Dec. 10, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Chad Hasert is quick to share two beliefs about business: Bigger isn’t always better, and quality service leads to success.

He has proven both as the founder of a startup based in Brandon that has become one of the nation’s fastest-growing businesses.

His business, FlexIT USA, ranked No. 2,041 this year on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies, with 256 percent revenue growth in the past three years.

The company is a manufacturer specializing in hydraulic hoses and draws on both Hasert’s education in fluid power and career experience.

“I was 42 years old when my former employer was sold, and I just didn’t want to be part of a large corporation,” he said. “So I tried to figure out the next part of my career.”

He partnered with a former co-worker, Chris Swier, who now serves as chief operating officer, and began FlexIT USA in the Brandon-Corson Industrial Park in 2018.

“We started off leasing a 15,000-square-foot building, and we were able to expand that to 20,000 square feet, and three years ago we built a 32,000-square-foot building,” Hasert said.

“Being in the industry a long time, I had a lot of relationships and was able to get a contract with Kubota up front and then John Deere and Toro, so we only cater to large OEMs, and then we service the heck out of them.”

The company’s growth is impressive, said Tyler Tordsen, president and CEO of Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

“The Brandon area has created such a strong foundation for industrial development, and it’s great to see a startup able to take advantage of that just as much as a more established company,” he said. “They’ve already created a solid employee base here, and I expect we’re going to continue to see big things from this company.”

We sat down with Hasert to learn more about the company and its success.

How would you describe what FlexIT USA specializes in?

Our hydraulic hose assemblies support ag, construction and turf care equipment, anything to do with lawn and garden equipment, golf courses, so that’s our niche. And then we developed our own proprietary software for the manufacturing process. I wanted to do it the right way. It’s hard to get in the door with these companies, so we wanted to make sure we had the right technology behind us. We developed a software that allows for greater quality control and eliminates some human error that can occur.

What do you credit for your growth?

It starts with our strong relationships with major OEMs, but we’ve also invested in servicing them. Last year, we opened a 57,000-square-foot facility in South Carolina, which puts us close to a major complex for Kubota and near other major customers, so it allows us to meet their needs better. I’m just heavy on service, whether it’s getting back to a customer on a quote or an email. That’s the strategy in my mind.

How has your team grown?

We have about 100 employees, including 70 in Brandon. I really believe in my team. It’s not one person or me or Chris, but we just want a really friendly, good environment for everyone. We’re climate-controlled in both plants, so they’re comfortable, and we want to work hard but have fun with our team too. It’s a positive culture.

What’s next for the business?

We’re looking at a third location to continue to position us to support customers in the Midwest.

How has being located in Brandon supported your growth?

It’s allowed us to build a workforce. I had the luxury of a lot of relationships in Brandon and people who were willing to join my team. And we live there, we know the community, and we support the community. I’ve been on the Brandon Development Foundation board for 10 years and active in the community. We’re pretty much maxed out for space here, but it’s been a great place to grow.

Are you surprised to be one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies?

That’s a good but tough question. I am, but I’m also not. I had great supporters who built confidence in me, and here we are today. The big thing has been service. We’re a small company, we don’t do a lot of advertising, but we make sure the product is on time, the quality is there, and the customer service is there.