Learning From Leaders
Setting Sights on 75
Mid-State Distributing is preparing to mark a major milestone, with Jeff Hedden as the leader of this family-owned business.
WORDS BY JAMIE SORCHER
D
ue to an entrepreneurial lineage in his family, Jeff Hedden was a lock as the next leader of his family’s business: Des Moines-based Mid-State Distributing. Founded in 1948 as a distributor of consumer electronics and associated service parts, it was purchased in 1987 by the Hedden family and today provides its independent dealer network with constantly evolving consumer electronics and appliances. “My grandfather and my great-grandfather had dry cleaning plants they started on their own,” Hedden said. “My grandfather on the other side of the family ran his own trucking dealership. Everyone has been entrepreneurial. It’s definitely part of who we are as a family. I couldn’t see myself working for a Wells Fargo in a cubicle. I’m not the kind of person who likes to sit still very long.”
38 Mobile Electronics November 2021
After graduating from Iowa State with a double major in graphic design and marketing, Hedden could have pursued a number of career opportunities, but the timing was right to step into a role at Mid-State that began with negotiating the acquisition of RTI. “I always helped out with acquisitions,” Hedden said, adding that when the opportunity arose to bring in RTI in 2005, he was the only one of his family members associated with Mid-State who had a background in mobile electronics. Because of his knowledge in car audio, and his past experiences helping with other company acquisitions, he helped complete the deal. “It was going to be a temporary, but I absolutely love the business so I stayed.” Hedden started the mobile audio division with the RTI acquisition, but it wasn’t the first time 12-volt was part of
the offerings at Mid-State. “We were in mobile long before 2005,” he explained. “At one point, we were doing mobile audio and we were also a warranty service station for GM and Chrysler-Ford, but when that business closed down, we exited mobile in the late 90s.” Expansion Creates Room for Continued Growth Three years ago, Mid-State made another key acquisition with the purchase of AM Distributors based in Chicago. A total renovation of the facility was recently completed, and Hedden said the office is officially open. “The acquisition came about because the owner, George McGoldrick, was looking to retire,” he said. “We were looking to expand into that market anyway. so it worked well for both of us. We were in their facility renting 9,700 square feet
