Ron Kilgarlin: From Rock Bottom to Industry Beacon

Ron Kilgarlin’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and purpose. For a time, it seemed life had derailed beyond repair. Yet from those depths, Ron resolved to rewrite his story. “I’ve walked through fire, fallen to ashes, and still — I rise, like a phoenix,” he proclaims. Today, Ron is a renowned business leader and motivational speaker, but he never forgot where he started. His rise from the ashes of adversity to the heights of industry success inspires anyone who’s ever faced hardships. This is the Ron Kilgarlin story — a saga of grit, faith, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of a better future.

Rising from the Ashes of Adversity

Ron’s early years in Louisiana were marked by hardship and instability. Lacking steady guidance, he struggled with negligence and complexity. Yet these dark chapters sparked a deeper resolve. Refusing to settle, Ron chose growth over comfort, fueled by faith and a desire to change. “Pain and suffering… have been my greatest catalysts for success,” he says. Hitting rock bottom became the foundation for a powerful comeback — one defined by strength, wisdom, and a mission to help others avoid the same pitfalls.

Forged Through Fire: Founding American Screening Corporation

At a turning point in his life, Ron Kilgarlin sold a struggling business and launched American Screening Corporation (ASC) in 2004 from his parents’ sunroom. With little more than determination and a vision, he entered the drug and alcohol testing field — driven by personal experience and a desire to help others. What began as a modest home-based startup quickly gained traction through Ron’s relentless effort and belief in second chances.

Under his leadership, ASC grew into a global diagnostics leader, earning ISO 13485 and MDSAP certifications and expanding into a 50,000-square-foot facility. Its products — ranging from drug test kits to PPE — are now used in hospitals, rehab centers, and homes worldwide. To date, ASC has helped over a million people in the fight against addiction, a legacy Ron proudly continues to build.

Discipline, Persistence, and Faith: Keys to Transformation

What sets Ron Kilgarlin apart isn’t just his business success — it’s the mindset behind it. From the beginning, he committed to showing up fully, especially when it was hardest. He credits his transformation to a powerful trio: discipline, persistence, and faith. “Pain builds character,” he often says, “and character drives action.” That mindset helped him grow his ventures from zero to over $36 million in revenue. But for Ron, success is more than numbers — it’s about proving what’s possible when you refuse to quit. His steady resolve, even through lawsuits and downturns, shaped not only his journey but the culture of resilience within his companies.

Built to Serve, Built to Lead

Beyond the financial growth and industry accolades, Ron has always defined success in terms of impact. “My mission is to put a smile on someone’s face or deliver a product that brings value,” he says. “If I can do that, I’ve already won the day.” Serving others — whether customers, employees, or the community — is at the heart of his leadership philosophy. Ron firmly believes that great companies are built on great teams, and that delivering real value must be the core of any product or service.

As CEO, he fosters a culture where every team member is empowered and mentored. He leads by example, never asking others to do what he wouldn’t do himself. Colleagues often observe how Ron takes time to personally guide employees and celebrate their wins, cultivating loyalty and excellence. This servant-leader mindset is also evident in Ron’s philanthropic efforts. Remembering his own hardships, he has made it a priority to give back to those in need.

Ron and Shawn support various charitable causes, especially those aiding individuals battling the kinds of challenges he once faced. From donating to addiction recovery programs to supporting veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, the Kilgarlins extend a hand to help others rebuild their lives.

American Screening Corp: A Legacy of Saving Lives

Founded by Ron Kilgarlin in 2004, American Screening Corporation (ASC) has grown from a home-based startup into a global leader in drug testing and medical diagnostics. With a product line that includes rapid drug test kits, alcohol breathalyzers, and PPE, ASC’s mission is clear: deliver accurate, accessible tools that help save lives.

In response to rising substance abuse, ASC’s tests have become vital in hospitals, rehab centers, workplaces, and homes. The company’s commitment to quality is reflected in its ISO 13485 and MDSAP certifications, ensuring global compliance and reliability. Under Ron’s leadership, ASC has sold over 500 million test strips and serves more than 10,000 U.S. government agencies.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ASC swiftly expanded its offerings to include testing kits and PPE, reinforcing its role as a trusted public health partner. Through every challenge, Ron has kept ASC grounded in its core values — integrity, innovation, and service — transforming it into a vanguard of safety and diagnostics worldwide.

