Upsize Business Builder of the Year
About this project
claims. Before the advertising, though, came
the focus groups, where Hayden learned
the "property manager" title that most such
companies use meant nothing to consumers—customers surveyed were unable to
name the main tasks property managers do.
But when "landlord" was used, everybody
knows the drill. Now, "we refer to ourselves
as professional landlords," Hayden says.
Hayden is an early "retiree"—although
it's clear he doesn't mean that he's out of the
game—because two months ago he appointed his long-time trusted employee as CEO.
Now Hayden acts as "a walking billboard"
and chief brand spokesperson.
about the judges
"I knew this business was going to outgrow Judges for the Upsize Business Builder Awards were asked to consider three criteria: three-year
my expertise," he says to explain the change certified revenue growth, impact of the best practice on company performance, and sustainability of
in titles and roles, and he enrolled at MIT's the growth model. They are, l to r: Dean Willer, attorney, Winthrop & Weinstine, dwiller@winthrop.
entrepreneurial education program, among com ; Rick Brimacomb, founder, Brimacomb + Associates, rick@brimacomb.com; Georgene
others, to learn how to lead a fast-growing Bergstrom, circulation director, Upsize Minnesota; Terri Banaszewski, Sunrise Banks, terri.
business.
banaszewski@sunrisebanks.com; Wes Bergstrom, publisher, and Beth Ewen, editor, Upsize.
He's developed his own business philosophy in just a few years, which includes his rejection of some of the common lines. You've
ing," he recalls—and then came the housheard the saying, "fail fast, fail often and learn
ing crash. "A year later the wheels quit
from your failures," Hayden says. "I thought Torqbuddy LLC
turning and we closed the business."
that was cool" when he first learned the adHis lifestyle downgraded quickly. "It
Inventor by necessity builds was feast no longer and famine for sure,"
age, but then he changed his mind.
"I thought that was the stupidest thing tools to fill a need
he says, and he took a job selling tools.
I've ever heard. Why learn from failure—
But he read every magazine he could,
you only learn what not to do. I believe you
attended every seminar he learned about,
should learn from successes," he now con- Jeff Backlund was satisfied with and finally made his move. "I squirreled
tends.
his residential remodeling and construc- away enough to compete with my comtion business for years. "At the time I was petitor," and start his own tool business.
lazy and content with what we were doIn 2010 Backlund discovered an oppor22
upsize december 2013 • january 2014
www.upsizemag.com
photo by jonathan hankin
The Upsize Business Builder Awards, presented
by Winthrop & Weinstine, is an annual contest
designed to recognize Minnesota entrepreneurs
for driving smart, sustainable growth. From
nominations, Upsize selected five finalists: Vicky
Vogt, Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery, vicky@
fourdaughtersvineyard.com; Martin Hebig,
Maverick Software Consulting,
mhebig@mavericksoftware.com; Brenton Hayden,
Renters Warehouse, brenton@renterswarehouse.
com; Jeff Backlund, Torqbuddy, jeff@torqbuddy.
com; and Jamin Arvig, WaterFilters.net, arvig@
commercialwaterdistributing.com. They presented
their stories in a private session in December,
after which judges named Jamin Arvig the Upsize
Business Builder of the Year. Upsize is proud to
present all five impressive entrepreneurs in these
pages, in hopes that every business owner will
draw wisdom and inspiration from their tales.
