Read Ergon President & CEO Kris Patrick’s latest LinkedIn article, as shown below, to learn his key takeaways for navigating a successful family business.
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In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week and our continuation of Ergon’s yearlong celebration of 70 years of service, it’s fitting that I acknowledge the man responsible for the vision and success of our organization, Mr. Leslie Lampton Sr.
Leslie Lampton Sr. – Ergon Founder
Mr. Lampton founded Ergon as Lampton Oil Company in 1954, delivering fuel to highway construction companies in Jackson, Mississippi. We’ve since grown to include a wide range of operations, providing high-value solutions essential to global manufacturing and infrastructure. From the very beginning, Mr. Lampton viewed Ergon as a service company with a mission to meet needs, support families and serve customers. Although we have experienced incredible growth, this mission has and will continue to guide how we operate.
Second-Generation Lampton Family: Robert, Lee, Leslie and Bill
Family First
It’s no accident that family is part of our mission. The Lampton family’s priority has been and will always be that we build a business family. As such, we consider everyone family, and regardless of our title or responsibility in the company, we all serve a critical role in keeping our business family strong. Mr. Lampton built this organization to ensure support for progress well into the future. That includes the companies we have created from the ground up, the companies we have brought into the family of businesses, and the lasting relationships we have built with our customers, suppliers and in the communities we serve. Generations of Lamptons have continued to uphold this legacy of relationship-driven service and support.
Third-Generation Lampton Family: Amy, Will, Patrick, Lee Crum and Barton
Mr. Lampton passed away in 2018, but his legacy lives on, not just through his immediate family but through generations of Ergonauts who have helped shape the company into the global organization we are today. As our horizons expand, we remain committed to being the family Ergon was always meant to be. We strive to keep our Founder’s values, Ergon’s values, top of mind in all that we do. But what does it really look like to carry on this legacy in a growing and complex organization, while embracing new ideas for a successful future? Here are some key takeaways, inspired by lessons Mr. Lampton has taught us about navigating the family business that he created.
The Ultimate Goal Is Impact. Running A Successful and Profitable Business Enables That Impact.
One of the principles Mr. Lampton always shared was that what we do is about more than just making a profit.
- Principle 1: Operate not for profit alone, but as a platform to make a positive difference in countless lives and countless ways.
Obviously, the bottom line is critical to evaluating the performance of businesses, but that’s not what drives us. We empower Ergon employees to wake up every day to think about how they
can improve the lives of others, whether that’s what they contribute on the job, how they look out for their coworkers or what they do for others in their communities. How does what you do today impact somebody’s life for the better? Everyone at Ergon, especially our frontline employees, can impact countless lives. From the tires on cars and the transformers lighting communities, to the roads that lead to homes and businesses, and the critical transportation services we provide, our products and services are essential to life in modern society.
The true return on investment is leaving the world in a better state because of what we do and how we do it. We fight against complacency because we understand that operating a world-class organization and meeting the needs of our customers enables us to impact so many lives in a positive way.
Embracing Differences and Leveraging Strengths Leads to Category Innovation
If everyone thought the same and had the same experiences, there would be little room for growth. Healthy tension can be a good thing, and embracing different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences can be a critical asset when it comes to innovating ways to maintain relevance in a global society. Without challenges to the status quo, organizations risk becoming stagnant and out of touch with the diversity of the global marketplace.
- Principle 2: Treat employees with genuine care and respect, recognizing that each one has something special to offer.
At Ergon, we understand that everyone at every level of the organization contributes to our continued success. Since my days as a chemical engineering co-op at Ergon Refining Inc., I’ve always appreciated how the Ergon family encourages people to think critically and independently, and operate from a solutions-oriented mindset, knowing they have full support when needed. It’s what we like to call Empowered Service, Respectful Relationships, Purposeful Growth and Selfless Leadership — core Ergon values we will continue to extend to up-and-coming generations of employees.
The key, however, is bringing all our unique perspectives together, like pieces of a puzzle, for the greatest outcome for our business and our customers. Not just a family business, Ergon operates as a family, understanding that collaboration and synergy unlock a wealth of opportunities to make a positive impact.
Get to Know Who You Serve
To maintain a service-oriented business, let alone a family business, you must be in tune with your customers’ changing needs. Mr. Lampton always said Ergon’s success is based on our ability to clearly understand the needs of our customers, both today and in the future. The only way to understand these needs is to be intentional about building and maintaining relationships.
- Principle 3: Build true and caring relationships with our customers, anticipating their needs even before they are aware of them.
Our companies are diverse in terms of the markets and applications we serve. At the same time, our family of businesses are collaborative and highly integrated. Because we serve many markets and applications from multiple businesses, we have a unique view of our customers and what we can do to meet their specific needs. Ultimately, we strive to create competitive advantages for our customers through the innovative products and solutions we provide.
Without true and caring relationships, we could not have the insights to understand our customers’ unique needs. As a family company that considers customers part of the Ergon family too, we understand the value of strong business relationships to the longevity of our organization and the success of those we serve.
Maintain a Mission-Focused View of the Future
Ergon is always looking for opportunities to expand the impact of our original mission worldwide, while maintaining our commitment to Doing Right for our customers, employees and the communities we serve. It all goes back to impact. We’re looking to grow with innovation to make good on our desire to improve the lives of others around the world.
- Principle 4: Keep your eyes focused on the horizon while maintaining a long-term, mission-focused view across the Ergon family of companies.
Our business strategy and goal to be a global leader in the industries we serve require us to look across a 10-year horizon, not just the next few months. We’re conscious about avoiding short-term decisions that may impact not only quarterly earnings, but our ability to invest in growth opportunities, technologies, employee development programs, community service/giving back initiatives and more. Guided by strategic imperatives, including safety, people, customers, investments, growth and collaboration, the Ergon family is working diligently to create long-term avenues for sustainable success across our businesses. These efforts are made possible through the ongoing support of generations of Lampton family members.
Family Support
Maintaining the family aspect of a family-owned and -operated business is easier when you have the support of the founding family. Second, third and soon-to-be fourth generation Lamptons are all actively involved across the Ergon organization. The family also consistently reinvests back into the company to allow us to explore growth opportunities to ensure a sustainable future as industries shift and the needs of our customers evolve. We have a healthy blend of collaboration among Lampton family and extended family, from business operations to community outreach and more, that allows us to continue to live out our original mission with an eye toward innovation and progress for a bright future.
Keep Telling the Story
Just as important as it is for family to be involved with and supportive of future endeavors, it’s equally as important for newer generations to know the history of our organization and what drives all our efforts. Ergon’s foundation of service is something that will never waver, no matter how far we go. It’s this foundation, established over 70 years ago, that keeps us steady as we navigate the changing tides of our industries.
Mr. Lampton’s principles have guided us through seven decades and are how I’ve approached my position as a leader of this incredible family business. I’m especially grateful to the Lampton family for all they continue to do for Ergon and the opportunities they entrust us with to move the business forward.
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