A Charles City business is the winner of America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Iowa statewide February Small Business of the Month Award.
Brook Boehmler, Regional Director of the North Iowa Area SBDC, says the selection of L & J Industries highlights how the company focuses on its relationship with customers and its employees – and their commitment to giving back.
L & J Industries was founded in 1965 by James B. Garden as a small welding and repair shop in Charles City and now operates as a full-service metal manufacturing facility specializing in grain bin floor systems. Chris Garden, current President, and Owner/Operator took over L&J Industries from his father in 2003 and runs the company with his wife, Lisa Garden.
In a statement, Chris Garden’s advice for new entrepreneurs is simple, “Remain flexible, be willing to make a decision today. but don’t be afraid to change your mind tomorrow if it’s not the right decision.”
America’s SBDC Iowa is an outreach program of Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, America’s SBDC Iowa has 15 regional assistance centers located strategically across the state.
