NFIB Local Member Profile: Douglass Henry of Pennsylvania
Douglass Henry, CEO of Henry Molded Products, a company that began in 1963, discusses his new role as a NFIB board member and the evolution of his small business.
Name: Douglass Henry
Business: Henry Molded Products
Location: Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Employees: 100+
How did you become a small business owner, and why?
I acquired the company from the family 22 years ago, recognizing the opportunities to be presented by pursuing a sustainable product line base. We evolved from the original products that were serving the horticultural container industry with biodegradable horticultural containers (flower pots) and also decorative vases for the floral horticultural industry (banquets, churches, weddings and funerals).
What makes Pennsylvania a good place to do business?
We’re pivotally located geographically to serve most of the East Coast and into the Midwest effectively.
What could Pennsylvania do better?
We could be much more tax friendly to the enhancement and growth of independent business and small business. We could be more regulatory friendly, without so many onerous constrictions and costly compliance items. We could certainly have a more economically friendly health service provision system.
What is the best part of your day?
All parts of my day are challenging and fulfilling. As much as you like to plan and strategically lay out what’s in front of you, there’s never a dull moment. Small business owners have to remain nimble, flexible and responsive, whether it’s to internal requirements or external markets and, of course, in our world, regulatory realities.
What advice would you give small business owners?
To be ready for a fun yet hard working ride that requires perseverance, a great sense of humor and the willingness to innovate.
Why did you join NFIB?
For me, it was always the best and most positive forum for independent and small business advocacy in the face of increasing intrusion by government and regulatory forces. So it’s a unified voice that advocates for the wellbeing of that segment, which I regard as the most important segment of our economy.
Tell me about your new role as a board member.
Well the paint isn’t dry yet, but I just returned from my first board planning retreat. It was very exhilarating to not only be energized not only by the national NFIB agenda, but by preparing to alert the candidates in the upcoming election cycle to the important role that independent business plays in the wellbeing of this country. It is the lynchpin of our economic and political democracy and it’s what keeps us on track and competitive in today’s global economy.
How has NFIB helped you run your small business?
They are always providing us with technical and informational resources that we may not otherwise have access to because, again, independent businesses don’t always have a huge inventory of resources like larger, publicly traded companies do. We don’t always have the bench strength and the staffing. We don’t have in-house tech expertise. So as an association, as a federation, we can share resources with each other through the network that NFIB has built over the years.
What do you like to do off the clock?
I do some traveling. I support and produce performing arts activities. I play a little bit of golf.
