Hillco, Inc. - Nezperce
Due to the prolonged slump in the agricultural market over the past several years, the owners of Hillco, Inc. felt the need to embark on a plan of reinventing the company. Hillco is a family owned business that develops, manufactures, sells and supports combine leveling systems and other performance improving after-market products for new and used combines (harvesters). Owned by Lenny Hill and Carroll and Charlene Keith, Hillco has been in the agricultural equipment manufacturing business since 1982. It began the development of its first leveling system in 1992 and since that time has become the leading manufacturer of aftermarket combine leveling systems in the country.
The areas the owners felt needed improving were streamlining operations, considering government contracts as a way to diversify revenue sources, implementing a job cost accounting system and adding new product lines that aren't tied to the cyclical nature of agriculture. Realizing from the outset that they would need help to accomplish these goals, they contacted the Region II Idaho Small Business Development Center.
Lenny was elected to the Board of directors of the North Idaho Manufacturers Association (NIMA) in July of 2002. NIMA was developed through the efforts of the Region II Idaho SBDC and Lewis-Clark State College to assist small rural manufacturers in obtaining assistance in areas where they need help. Through the NIMA group, the Region II ISBDC was able to explain the breadth of services they provide and Hillco's management team decided to seek assistance.
The Idaho SBDC has been able to work with Hillco in establishing a job cost accounting system, show the positive and negative aspects of government contracting, and help find new products that they may be able to produce in the future. Lenny and Charlene also took a NxLevel class where they formulated the process of examining their business and also wrote a business plan that will create a roadmap for the future growth of their company.
The management team at Hillco has been able to see the positive results that can be gained by working with the Idaho SBDC, and they look forward to using their expertise to keep Hillco the leader in the combine leveling system business.
