All in the Family: LOGAN BUSINESS MACHINES

EVOLVING WITH TECHNOLOGY: LOGAN BUSINESS MACHINES

When Chad Logan took over the company that his grandfather started in 1972, he found a transition path full of challenges.

Chad’s grandfather, Hal Logan, started Logan Business Machines with calculators as the main product line. The small, family company sold and serviced hundreds of thousands of calculators. When Sharp began manufacturing copy machines, Logan Business Machines became one the first authorized Sharp Dealers. Hal built the company based on three main principles: hard work, honesty and taking care of people (employees as well as customers).

Chad was 20 when he began working for Logan Business Machines doing basic office work. After a two-year enlistment in the army, he returned to the family business to help run the front office. Beginning in 2010, his grandfather began involving him the business decisions and allowing him to make changes in personnel and operations. Two years ago, Chad took over the reins completely.

That transition process was a little rocky. Hal had not made his wishes that Chad take over the business operations clear to all family members, so when he passed away suddenly, it became a point of contention. It might have seemed more logical for the business to pass to Chad’s father, Nic Logan, who has also been a principal in the business for 30 years. However, facing his own retirement in just a few years, the best business decision was to let Chad take on the leadership role.

“My father is my logical brain,” Chad said. “I am the social butterfly. Together, we make a great team. I hope he plans to stay in the business for a very long time. His wisdom is invaluable to me.”

Anytime you have extended family involved in a business, it can get tricky. Looking back on the circumstances surrounding the transfer of the business, Chad said a written succession plan that clearly outlined everyone’s roles and expectations would have made the transition much smoother. He wished his grandfather had brought everyone together to discuss the details so that nothing could be left in question or up to interpretation. But sometimes those conversations can be difficult.

sfsf

“We clearly fell short on execution of the transition plan,” Chad said. “I think my grandfather procrastinated on developing the succession plan because he was still working in the business. The framework was in place, but the specific details were not.”

Now that Chad has put the bumpy succession process behind him, he is focused on growing the family business to make it viable for generations to come. Part of that focus includes looking at how they can grow with their existing local clients to meet their information sharing needs both in Topeka and across the country. It also means evolving the business model to embrace ever-changing technology.

“We don’t just sell copiers,” Chad said. “We help our customers manage and share information with full-service business machines, whether that is through digital displays, smart boards, data storage or document transfer.”

Chad and his business partner, Chris Martin, hope to triple the business in size, revenue and employees over the next 10 years.

“Yes, it’s an aggressive goal,” Chris said, “but with our dedication to ‘aweinspiring service,’ we are confident we will reach it."

BARBARA'S CONSERVATORY OF DANCEWINSTON BROWN REMODELINGJETZ SERVICE CO.