Celebrating 40 Years of Shared Success in the Ozarks

A Message from the Associates of SRC

Forty years ago, the economy was in shambles. Interest rates ranged from 18 to 22%. Rampant inflation was reducing income, and the unemployment rate was 12%. A day didn’t go by where you didn’t hear of another plant closing or a business going bankrupt. (Sixty percent of 1980’s Fortune 500 Companies no longer exist.)

SRC’s original facility in 1983.

Afraid, naïve, and soon to be out of a job and on the street, a group of people banded together at SRC and made a run at buying their jobs. They thought that the only way to stay in the Ozarks was to buy the company before it closed.

With no money and no knowledge of owning a company, they set out to raise money in a market where money was either not available or prohibitively expensive. Most SRC associates believed it was divine intervention that helped them secure a loan to buy the company and keep their jobs.

SRC associates review company financials in large staff huddles.

In the process, they learned about business ownership and the opportunities it allowed people to capitalize on if they understood it. They learned that the power of human capital went a lot further than making a product or creating a service. It could also create a friendly and sustainable business. They learned that with capital, you can create a quality of life that some call the American Dream.

Believing that business might be fun, like sports or monopoly, a commonsense approach to leadership emerged. A set of rules were adopted that applied equally to all. The associates developed confidence that everyone was playing the same game, that the game wasn’t rigged, and you had to support each other to win.

They all agreed on the duties and responsibilities that come with “owning it”.

With education, SRC associates grew and prospered, sharing the wealth and knowledge along the way. The community was always there to help, encouraging sustainable development, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and creating an environment friendly to business.

SRC retiree Rick Hedden poses with his first SRC stock certificate from 1983.

Four decades, four recessions, and one pandemic later, thousands of good jobs have been created. The associates of SRC have invested in over sixty companies and partnered with major OEMs bringing world-class companies to the community, all of which collectively generate annual payrolls of over $300 million.

Hundreds of people have retired handsomely in the Ozarks, re-investing their wealth in family, recreation, church and more. Many have left SRC to start their own companies, creating jobs throughout the region. Many others are involved in charitable and civic organizations.

None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for the support of the community. We wish to thank the people of the Ozarks for their encouragement and resources these past 40 years. We look forward to aligning with the community’s needs and improving the quality of our lives together.

Signed,

The associates of SRC Holdings Corp., its partners, and its subsidiaries.

P.S. We will be celebrating our 40-year anniversary all year long.