Now enjoying its 50th anniversary, Lone Star Chemical looks back on an eventful past and looks forward to an exciting future.
And the reason why past and future are so rich, as well as the present day, is because the family feeling is strong at this plastics and resins distributor. Here, “family” means more than kinfolks. It extends to customers, partners, suppliers, and everyone else with whom Lone Star interacts.
HOW IT BEGAN
Lone Star Chemical, a family-owned and family-built business, traces its success to one man’s dream five decades ago. Mike McAlister, a young, ambitious Fina Oil employee, left behind a secure and successful role as their national sales manager for polystyrene. The step held no guarantees and lots of challenges. But Mike had obtained Fina’s agreement that they would employ his newly established business, Lone Star Chemical, as adistribution partner for Fina’s plastics output.
Mike’s son Kip came to work for Lone Star in 1993. Kip is now the CEO/president. Under his lead, the company increased its sales force and added several new suppliers.
LSC started with polystyrene but has expanded to offer a full range of products from polypropylene and polyethylene to engineering resins along with a recent venture into bio-plastics. The company has salespeople and warehousing placed strategically throughout the U.S. to service the needs of customers.
WHAT IT TAKES
The company’s strength has been relationships, Mike says. “We’ve had several customers for decades and they are part of the LSC family,” he said. “Kip has continued my philosophy that building strong relationships is our most valuable tool. Matt [Matt Marshall, Vice President of Purchasing and Sales] is also a hard worker and is good at building relationships as well. ”Asked what he would like to say to the people he has known and worked with all these years—coworkers, suppliers, and customers alike—Mike McAlister didn’t hesitate. “I have really enjoyed having you all in my life and I’m grateful and thankful to have had the opportunity to do business with you for the past 50 years. I owe everything to these very important people and relationships.”
Lone Star Chemical: still going strong as a respected family-owned plastics distribution business, looking to the future with sustainability in mind!
