Heritage Packaging marks 10 years under current ownership
Celebrates completion of a new addition to the factory

[June 24, 2017]   LINCOLN - On Friday morning, employees, management, owners, friends and family gathered together at Heritage Packaging on Fifth Street Road in Lincoln. They were there to celebrate two milestones in the history of the company.

The corrugated box factory celebrated the completion of a recent addition of warehouse space with a ribbon cut hosted by the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors. The addition of the new warehouse space now gives the factory a total of 74,000 square feet working space under one roof.

The company was also celebrating tens years under the ownership of Greg Basford and Steve Douglas. Basford and Douglas purchased the company from the Tapper family on June 17, 1997. Basford moved his family to Lincoln and took over the active management of the facility.

Over the last ten years the company has grown significantly, and throughout that history, Basford and Douglas have continually worked to upgrade the manufacturing capabilities as well as doing upgrades to make the factory more efficient.

To celebrate the ten-year milestone, the factory was going to shut down production at 11 a.m. on Friday. Basford explained that there was to be a cookout with food served after the ribbon cut. Employees were invited to enjoy a meal on the management, and guests on hand for the ribbon cut would also be invited to stay.

After lunch, as a token of appreciation from the owners, employees would be given the balance of the day off with pay.

Greg Basford, Cathy Wilhite and Steve Douglas

As the time approached for the ribbon cut, Basford was surprised by the number of people from the community that had come out to help him and Douglas celebrate. The dining area was quickly expanded with the addition of more tables and chairs to accommodate all the guests.

Members of the Chamber staff, Chamber Ambassadors, city of Lincoln representatives, employees, and family and friends gathered behind the ribbon while the overflow to guests stood off to the side.

Chamber President Cathy Wilhite welcomed everyone to the ribbon cutting. She asked Lincoln Alderman Michelle Bauer to say a few words on behalf of the city.

Bauer said she wanted to congratulate Basford and Douglas on their great success and their accomplishments, particularly the expansion project. She said she wanted to thank Basford for the continued work toward the expansion of Lincoln, for his dedication to Heritage employees, and his continued involvement and commitment to the community. She ended saying, “We are grateful to have people like this expanding and growing their businesses in Lincoln.”

Wilhite introduced Basford, noting that he was also the Chamber Board President.

Basford began by saying thanks to all who had come out. He said he wanted to share a little bit of the history of the ownership of Heritage Packaging. He noted that ten years ago on June 17th, Douglas, Basford and Basford’s father purchased the company. He recognized several folks who were involved in the company including one of his board members.

He explained that the company was founded 40 years ago by Alan and Nancy Prisk. The Prisk’s began the small family business in the basement of their home, and grew it into a manufacturing company. Basford said that the Prisk’s were not able to attend on Friday, but had expressed congratulations to Basford. He said that Prisk had told him just recently that he was very proud to see what his company had become.

Basford, Marilyn Tapper and Wilhite

The Prisk’s sold their factory to the Tapper family. On Friday, Marilyn Tapper was on hand at the ribbon cut and stood nearby. Basford introduced her as “his friend” that he wanted to be a part of this celebration.

Basford said that when he is out and about, people will comment about all that he has done with the company. He contended that he really hasn’t done anything, it is the people who work for Heritage that have made the growth and expansion of the company possible. “It is all my employees here that make things happen. We have a great group of employees here and I am very, very proud of these people.”

Basford moved on saying he wanted to acknowledge his wife and family. He noted that prior to buying Heritage, he had moved the family around a lot. He said his four kids had attended three schools in three states. He said he was thankful that they found a place to call home, and that he would have one kid who actually grew up here.

Basford said his wife had been very supportive of this last move, in spite of the manner in which he presented it to her. “I said we’re going to go buy a company in a state we don’t know the first think about, in a place we’ve never been, with a bunch a people I don’t know. Whatta’ ya think!!!” He concluded saying, “She believed in me.”

Basford closed with an acknowledgement of specific employees and then joined with Douglas to snip the ribbon as guests clapped and cheered the latest accomplishment of the company.

Everyone present was then invited to stay and visit and enjoy a meal with Heritage management and employees.

[Nila Smith]