Expanding the Vision: ASC Fulfillment USA

As ASC scaled, Ron identified a new bottleneck: unreliable shipping and supply chain management. Determined to deliver a better experience — not just for ASC but for others — he launched ASC Fulfillment USA, a third-party logistics company.

With a centrally located warehouse in Shreveport, Louisiana, ASC Fulfillment delivers orders to 96% of the U.S. in two days. It’s not just about speed, though — it’s about partnership. Ron’s team offers flexible storage, real-time integrations, and tailored solutions for each client. Every package is treated with care, every client like family.

“We don’t just move products — we move businesses forward,” Ron says. And clients agree. From health and wellness startups to established national brands, many have found in ASC Fulfillment a partner they can trust. The company is already scaling toward a $100 million operation, proof that logistics — with the right heart behind it — can be a driver of real change.

Innovating Health Testing: ASC Diagnostics

Always looking ahead, Ron extended his impact further with ASC Diagnostics. While ASC made rapid drug testing products widely available, ASC Diagnostics takes innovation to the next level. This division specializes in customized medical kits tailored to hospital, research, and clinical needs.

ASC Diagnostics also embraces technology as a catalyst for healthcare transformation. Coupled with a CLIA-certified clinical lab in Shreveport, ASC Diagnostics extends beyond product assembly into the realm of test analysis and lab services — ensuring greater quality control and faster turnaround times.

From pandemic response to everyday diagnostics, ASC Diagnostics exemplifies Ron’s dedication to innovation and public health. By integrating custom kitting, digital tools, and certified lab operations, the company reflects his broader vision: to push the boundaries of what diagnostics can do, and in the process, help save more lives through accessibility, reliability, and responsiveness.

Reveal Background: Simplifying Safety

Expanding beyond healthcare, Ron Kilgarlin founded Reveal Background to modernize the background screening process for employers, landlords, and individuals. The platform offers fast, accurate checks — ranging from employment and tenant screenings to personal reports — without subscriptions or hidden fees. Built for accessibility, it empowers small businesses and nonprofits to conduct due diligence with ease.

Reveal’s technology automates 80% of the screening process, delivering results in minutes through integrated databases and AI-driven searches. Fully FCRA compliant, the platform ensures legal and ethical standards are met while maintaining speed and precision. Ron’s goal was to eliminate barriers and make trust-building tools available to all.

For Ron, Reveal Background is more than a business — it’s a mission-aligned solution that promotes safety, transparency, and accountability. Like his other ventures, it reflects his commitment to solving real-world problems with clarity, innovation, and heart.

More Than a CEO: A Man on a Mission

Despite leading a growing business empire, Ron Kilgarlin remains deeply grounded in purpose. He sees himself not just as a CEO, but as a husband, father, mentor, and man of faith committed to making a difference. As a motivational speaker, he shares his journey of overcoming addiction and building values-driven businesses — reminding audiences that no matter how far you fall, you can always rise again.

Ron’s passion for growth extends beyond himself. He encourages continuous learning within his companies, sponsoring employee development and fostering a culture of innovation. Known for his humility and resilience, he openly shares his past struggles to break stigma and offer hope. He often mentors individuals in recovery, even hiring them at ASC to give others the second chance he once needed.

Through community outreach, wellness programs, and a leadership style rooted in compassion, Ron and his wife Shawn demonstrate that success and soul can coexist. Guided by faith and a relentless work ethic, Ron continues to inspire others — proving that true leadership is about lifting people up while striving to grow, serve, and evolve every day.

Final Words

Ron Kilgarlin’s journey proves that where you begin doesn’t define where you can go. From addiction and homelessness to building companies that impact millions, he turned pain into purpose and setbacks into stepping stones. “If I can put a smile on someone’s face or deliver a product that brings value, I’ve already won the day,” he says — and by that measure, he wins every day.

His story isn’t one of overnight success, but of relentless resilience. Each time life knocked him down, he rose stronger, more determined to lift others as he climbed. Ron’s legacy is more than business success — it’s a testament to the power of perseverance, compassion, and the belief that greatness is possible for anyone who refuses to give up.