In this episode of Celebrating Small Family Businesses, we sit down with Mike and Roggen Frick, the father-and-son team behind Bear Iron Works, a fast-growing manufacturing company serving the civil construction industry nationwide.

What started as a few handmade rock screens turned into a full-scale operation—launched during COVID—built on trust, clear roles, strong culture, and smart systems. Mike and Roggen share how they’ve grown Bear Iron Works while working remotely, applying corporate principles without losing the heart of a family business.

This conversation is full of practical insights for family business owners, contractors, and anyone navigating growth without sacrificing relationships.

1. How Bear Iron Works got started—almost by accident
2. Turning a side hustle into a scalable manufacturing business
3. Launching and growing during COVID
4. Separating family roles from business roles
5. Running operations remotely without losing quality or culture
6. Cash flow challenges and the shift to e-commerce
7. Applying corporate principles in a small family business
8. Building trust across generations
9. What’s next for Bear Iron Works

Bear Iron Works designs and manufactures heavy-duty equipment for the civil construction industry, including grizzly rock screens, bedding boxes, concrete washout tubs, tracking pads, and more. Their products are built in the U.S. and shipped nationwide.

🌐 Website: https://bearironworks.net

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1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bearironworks/
2. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearIronWorks
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearironworks/
4. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bearironworks

00:00:00 – Introduction to Bear Iron Works and the Frick family

00:01:00 – How Bear Iron Works first got started

00:02:00 – Building grizzly rock screens during college

00:04:00 – Restarting the business during COVID

00:05:00 – Early growth and first major customers

00:07:00 – Running the business remotely

00:09:00 – Separating family and business roles

00:12:00 – Growing up in construction and learning in the field

00:15:00 – Standing out in the construction management world

00:16:00 – Being offered buyouts—and saying no

00:18:00 – Cash flow challenges during rapid growth

00:20:00 – Moving to e-commerce to stabilize cash flow

00:23:00 – What Mike and Roggen have learned about each other

00:25:00 – Trust, leadership, and letting the next generation lead

00:27:00 – Applying corporate principles in a family business

00:30:00 – Company culture and the four-day work week

00:32:00 – What’s next for Bear Iron Works

00:35:00 – Final advice for small and family business owners

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