NFIB

Happy Chicken Egg Farms has grown over the years, from the garage of the Lackey Family home in Grandview to its new, state-of-the-art food distribution warehouse in Grove City, Ohio. Bruce Lackey, the eldest son of founders Lee and Marjorie Lackey, is the current president and CEO while his mother, wife and several brothers, sisters and in-laws hold positions within the company. It's very much a family operation as third-generation sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and others have worked part-time during summers and school breaks in what has become affectionately known as the "Happy Chicken Experience."

"All family members must start on the delivery routes -- or wash trucks once they can reach high enough like most of the second generation boys did -- and earn their way through all the various job categories to achieve a management position," said Bruce Lackey of the up-and-coming third-generation of Lackey family leaders. "If anything, we practice 'reverse discrimination' where the family member knows he or she must constantly outperform the job description before they can receive any special recognition."

The family atmosphere at Happy Chicken Farms is one of the hallmarks of the organization that has provided eggs, dairy products and other services in the Columbus area since 1953. "We will have positive family dynamics, or else!" joked Lackey. "Actually, all of the family members that work for the company get along very well because they realize that there is a tremendous interdependency at work. ... We like to have fun both as a family, and as a business."

As the leader of Happy Chicken Farms, Lackey says a top priority of his job is to keep happy and productive employees. He recently calculated that most of the top employees at Happy Chicken have more than 11 years of tenure with the company. Lackey credits the successful level of employee retention to the focus on employee benefit programs that range from tobacco cessation and flu shot incentives to a sabbatical program for senior employees.

"We believe all these programs, plus the harmonious environment in general, allows us to retain excellent people," said Lackey.

Happy Chicken became a member of NFIB in 1986 because Lackey was interested in its focus on political issues that pertained to the business and because of its "affinity for family business."

"NFIB helps keep me advised of important issues that may affect my company," said Lackey. "It's a decent networking tool and provides a forum to interact with policymakers."

Lackey is an active member of the Columbus Area Action Council who enjoys having the opportunity to debate and discuss the business issues in which NFIB is involved.

"If you're going to pay the dues, you should participate," said Lackey. "This way I can complain or praise policy and be heard. I enjoy hearing other business owners' opinions on important issues and then debating accordingly to test how strong or valid my positions are."