NFIB

Twenty years ago, John Raine bought a failing manufacturing and distribution business and set out to make it something he could be proud of. He had been interested in having a business of his own since his college days, and he bolstered his engineering background with an MBA in anticipation of eventual self-employment.

“I started working in the corporate world, but I read magazines about entrepreneurship, spent 10 years planning for my business and raised money until I could afford to buy something,” Raine explains. “My wife finally said to me, ‘Either put up or shut up,’ ” he adds with a laugh. So, he put his life savings on the line, realizing that one slip could land him back in the corporate world, where he didn't want to be.

He established Raine, Inc. in 1986 as a one-man operation, but over the last two decades the business has grown to become a leading provider of nylon field gear for military and law enforcement applications, operating with 12 full-time employees in a 23,000-square foot space.

“I wanted a business that would make me proud to ask customers years later how they like the product they purchased,” says Raine, who believes in a simple, well built design that maintains a focus on technological innovations and changing user needs. “These products have to hold up and perform. It takes a lot of work and communication throughout the organization to produce products that will benefit both our retailers and the end users. We have to earn our keep every day.”

Adding to the daily challenges of running a successful business is the tangle of regulations handed down by the government. It was a proposal to shift the state property tax burden from homeowners and big business to small business four years ago that led Raine to NFIB.

“I called the Chamber of Commerce seeking help on the property tax measure, but it was more of a big business- and manufacturer-oriented group,” he explains. “NFIB was different; it was geared totally toward small business. [Former State Director] Ed Bowman was a totally effective lobbyist; he worked with both sides to protect against major damage. I was impressed, and I joined.”

Noting that NFIB/Indiana is blessed with another skilled advocate in current State Director Jason Shelley, Raine says he is an active participant in NFIB events and a current member of the local Area Action Council. He also has testified on legislation before the State House and keeps a close watch on issues related to taxes and medical insurance.

“I'm a fanatic when it comes to supporting small business,” Raine says. “Entrepreneurship is in my blood. I grew up with small business in my family, and I know it’s the backbone of our economy.”