a business ‘United TTY Sales and Service’ (UTSS) and is also founder of Deaf Match International.
“Growing up amidst Deaf family and friends, I developed a deep fondness for and interest in the Deaf Community. I decided I would pursue a career in providing service to the needs of this Community. This is the reason I joined my father’s business (NFSS) over 17 years ago and subsequently formed my own businesses. To this day, I feel it has certainly been a rewarding experience.”
Haines, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management (cum laude) from University of Maryland, had his bar mitzvah when he was 13 years old but considers himself “Reformed.” He is married to a beautiful Indian woman named Minakshi for ten years and they have one son, Charles who is 6 years old.
Growing up with Deaf parents, mother Elaine was involved with deaf drama as an actress and also engaged in business and marketing activities. Father, Howard (deceased) was a successful Deaf entrepreneur who formed several businesses including NFSS in 1976. He was also one of the first Deaf car salesmen in the country and worked at the Washington Post newspaper for over 20 years.
Business In His Blood?
Business must run in the Haines’ family just from listening to Paul… “United TTY Sales and Service was formed in July 2000 after I left NFSS to form a new venture, based on my experience of over 15 years of sales and service in the Assistive Technology industry,” he explains, “UTSS was created with the goal of assisting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community with excellent, friendly and professional customer service, primarily via the Internet/Mail Order. Since more and more people in the Deaf and HOH community were using the Internet, I realized that the World Wide Web was an excellent way to conduct business. Thus, the ‘UTSS Online Showroom of Assistive Technology’ at www.UnitedTTY.com was launched in November of 2000.
“Because of the immediate initial success of the UTSS website, I felt a need to create a new venture with a link to the niche market we were already involved in, that being, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing market. After some careful research, I found that many Deaf and Hard of Hearing people lived in small towns, rural areas and remote locations, not only in the USA but around the world and wanted or needed to meet others like themselves. Again, the thought of the Internet as a way to meet others immediately came to mind.
“So, after doing more research and finding a definite lack of meeting/dating/matrimonial services online, I decided to create and launch Deaf Match International (www.DeafMatchInternational.com) in June of 2001. This would allow Deaf and Hard of Hearing people from around the world and of any age, culture, religion, creed, or sexual orientation to come together and meet others for the purposes of finding pen pals, friendship or even love and marriage.
“Today, DMI has over 2,100 members and is growing rapidly. We are currently working on adding new features which will make the DMI experience even mere enjoy able for our members.”
“Do you hope to expand DMI to Jewish DMI in the near future? No, because DMI is meant to be a broad-based avenue for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to meet. It is open to ALL religions, races, creeds, ethnic backgrounds and sexual preferences. In fact, we currently have many Jewish members on DMI”.
United TTY Sales and Service (UTSS)
Deaf Match International
17337 Moss Side Lane
Olney, MD 20832-2917
Toll-Free: 1-866-TTY-4USA (TTY/Voice)
In MD, DC, VA: 301-260-8156 (TTY/Voice)
FAX: 301-260-1854
