Custom Fit: Polo Custom Products

By Kim Gronniger
Photos by Brian Peters

Kent Lammers, president and chief executive officer of Polo Custom Products, has a metal sign prominently displayed in his office that says, “Stay humble, work hard, be kind.”

The mantra reflects his approach to leading a company that custom designs, engineers and manufactures everything from United States Army tactical gear and Harley-Davidson saddlebags to heat-sealed medical collection equipment and personal watercraft accessories.

The company, originally founded as Polo Plastics in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1947, moved its headquarters to Topeka in 1971. Kent has led the 79-year-old Topeka company through many transitions and acquisitions during his 44-year career.

A graduate of Topeka High School and Washburn University, he began working at the company as an intern and joined the team full time in 1984 in an accounting role, eventually becoming controller and then chief financial officer. He became president and chief executive officer in 2018.

“Whatever position I was in, I wanted to be the best I could be and now I want to set others up for success by maximizing their abilities,” he said.

Today the company has a workforce that fluctuates between 350 and 500, with manufacturing plants in Monticello, Iowa, Topeka and Louisville, Mississippi, and plans to open another facility in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic, this year. Polo Custom Products also has offshore partnerships with companies in Vietnam, China, Cambodia and Puerto Rico.

CREATING A NEW VENTURE CLOSE TO HOME

Looking to increase labor capacity during the pandemic, Polo Custom Products launched an unusual collaboration close to home.

Kent met with representatives from the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF) to explore a manufacturing partnership. Kent says the relationship, which began in August 2021, has benefited both organizations and the families of TCF residents.

He says a large percentage of TCF’s residents are mothers, so working at the onsite facility allows them to learn a vocation and earn a prevailing wage they can send back to their children’s caregivers. Employees for the competitive positions need to have good conduct reports, which also helps minimize disruptions for TCF staff, he says.

“The HR director and I meet with all new employees and we let them know that we don’t care what got them there, only what we can do to make things better moving forward,” Kent said. “Many of these women have rarely been told that they’ve done a good job or been given a compliment, so graduation upon completion of training is a really special, heartwarming celebration with certificates and congratulations from all of our executive team members.”

Kent says when TCF employees are released, the company helps them find jobs if they don’t want to relocate to one of its out-of-state manufacturing plants.

“They leave us trained and proud of their work and then they can hopefully avoid falling back into old habits,” Kent said, noting that one of the program’s successful participants now works at the corporate office.

In June 2026, Polo Custom Products will host a Greater Topeka Partnership ribbon cutting for a new 35,000-square-foot space on the TCF property.

“This venture has been a tremendous success, and I’m so glad we did it,” he said.

CUT FROM A DIFFERENT CLOTH

In 2008, Polo Custom Products rebranded with a focus on providing custom products for medical, fire and safety, industrial and government sectors.

One of the company’s most-made products is a chemical protective patient wrap to safeguard soldiers from the threat of chemical warfare or to safely transport them to a medical facility if they become exposed.

“We’ve been working with the U.S. Army since the 1980s and are co-inventors of this product, which, frankly, we hope never has to be used,” Kent said. “Everything we do is custom. You won’t find our products at Walmart. If a customer has a concept, our designers and engineers can draw it up and make it.”

Another product is a vest with electrodes that can alert a patient awaiting heart surgery about a health issue and administer a shock to save the person’s life.

“Sometimes patients have to wait a couple of weeks for a surgery so this vest can ensure their safety in the meantime,” he said. “Our employees take pride in being the last touchpoint between a product and the lifesaving potential it has when it reaches a customer.”

BEYOND THE FACTORY FLOOR

Throughout its history, Polo Custom Products and its precursors, including its former MC Industries and Sunflower Marketing divisions, have supported nonprofits in Topeka and in other communities where it has manufacturing facilities. Employee committees are entrusted with the decisions to support causes they care about.

Kent also contributes personally to community initiatives and has served on numerous local boards focused on quality of life and economic development.

Kent, a former Washburn University tennis player, and his wife, Rhonda, recently gave $500,000 to renovate the athletic program’s complex. A self-described proud Ichabod, he is working with a group to add Washburn University banners on Topeka Boulevard light poles from 21st Street to 29th Street to promote campus pride.

Kent played a key role in the “Bring Back the Boulevard” public-private initiative launched in 2021 to address neglected areas in Southeast Topeka. Now he is working with others to build on the effort’s success through the Greater Topeka Partnership’s Momentum 2027 plan.

Some of the significant Topeka Boulevard enhancements that have been made in the last few years include construction of a new Kansas Turnpike Authority building; remodeled businesses like the Stormont Vail Events Center, McElroy’s, CoreFirst Bank & Trust and McDonald’s; and the addition of Chick-fil-A and Whataburger franchises.

White Lakes’ transformation continues to evolve with AutoZone’s acquisition of a pad site and plans to construct a store that will encompass both retail and distribution capabilities.

Beyond Topeka Boulevard, Kent says he is encouraged by Advisors Excel’s renovations at West Ridge Mall and Gage Center.

“All of these infrastructure improvements have made a real difference in how our city looks and in how our residents, visitors and potential investors regard it,” he said. “We’re committed to extending the ‘Bring Back the Boulevard’ concept to other Topeka corridors and entryways because even little things add up, especially when you look back just five years and see what’s been accomplished.”

MEASURED FOR THE FUTURE

Kent says that his hometown’s positive economic climate, and his employees’ Midwestern work ethic, encourage him to keep moving forward.

“I want our employees to love coming to work and I want us to have fun working toward our goals,” he said.

His advice for other businesses circles back to people.

“There will always be challenges for any business, but a positive mindset can ensure that whatever needs to be done gets accomplished more efficiently,” he said. “Listen to the people you work with and consider their ideas. Be transparent about the decisions you make and don’t be a foot tapper. Give people the freedom to do their job within the appropriate guidelines and make time to celebrate success.”