Russell Mapes serves at the helm of MarCo Specialty Steel as vice president alongside his wife Amanda, who serves as president. Backed by their full commitment, the company is growing and is headed for an expansion in the new year. BIC Magazine recently visited with Mapes to discuss this and more.
Q: What led you to start MarCo Specialty Steel?
A: In the 1990s, the economy was down and the job market was tough. So I decided to take my future into my own hands and be responsible for my own success or failure. I worked relentlessly reaching out to people I had known in the industry and developing contacts overseas to export to. Over the years, we evolved from an export brokering company to a large scale distributor and fabricator of specialty steels such as wire cloth, perforated metal and grating products.
Twenty-four years later, the most important part of my position remains the same — to guide the company and keep it on an upward trajectory despite the ups and downs of the economy. I have to provide the inspiration and leadership to guide our company and our people to strive to be better every day. I also strive to continue to grow as a leader so I can develop other leaders within the company.
Q: What is the biggest news in your company right now?
A: Growth! We are very excited about our future as we look to expand our operation with a new facility in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the first quarter of 2016. We believe the Louisiana economy is growing in terms of petrochemical expansions and economic development, and it has similar industries as here in the greater Houston area where we have had success. We are expanding our manufacturing and fabrication capabilities with new and additional equipment. We are always expanding the depth and breadth of our inventory and will continue to do so to better serve our customer base.
Q: How do you plan to address changes in the economy in the coming year?
A: In a down economy it’s easy to get frustrated, but you have to stay focused and redouble your efforts and seek out opportunities where you can find them. We find in this environment customers may be open to seeking a new vendor when they normally wouldn’t be. We have brought on some quality employees who were caught up in downsizing at their previous companies. And lastly, because of our financial strength, we are able to grow and expand while others are contracting. There is always opportunity; you just have to look harder for it.
Q: What’s the most important thing a person should know before taking a career path similar to yours?
A: Being a business owner and entrepreneur, you have to be prepared to live and breathe the business. If you are not passionate about what you do and the business, then do something else. Life is too short to be unhappy! As the saying goes, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Q: How do you maintain a good work/home life balance?
A: It’s not easy! Fortunately my wife is the president of the company, so we are usually together at work. Sometimes we have to work hard not to talk about work 24/7. We have taken steps to ensure we have a good balance between work and home, and we have tried to create a quality of life environment at work. We realize people spend more time at work during the week than they do at home, so we have designed our office and warehouse to be as nice as possible.
For more information, visit www.marcospecialtysteel.com or call (713) 649-5310.
