In this episode, Billy Duren sits down with Ben Holder, CEO of Plastic Products Company. This is a 100% employee-owned business that employs over 900 people across ten plants nationwide. Ben shares the company's remarkable journey, which began in a garage in 1962 and grew into a major contract manufacturer serving industry giants like 3M and GE Appliances. Ben dives deep into how employee ownership through their ESOP empowers team members, boosts engagement, and builds real retirement security for everyone, not just the executives. He also highlights the "Find a Better Way" program, which invites every employee to suggest improvements. This initiative has fostered a strong culture of continuous progress, shared pride, and collective ownership of results. The conversation explores what it takes to celebrate that ownership mindset, thoughtfully manage risk, and successfully integrate new acquisitions while preserving the company's core culture. Billy and Ben also discuss the power of hands-on leadership, clear communication, and intentional mentoring to prepare the next generation of leaders. Ben makes it clear that true leadership isn't about issuing orders from the top. It's about serving others, showing up on the floor, staying present, and committing to lifelong learning. The episode wraps up with practical advice for anyone looking to grow as a leader: stay curious, develop a thick skin, and never underestimate the value of bringing humor and heart to the job. 3 Key Listener Takeaways Here are three key takeaways for leaders in any industry: 1. Empowerment Drives Engagement and Improvement Ben Holder showed how educating employees about ESOP, celebrating ownership, and running programs like "Find a Better Way" creates pride, accountability, and nonstop innovation. When people feel like true owners, they step up with ideas and energy that benefit the entire organization. 2. Intentional Succession Planning Sustains Organizational Health At Plastic Products Company, building the leadership pipeline is a deliberate, multi-layered effort. By identifying talent early, mentoring consistently, and developing future leaders, including Ben's own successor, the company protects its culture and ensures long-term success even as it grows and evolves. 3. Leadership Means Serving Others, Not Commanding Ben challenges the common misconception that leadership is reserved for the CEO or about telling people what to do. Instead, he emphasizes that anyone can lead by serving, supporting, and helping their colleagues, regardless of title. This servant leadership approach builds trust and brings out the best in teams.
