Today we’d like to introduce you to John Beasley.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started my first entrepreneurial venture when I was 26. Since then I’ve started or purchased several other businesses, particularly after retiring in my early 40s. My professional background included leadership positions in a consumer products direct marketing organization and a high technology systems engineering organization.
My experiences at both made me well-suited to join the Board of Directors for a failing European-owned subsidiary in Dallas. The subsidiary was an old Texas brand from the 1930s which had evolved into a business-to-business lubrication and fuel improver company that operated with a direct sales model.
In 1999 I purchased the company. My first step at turning it around was to make it employee-owned. This was significant to everyone in the organization and helped create the owner mentality that prevails today. It also sent a message to our customers that they could depend on each one of us to have the commitment of an owner, because we were one.
Since then I’ve been leading the evolution and growth from a product-focused, seat-of-the-pants organization to a solutions-oriented, data-driven virtual organization.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I acquired Hydrotex it had a traditional IT and systems framework. Successful companies are data-driven so we had to quickly evolve into an integrated, systemic, data-driven infrastructure. Also, the original operating culture had focused on product sales. I wanted to create more value for our customers, and with our customers, and that required recalibrating the sales force to serve as Lubrication Solution Partners. This title is part of our logo and is the core of who we are to our customers. Another challenge, which is ongoing, is finding entrepreneurial-minded individuals who have the resiliency and business acumen to lead our business. We have 120 specific, geographic areas and still have some open opportunities for the right people to essentially become the CEO of this area. It’s a tremendous opportunity to make a difference as these are protected area – each has its own leader or, what we call a Division Partner. And no Division Partner’s area overlaps another.
Please tell us about Hydrotex.
Hydrotex is a High Touch, High Tech virtual organization of entrepreneurs focusing on growth through geographic expansion and personal productivity. We pride ourselves on providing customer-oriented, sustainable solutions. Our products are used in more than 30 industries including manufacturing, agriculture, wind power, utilities and all manners of motor vehicles.
Our people truly partner with our customers. We understand their machinery, their processes and troubleshoot their problems. It’s not uncommon for us to bring in additional technical support to help diagnose an issue.
We also have an extensive professional development program, Lubrication University.
This resource helps ensure all our employees have the most current skills and knowledge. We also have programs to help our customers and their employees stay current and informed.
Many of our customers bring us in to onboard staff or provide their annual professional development training. Since all of this professional development is complementary it makes it easy to depend on us for service.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We’ll continue bringing on new Division Partners and giving them the tools they need to be a success. We have a s core staff of professionals who support them including specialized market leaders and technical staff. We also see growth through new services and products. We’ll continue expanding our professional development. Last year we renovated our meeting space to better manage demand and will be adding more sessions to meet the needs of our current and future customers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hydrotexlube.com
- Facebook: @HydrotexLubricants
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hydrotex
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