Angela Harrison
CEO, president and owner of Welsco Inc. in North Little Rock
Angela Harrison leads Welsco Inc., a 71-year-old welding supply and industrial gas supplier in North Little Rock with locations in 14 Arkansas cities and in Tulsa.
Q: What are your daily work responsibilities and how have those changed throughout the years?
A: My activities change from day to day. I typically look over the financial statements, review sales and accounts receivable and resolve any issues that may arise. My daily activities change from year to year because I have wonderful and reliable employees who continue taking on additional responsibilities and allow me to focus on new opportunities for the growth and development of the company.
Q: What are some of the greatest positives of running a family-owned business?
A: Even though we have 120 employees, we still are just a big family. If an employee has a question or needs some help, they can call me or anyone else in management to get what they need. Also, with being a family-owned business, it is important that we give back to our community. We are a corporate sponsor for Easter Seals, and I serve on the board. Sometimes, when you work for a public company, you don’t get to be involved in those kinds of rewarding activities.
Q: Are there challenges specific to managing a family-owned business?
A: The real challenge I have now is that, because it is a family-owned business in which I am the fourth-generation owner, I want to keep the success going. We have been in business for 71 years, so there have been several nights that I couldn’t sleep just thinking about things. I know that sometimes in a family business, you can have too much family and that can get in the way. My dad and I both experienced buying out family members, which can be hard both financially and emotionally.
Q: What challenges have you faced as a female executive in your industry?
A: The only challenge is just gaining the respect of your peers. I have loved this industry from day one.
Q: How much do you involve your family in running Welsco?
A: I am the only member of my family left in the business. I took over the business in 1994, and my father retired soon after that. As far as my immediate family, my husband Petey King is not involved in the business. However, he does sometimes have to be my sounding board and put up with me after I have had a hard day. My daughters are Haven, who is 11, and Ashton, who is 9. They are too young to be involved, but they do enjoy coming to work with me when they are out of school.
Q: What goals do you have for Welsco’s next seven decades?
A: My goals for the next decades are to keep Welsco family owned. I am hoping one of my daughters, if not both, will want to take over the company. But that is their choice. Right now, I just want to keep on growing the company and having fun doing it. My father passed away two years ago this month. I want to continue our family tradition and to make him proud.
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