Montana Business Continues Family Legacy
Hi-Heat Industries
Hi-Heat Industries continues prioritizing top-quality products, a positive work culture, and creating a sustainable future in Lewistown!
Hi-Heat Industries is thriving under a newly formed Board of Directors, a Legacy Committee, and dedicated employees after its founders’ deaths, Charlie Guinn and Susan Knedler. The “Charlie Guinn and Susan Knedler Revocable Living Trust” manages the transition. Because of Charlie and Susan’s hard work and vision for their legacy, Hi-Heat will be sustainable well into the future.
The History and Legacy of Hi-Heat Industries
Charlie and Susan founded Hi-Heat Industries in 1981 in Kansas City, Missouri, and relocated to Lewistown in 1990. After a decade of significant growth, the owners built the leadership and consulting teams that have taken over since. Now, a trustee, a board of directors, a legacy committee, and employees oversee the company.
Hi-Heat Industries specializes in manufacturing flexible heating elements. Our heaters are in a wide range of products, including enclosure heaters, heated food display cases, and medical equipment. Hi-Heat brings decades of experience in the industry, with 109 combined years of sales and application knowledge, 206 combined years of production skill, and 112 combined years of support. We are positioned as the go-to resource for high-quality flexible heaters.
Charlie and Susan are sorely missed at Hi-Heat Industries. They were active in the community, working with local organizations, including the Montana Chamber of Commerce and the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board. They believed in buying local; a philosophy Hi-Heat continues to embrace.
Carrying the mission forward
The Board of Directors and the Legacy Committee’s mission is now designed to carry Charlie and Susan’s vision into the next generation. The mission has three parts:
- “Dream it, make it, heat it.” The Hi-Heat team strives to maintain stakeholder value. This includes proactively managing change, exceeding expectations, and facing problems head-on.
- Innovation as an employer, including eliminating all boundaries when serving the industry. Diversity and culture are top priorities as the team resolves complex heating issues.
- Hi-Heat aims to create a culture where all stakeholders appreciate each other. Stakeholders commit to a code of accountability, kindness toward others, and a passion for their work.
Hi-Heat Industries looks forward to continuing to serve the heating industry with high-quality products.
