For Forney Industries, being family-owned and operated isn’t just a privilege, it’s a legacy almost a century in the making.
Steve Anderson is the president and CEO of Forney Industries and residing third generation of the company. His grandfather, J.D. Forney, started the welding and metalworking business in 1932. Steve’s son, Dane Anderson, is the fourth generation in charge of Operations and Business Administration.
This year, Forney Industries is celebrating 90 years of business. In honor of this milestone, Steve and Dane joined forces for a special interview.
“This company has such a rich history from the invention of the Instant Heat Soldering Iron, the first 110V welder, aviation, central vacuum systems, generators and plethora of other products and ideas,” Steve Anderson said. “Our founder’s incredible perseverance and ‘get-it-done’ attitude continues to live in the very backbone of this company.”
Forney stands apart from other companies because of its culture.
“We are family first. We care about our people,” Steve Anderson noted. “Our mission is helping every team member be better, and in turn they give back so much more. Without them, we are not a company. We encourage out-of-the-box thinking and it has paid us back in so many ways.”
Dane Anderson has achieved many things since joining his father at Forney Industries, in fact he always knew working at Forney was in the cards for him.
“It is hard to say when I knew I was going to work for the company, because it has always felt like my destiny. My first memories were at Forney when my father would set me on a box and push me down the conveyor belts,” Dane Anderson recalled. “My father always emphasized that I needed to work for other companies before I came back to Forney, and when he finally asked me to come back, I knew it was the right time. It is so exciting to be able to honor the generations before me and leave my mark on Forney Industries and the welding community.”
Ninety years of business is no small accomplishment – especially after the turbulent effects of a global pandemic and supply chain shortages, among other roadblocks.
Dane Anderson noted, “I think that Forney’s greatest achievement (in the past 90 years) has been the ability to stay resilient when the cards are stacked against us. Forney is set to become a fourth-generation, family-owned company. Less than two percent of family-owned companies hit that mark. Also, Forney has stood the test of time. We were born in the heart of The Great Depression and continually prove to be unbreakable. We have mountains to climb, but what I know is that this company is built to withstand these challenges and come out even stronger.”
So, what’s the best part about working with your family?
“I’m impressed with Dane’s knowledge. He might not have the years of experience I have, but I truly admire the way he interacts with people,” Steve Anderson said. “He is not afraid to make mistakes. From a very early age, working with my father and grandfathers taught me the importance of a strong work ethic, and Dane clearly has that same drive.”
“The best part about working with my father is that most of the lessons I’ve learned, haven’t happened at work. Growing up around him, I’ve learned that ‘keeping your eye on the ball’ isn’t just about baseball.” Dane Anderson said. “Every day he provides me guidance on how to treat employees and customers like family. I also love that he treats me as an equal and encourages me to give my input and opinion. They are extremely large shoes to fill, but with his mentoring I am hopeful to live up to them.”
Forney Industries remains rooted in its unwavering belief in the power of family, and looks forward to another 90 years of success and innovation.
“Family companies rarely make it past the second generation. I’m proud to be part of the third generation and look forward to our fourth.” – Steve Anderson, President and CEO of Forney Industries
This article was originally written for the Spring 2022 Issue of Modern Cowboy Magazine. (Previously known as Cowboy Lifestyle Magazine). Catch more stories from this issue below!
