Episode 4

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Published on:

6th Jun 2024

A Clear Step Forward: How Len Morris Built Viewrail by Building an Unbeatable Team

This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford talk with Len Morris, CEO of Viewrail, a modern stair company in Goshen, Indiana. Len’s background is multifaceted, having once been a pastor, he transitioned into an entrepreneur and business leader in the South Bend-Elkhart region. He shares the core values of Viewrail and the pivotal moments that have shaped his entrepreneurial outlook. Len discusses the need for entrepreneurs to constantly iterate and solve real problems for customers, how culture and mission drive every aspect of business, and why continuous forward-thinking is necessary to maintain a competitive edge in the industry.

Listen this week as we discuss the impact of culture in business and celebrate the manufacturing prowess of the South Bend Elkhart region.

QUOTES

  • “Life is about leading people for me, and it's about seeing more in people than they probably see in themselves.” -Len Morris [03:16]


  • “If it is an organized system and somebody else has already figured it out, I'm probably not interested. I think if you really are an entrepreneur, you're probably not interested in systems that are already figured out.” -Len Morris [23:38]




TIMESTAMPS

(01:31) Cultivating Excellence and Nurturing Flourishing Cultures

(07:31) Customer Communication

(15:15) Innovating Beyond Established Margins to Solve Real Problems

(20:26) Fostering Entrepreneurial Success Through Community Support

(27:55) Celebrating Midwestern Manufacturing and Secondary Market Leadership



RESOURCES

Len Morris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenmorris/ 


CONTACT

Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/ 

Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/

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About the Podcast

Rooted and Reaching
Stories about local Startups and Founders in South Bend and Elkhart
There’s a job to do, and in the South Bend - Elkhart region, a midwestern work ethic is changing the narrative from rusty to ready. Our cities are opening up and working together as a region—universities are engaging beyond their campuses, sharing their brainpower and realizing that they’re bigger and better with the community behind them. Organizations are reaching out to newcomers and helping them build local networks, leveling the playing field. Infrastructure is being creatively adapted to be gathering places where new deals are made, new collisions happen, and new entrepreneurs take root. Join the Rooted & Reaching podcast, where we discuss the startup life with entrepreneurs with connections to the South Bend - Elkhart region.

In doing this, we will inform the general public and ourselves about what resources are available and the major pain points of entrepreneurs in our region. This podcast is also intended to tell the amazing stories of our local entrepreneurs in the hope that it will inspire another person in the region considering an entrepreneurial pursuit to take that leap of faith and see the supportive atmosphere in the area.