[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 30, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3076-S3077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING HAWKEYE MOLDING

 Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize 
an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American 
entrepreneurial spirit. This week it is my privilege to recognize 
Hawkeye Molding of Roland, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week 
during National Small Business Week.
  In 1979, Bob Russell and Mike Lawrence founded Hawkeye Molding in 
Albia as a plastic injection product manufacturer. Bob later became the 
sole owner of Hawkeye Molding and was critical to the company's growth 
and success. In 2007, he passed away, leaving behind a legacy of hard 
work, dedication to the community, and manufacturing excellence. In 
2008, Hawkeye Molding was purchased by an LED lighting manufacturer, 
Innovative Lighting, as an addition to their plastics division based in 
Roland. Innovative Lighting owners Jerry and Janet Handsaker continued 
to operate the Albia location as Hawkeye Molding, with their Roland 
plastic manufacturing facility operating under the Innovative Lighting 
name.
  In April 2021, the Handsakers sold Innovative Lighting's plastic 
division to Ryan Gruhn and Lana Leander, a husband-and-wife team. The 
Handsakers wanted the new owners of Hawkeye Molding to keep the 
company's roots in Iowa. Ryan and Lana purchased both plastic 
facilities from the Handsakers and included the Roland plastic facility 
under the Hawkeye Molding name.
  Today, Hawkeye Molding maintains a 58,000-square-foot manufacturing 
facility, warehouse, and company headquarters in Roland. It has 38 
horizontal injection molding machines and two 20-ton vertical injection 
molding machines to serve the molding needs of the agriculture, 
appliance, industrial, and lighting industries. The team also provides 
molding services for home and office furniture and manufacturing parts. 
The International Organization for Standardization certified Hawkeye

[[Page S3077]]

Molding for quality management systems.
  Hawkeye Molding is actively involved in the Story County community. 
The small business is a proud member of the Ames Chamber of Commerce, 
and in 2022, the chamber awarded Ryan and Lana with their Economic 
Impact Award. Hawkeye Molding was named the Iowa Farm Bureau's Renew 
Rural Iowa Entrepreneur Award in 2021 for its work in the Roland and 
Albia economies. Lana has also raised funds for St. Jude Children's 
Research Hospital. In 2024, Hawkeye Molding celebrated its third 
business anniversary under Ryan and Lana's ownership.
  Hawkeye Molding's commitment to providing custom injection molded 
parts and products while keeping manufacturing jobs in Roland is clear. 
I want to congratulate Ryan Gruhn, Lana Leander, and the entire Hawkeye 
Molding team for their continued dedication to the manufacturing 
industry. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success 
in Iowa.

                          ____________________