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Description of the business and growth plan
<br />Chuck Soderholm Sr and a good business friend founded Soderholm & Associates in 1959. The
<br />company, a Manufacturers' Representative (Rep) agency specialized in the sales of leading brands of
<br />water heaters and water softeners. Over time, this line card grew to incorporate a larger number of
<br />plumbing and HVAC manufacturers from around USA and Canada. In 1971, Chuck Sr decided to invest in
<br />manufacturing his own brand of water softeners, and thus WCC (Water Control Corporation) was born.
<br />In the late 1970's, Chuck purchased land across the street from the local airport in Ramsey, MN; and in
<br />1980, construction began on the facility that the companies continue to call home. The project GC was
<br />Sharp Construction, with Chuck Senior and Denny Sharp becoming good friends in the process. But a
<br />great deal has changed over nearly 45 years. What started as a 2 person business expanded to a larger,
<br />family enterprise with 10+ employees. By the year 2000, more than 15 individuals depended on the
<br />business for their livelihoods. Soderholm & Associates had developed a solid reputation nationally as a
<br />model Rep agency. WCC had a nice book of water softening customers (residential and commercial
<br />plumbers) in the Upper Midwest.
<br />Starting in 2003, the company began investing a great deal more in its WCC division. New products for
<br />water recycling, high -purity water, and the removal of difficult contaminants were added to the product
<br />mix. Fabricators were hired to build pre -packaged water treatment systems, with all plumbing and
<br />electrical connections completed prior to shipment/installation. Sales revenues increased from around
<br />$1.5 million annually to nearly $15 million annually. Opportunities around the USA, Canada, and
<br />Caribbean began to increase exponentially. The company brought on more fabricators, engineers,
<br />service technicians, salespeople, and customer service.
<br />Today, the company employs nearly 60 individuals, most from Ramsey and nearby communities. Most
<br />of the jobs pay $60,000 - $160,000 annually. In 2015, the company owners, Chris and Brian Soderholm,
<br />sold their shares and formed a 100% Employee Owned (ESOP) company. They continue to offer a
<br />complete 401K and profit sharing plan. But these ESOP shares, which every employee qualifies for after
<br />12 months of service, offer a true wealth building opportunity for EVERYONE in the company: a chance
<br />to retire with a large nest egg. This program has created a culture of true ownership, care, and
<br />growth. Most employees stay for many many years, if not for their entire careers.
<br />Over the last 4 years, success and growth has led to serious space constraints in the current
<br />facility. Employees are now scattered over several buildings, with production split between 2 facilities
<br />and warehousing over 3. This has become quite inefficient and also does not make it easy to showcase
<br />the company to potential clients, many who make the trip from around USA and Canada, to Ramsey, to
<br />come for product training. For this reason, the company, now called The SA Group (the umbrella
<br />company for Soderholm & Associates, WCC, and our new/growing service company called Equip) has
<br />decided to embark on a 46,000 square foot building expansion. The project will once again be carried
<br />out by Sharp Construction and will include a complete fire sprinkling + remodel of the existing facility,
<br />hook up into city water and sewer, expanded parking lot with landscaping/ponding, and new road
<br />access via Limonite Street.
<br />The 46,000 extra square feet will allow WCC to triple its production capacity. 33 additional employees
<br />are anticipated to be needed between now and 2027. This will be for positions in customer service,
<br />production, purchasing, engineering, sales, and field service. These will be good paying jobs, with lots of
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