A former Drake University football player who once aspired to a career in education, Bill Weidmaier, owner of Iowa-Des Moines Supply Inc., now sees his role in the business as teacher and coach – motivating his team to be successful. He purchased the business, which was founded in 1937 by the Mancuso family, in 1996 and since then has enacted dramatic changes that have taken the company to new heights. His successes recently earned him the title of Iowa Small Businessperson of the Year from the U.S. Small Business Administration. At 59 and still having fun, he’s not looking ahead to retirement, but instead is looking for new ways to challenge himself and his team. Weidmaier and his wife, Linda, have two children – Todd, the company’s vice president of sales and marketing, and Keri Ellingboe – and a 3-year-old granddaughter, Lauren.

Did you have any role models when you were young who led you into business?

Initially, when I went to college, my interest was in teaching and coaching, because that’s what my father did and I was always very involved in sports. I met my wife, and her father was very successful in a small business and that inspired me to think in terms of business with the hopes of maybe making more money. And what I’m doing now is teaching and coaching in the sport of business.

How do you see teaching and coaching apply to business?

The first number of years, your motive is to succeed, grow and support your family. I’m at the point in my life where my pleasures now are coaching the team and helping employees grow, develop and achieve beyond their expectations. You’re competing and building a team, and the better team you can build, the more you’re going to achieve.

Had you always envisioned becoming a small business owner?

Not necessarily. It was more just about getting involved in business and moving up. But it was always in the back of my mind. I believe every employee at some point dreams about having their own business and not working for somebody, but a very small percent of those people actually jump off the board and take that plunge. President Bush (in an address at the Small Business Week Conference) said the definition of a small business person is someone who would rather work 80 hours for themselves than 40 hours for someone else. And that’s exactly right.

Why did you finally take the plunge?

I was with a company, Boyt Manufacturing in New Jersey, for 12 years. I decided there must be a better way to make a living, and that if I was going to work that hard, I might as well work for myself. I resigned and spent a year looking for a business.

Why was Iowa-Des Moines Supply a good fit for you?

I’m a marketing- and sales-oriented guy. When I initially outlined what type of business would be most appropriate and appealed to my strengths, one of my first considerations was distribution. Iowa-Des Moines Supply was a good, established business with loyal customers and a good reputation, but it still had tremendous opportunities.

What were some of your initial fears about business ownership?

When you’re running a business for someone else, you can always pack your bags and leave. When you run your own business, no matter how difficult it gets, you have to fight the battles. Other than that, I run Iowa-Des Moines Supply as if I’m running it for someone else.

Why have you adopted that mindset?

You have a tremendous responsibility that you’re assuming when you’re head of a company, and that is the employees and their families. Those are my considerations when I make decisions. It’s not the consideration of the Weidmaier family.

What do you enjoy about being a small business owner?

I’m in control of my success. And I’m responsible for our success or lack of success. So I make tough decisions based on the good of the rest of the people. Like I tell them, if I have a weak third baseman, is it fair to you that I keep them playing third?

What motivates you?

I’m motivated by the idea that we can be better tomorrow than we are today. That’s the enjoyment of a business, to continue to see if you can take it to the next step. Arnold Palmer says he enjoys golf as much today as he did when he was younger because he thinks he can improve tomorrow over his ability today, and that’s exactly my feeling.

Is it your intention to keep Iowa-Des Moines Supply in the Weidmaier family?

I guess it’s not so much about keeping it in the family as it is that I didn’t buy it to turn around and sell it. I bought it to grow it, and people think I’m crazy, but I’m having fun. Even though a lot of my peers are retired or talking very seriously about retiring, I can’t see myself retiring for a while.

Will you ever fully retire?

I play racquetball – I don’t know how many more years I can play that – and I enjoy playing golf. But I don’t have a lot of hobbies, so business to me is a hobby. It’s like playing golf or racquetball: As long as I can continue to contribute and not get in the way and still enjoy it, I can see myself continuing to be involved.