Jan. 16, 2025

This paid piece is sponsored by Silencer Central.

The recruiter called him in Virginia, and Logan Hutchinson’s response said it all.

“Sioux Falls? I’m thinking, I don’t even know where that is,” he said.

“But they said, ‘Talk to the CEO, and tell me what you think after that.’”

After one phone call with Silencer Central CEO Brandon Maddox, “I was like, uh-oh, and I went to my wife and kind of laughed and asked what she thought of South Dakota.”

His wife, Julia, admittedly “was a tough sell thinking about moving,” he said. “We were living in Charlottesville, Virginia, which is beautiful, and we’d just bought a house.”

But something about his conversation with Maddox prompted Hutchinson to dig deeper into the opportunity that eventually would bring him to Sioux Falls and Silencer Central in April 2024 as the company’s new director of marketing.

“I felt there was something there I’d regret not pursuing,” Hutchinson said. “I came to Sioux Falls to interview one day before my wife, and I was sold that day – between Maddox and the team and the future plans. It was serendipitous. All the skills and experience I had fit what they were looking for, and I just felt a lot of similarities in terms of what drives us.”

Hutchinson grew up in Virginia and graduated from Penn State University in 2015. From there, he followed his best friend to Los Angeles, where he served as sales and marketing director for a startup specializing in merchandise for boutiques and events.

“It was two frat guys selling chandeliers and cake stands and candleholders, but we found a lot of success,” he said. “After a while, it became clear to me that LA was not a great long-term cultural fit”

That led him back to Virginia for a marketing role with a fintech startup, where he spent eight years.

“We grew it from nothing and eventually sold it, and shortly after that, I began thinking about what’s next,” he said. “While I’d learned a lot and connected with an incredible mentor in our CEO, Tim O’Donnell, I was ready for a different industry.”

A call from a local company in the firearms industry became his next move.

“It was the complete opposite of finance,” he said. “We did a lot of work with LEO clients, and I learned I really liked the firearms industry. What really captured my attention was the people. In the finance world, it can be cutthroat, but in firearms, I found it quite easy to work with other companies and people in the industry toward growth.”

A growth mindset ultimately is what connected Hutchinson with Silencer Central, which has been ranked multiple years on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies and continues to set year-over-year records.

“Brandon Maddox really earned my respect for what he’s built, which aligns perfectly with what drives me,” Hutchinson said. “In the interview, he said, ‘I want someone to scare me.’ And that excited me because sometimes people can be afraid to change, and he embraces that and wants to be challenged to consider new things because that’s what’s brought success throughout his career.”

The Silencer Central headquarters in Sioux Falls “stands out in the industry,” he added.

“It has a tech vibe to it. When I got to my hotel the first night after seeing it, I started working on plans to help with the direction and figure out what would work. It’s a very entrepreneurial place, and we’re not afraid to evolve, even though it’s not easy.”

Once Julia arrived in Sioux Falls, they started taking a closer look at the community.

“I loved it,” Hutchinson said. “I didn’t realize how lively it was, how big and fast and growing it was. And the food scene was a big sell for us. We went downtown, which has everything, and Josiah’s was our first stop, which she thought was so cute. And then we went to Crave that night for sushi, which she loves, and that was great, so it was a little different sell, but it worked.”

They found a house they love in Brandon, and they are expecting their first child in May.

“Our time here has flown by, and we love it,” Hutchinson said. “We’re learning ‘Midwest nice’ is a real thing. People here are genuinely friendly.”

At Silencer Central, “I knew within the first couple weeks I’d made the right decision to come here,” he said.

“Our marketing team has been grinding, working on multiple aspects of the business, from branding to expanded programs. I give them so much credit for our success. When you have people like Jamison Schleicher, Amanda Gibson, Joe Kurtenbach, Karter Keefer, Grant VanZee, just to name a few, it’s not hard to understand how we’re continuing to grow.

“And if we hit our goals, there will be additions,” Hutchinson continued. “We’ll need to keep pace.”

There’s plenty to tackle, with a rebrand this year for the signature BANISH suppressor, including a new logo and website, as well as multiple new offerings in the pipeline.

“What our engineering team is coming up with is incredible,” Hutchinson said. “We have a lot of new groundbreaking products coming soon.”

The broader company also continues to hire, with a new warehouse and distribution center under construction adjacent to its headquarters.

“If you’re someone who takes pride in contributing to a company’s success and enjoys winning, this is the place for you,” Hutchinson said. “An entrepreneurial mindset is essential for most roles here, and if that resonates with you, you’re going to thrive.”

To learn more about growing your career at Silencer Central, click here.