Is it something in the air? Is it something in the water? Is it the educational system? Is it the gene pool?

Why is it that the Southwest Minnesota/Marshall area seems to have so many successful entrepreneurs?

Of course we know that there are successful farmers and businesses throughout the region. Innovation and hard work are evident as well in some of the businesses developed here that have also gone national and international: Schwan’s, Action Track, Ralco, Runnings, as examples.

As most of you readers will remember, I was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, but left Ohio by the time I was 25. However, I have always been proud of that area that had brought forth a goodly number of innovators and business people similar to the Marshall area’s examples The Wright Brothers, John H. Patterson (National Cash Register Co.), Charles F. Kettering (First self starter developer for the 1912 Cadillac – headed GM research for over 25 years — and also a co-founder of DELCO – Dayton Engineering Laboratory Company), as examples.

So after over 50 years here in Marshall, I am torn between which area I am most proud of – my boyhood and youth home area or my adopted home area.

jtr

Thinking about this was partially caused by Dick Labat who brought to my attention, two articles in the StarTribune’s Business Section.

The most recent article was published on Sept. 23 and pictured three men originally from the Marshall area: Brothers Brian and Kent Roers, partners of Roers Cos. and minority partner Jeff Koch. Most of the following information about the three men comes from the Roers Companies web site.

After graduation from St. John’s University Brian completed his CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license in 2002. Brian co-founded Anderson & Roers CPAs, holding a 50% partnership. In 2012 he helped launch Roers Companies making use of his ten years in the accounting firm. His skills are used in the Roers Companies handling finance, marketing and property management

Kent Roers completed his B.S. majoring in business administration at none other than Southwest Minnesota State University here in Marshall. He was licensed as a CFP (Certified Financial Planner) in 2001 and completed other more technical licenses in financial services. He has vast experience in many aspect of residential properties from leasing single-family homes to luxury complexes. He has led a team on 28 projects totaling $600 million.

Jeff Koch, who grew up with the Roers brothers in the Marshall area, is a graduate of St. Cloud State University with a B.S. major in Marketing. He joined the Roers Companies in 2013 after experience of ten years in project management, data analysis, and contract negotiations working for Target Corporation. Back in 2003 he bought his first investment property and has been buying, renovating, selling, and managing properties ever since.

The StarTribune article details the types of projects the Roers Companies have been doing. The StarTribune had earlier published other articles about many projects completed in the Minneapolis area as well as in North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Quite telling are the five skills cited by the website that the company looks for in hiring employees:

1.) Fast-paced and dedicated work ethic

2.) Decision making skills

3.) Leadership ability

4.) Get-it done mentality

5.) Willingness to be a team player

jtr

The second article that was brought to my attention was from April 8. The two men pictured in this article were Nick Sovell, who hails from Marshall, and his son Nicholas.

Back in 2013, Walmart began working on a pledge to get more products produced in the USA into its stores. Part of the program is the Open Call where Walmart invited presentors to make a case for having their products as part of the Walmart inventory.

Nick and Nicholas made the trip to Bentonville, Arkansas to get Walmart to stock various Drymate® mats (waterproof mats). In 2018 there were almost 600 items pitched at the Open Call for Walmart to stock. The Sovells were successful in getting three of their products (a cargo liner, a dish-drying mat, and a litter box pad) accepted. Having Walmart as the seller of the mats meant sales went from 50,000 mats/year to 500,000 mats/year.

RPM Drymate also makes a blanket with one side waterproofed. Many of these blankets are donated to the homeless. The company donates through a partnership with Loaves and Fishes, the same company that helps provide free meals here in Marshall. The company expects that its donations this past summer would be about 400 blankets.

RPM Drymate also partners with ArmorAll for some products. From the company website, I like the apocryphal exchange that emphasizes what Walmart’s program wants to accomplish:

“Can we have the material made cheaper overseas?” Sure.

“Would we make more money that way?” You bet.

“But we’d risk losing control of the quality…”

To make that exchange more Minnesotan, I would change it from “You bet.” To “You betcha!”

Until next time: Oh, Fiddlesticks!