Leading with Energy & Motivation

Heather Bruce, President and CEO of Osmundson Mfg. Co. is exemplified as a leader who can inspire and enrich the human experience by building a workplace culture where people can unlock their limitless potential. She is committed to fostering innovation, organizational agility, and high performance over time. Heather recognizes that her responsibility extends beyond business success; it encompasses society and the planet itself. This isn't an afterthought for her; it's at the core of her mission.

Heather's journey at Osmundson began when her father stepped in to rescue the company from near bankruptcy. He transformed it into what it is today, and now Heather continues that legacy. Her vision extends beyond immediate gains; she aims to leave a lasting impact. As she puts it, "I am of the mindset that you should leave something better than you found it. I want to leave Osmundson to be better off for the next generation."

Heather values clear communication, authenticity, and courage. By being straight forward, she builds trust, fosters deeper connections, and creates a positive workplace culture. Heather always puts her people above the bottom line or anything else. She is energetic and motivating, which is precisely what the next generation needs to succeed. Her commitment to leaving the world better than she found it sets her apart as a truly inspirational leader who shapes a brighter future for all.

Heather inspires and empowers her team by hiring the right people and giving them the space they need to perform at the highest skill level that they can. Heather makes it Osmundson's mission to hire based on their core values, including pride in their work and the expectation of excellence. "We received success within the first year of joining Osmundson's leadership. My biggest piece of advice is to go with your gut. There is always a reason why your intuition is speaking to you, and going against that is never a good idea," explains Heather, for whom her father has been a great source of inspiration. "He has influenced me in a lot of ways that relate to how I lead. From him I learned a servant-leader mentality – where you treat everyone the same, whether they are a school janitor or a Fortune 500 CEO. We all need and deserve the same respect and bring something unique and valuable to the table. I also lean on my husband's experience with leading people and refining my vision. I would like to be the kind of leader he has been in the US Army, and I have learned a lot from him about simplifying my ideas to translate across a large team and continue to grow the business."

Osmundson is a fifth-generation, family-owned manufacturer of high-quality, high-performance tillable blades and cultivation tools. Osmundson blades are 100% American-made and have been for over 120 years. Founded in 1903 as Osmundson Spade, the company employs approximately 100 people at its 142,000-s.f. headquarters and production facility in Perry, Iowa. The company recently broke ground on a new multimillion-dollar manufacturing facility in Mayfield, Kentucky. This facility will produce farming disc blades and create 80 quality jobs for the community in the coming years. The company's investment includes purchasing nearly 35 acres to construct a 150,000-s.f. plant. The facility will house two hot production lines as well as cold workstations that will produce 20-inch and larger disc blades for the agriculture and construction industries.

"We want to be a household name and the first call for our specialization in the manufacturing industry. By stepping into that role, we know we are providing quality products and stellar customer service. We are currently opening a second location for the first time in Osmundson's 121-year history," explains Heather. "Because we take pride in what we do and are hungry to grow, we have the power to drive forward. We treat our vendors, customers, and employees like they are part of the Osmundson family. That is who we are and who we've always been."

Heather's goal is always to continue learning, and that is evident from her never-ending list of personal goals. "I'm currently trying to become conversationally proficient in Spanish so that I can better communicate with all of my employees. I am actively learning how to coach by participating in leadership development in multiple forums," Heather shares. "When one goal gets knocked out, there is always something else I want to improve. Our next big accomplishment will hopefully be to earn Osmundson a spot in Iowa's Top Workplaces for 2024."

The company is diversifying and entering uncharted territories, and in the near future, one can expect to see immense growth and success from the Osmundson team. According to Heather, "The future looks bright, and I am looking forward to helping strengthen the city of Mayfield while keeping our roots in Perry strong. As for myself, I'm a CEO and a mom to four little ones. So, the possibilities for the future change every day!"