Brushware Profile: R.J. Lindstrom

RJ LINDSTROM

COMPANY: Zephyr Manufacturing

LOCATION: Sedalia, Missouri

JOB TITLE: President

What year did you start in the industry and how did you get started?

I came home to work for the family business in 2008. Zephyr was, at the time, an 81-year-old family business in its third generation of family ownership. A couple of years after graduating from college we started having family discussions about the business and I decided to try my hand in the mop and broom industry. I am now the fourth-generation owner of a 94-year-old manufacturer.

What is your proudest career or company accomplishment?

Several years ago, the trend in mop manufacturing was to source most of the product from overseas due to pricing pressure. We made the move to source the raw material from other countries and make the vast majority of our product in the USA. This allowed us to offer a wider selection of higher quality products.

What were the key challenges presented by the pandemic and how did Zephyr solve those challenges?

Our initial challenge was whether we could continue to operate with government-mandated shutdowns and closures. Once we figured out that we were critical infrastructure, we put mask mandates in place and made sure that our employees were socially distanced in the factory. We saw a decrease in business for the first several months of the pandemic. To combat this, and to fill a need in our local community, we designed and manufactured our own face masks. Not only did the local hospital have a severe need for face coverings, but other businesses in town needed them to help keep their employees safe. We were very happy that we could help others in our community while also keeping our employees gainfully employed.

On the subject of the pandemic, what do you see as permanent changes ahead for Zephyr and the industry in general?

The main thing I see is elevated wages sticking around. Due to the shortage of eligible workers in our area, starting wages are increasing, and they won’t be going back down.

Recruiting skilled workers overall and young workers, in particular, has been stated as a concern for the industry. How do you think that is best addressed?

The ABMA has already implemented a new program, Emerging Leaders, that is aimed at helping to engage young workers in our industry. This group was created based on feedback from the 2020 annual convention where the majority of the ABMA members stated that cultivating a greater connection with younger and newer members was a priority for the industry. The Emerging Leaders group has held several meetings and plans to get together three to four times per year, mostly virtually, in addition to the annual convention. We are encouraging anyone under the age of 45, no matter your position within a member company, to give ABMA Emerging Leaders a try. Do you have any key business/leadership tips out there for younger people in the industry looking to ascend to a leadership role? I have always found networking to be a critical part of growing as a business leader. You can learn a lot just by getting to know your peers in the industry.

What do you like to do outside of work?

My wife and I have three children under the age of 10, so we are pretty busy outside of work. We have a camper and like to spend most weekends during the summer outdoors camping, fishing and exploring. I also like to golf when I can find some extra time.

Are there sports that you follow?

I live close to Kansas City, and the Chiefs have been on a hot streak the last several years. It’s fun to see a team build the franchise around a young quarterback that will only get better over time.

What is one thing about you that people might find surprising?

I live on a small 50-acre farm. We have about 30 acres of cropland, 10 acres of hayfields, a fully stocked fishing pond and some chickens for farm fresh eggs every morning.

What have you learned in life or in the industry?

Try not to take everything so seriously. It’s rarely life or death, so just take a deep breath, gather your thoughts, and work through the problem.