P&Q Profile: MGQ Inc.’s Lynn Radabaugh

Radabaugh

MGQ Inc. is located in northwest Ohio and comprised of multiple divisions, including one dedicated to aggregate. P&Q caught up with company president Lynn Radabaugh to hear more about business in the Buckeye State.

How did you get your start in the aggregate industry?

I started in 1997 at MGQ, and we’ve grown from there. We’re a mining business, and we’ve advanced more into industrial minerals. We were in the highway paving business, as well, and had been since 1946 under a different company name. We were consumers of aggregate. At the time, we were doing mining mainly for ourselves to a large extent. Two lime kilns had shut down in the early 1980s, and that required us to buy a substantial amount of equipment.

Can you take us through your typical workday?

The morning is usually whatever problem is out there. The afternoon is trying to solve the problem that might be there tomorrow.

Pictured with Jim Meckstroth, at left, Lynn Radabaugh serves as Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association board president. Photo: OAIMA

Is there anything new or exciting going on at MGQ Inc.?

We’re currently expanding our industrial minerals side in a large way, more so than any aspect of our company. We’re expanding different product lines. With industrial minerals, you have a size-sensitive customer or a chemically-sensitive customer.

How is your company and the industry in Ohio faring through the coronavirus pandemic?

I think most people are working in the mining business and also heavy highway. I think it’s yet to be seen what the total impact is going to be. A lot of things are sales tax-funded, and those sales taxes are going to be nonexistent in the months to come.

Have you made any major adjustments to the business, or do you expect the pandemic to fundamentally change anything about the business?

Unless you have your own office inside of our office complex, I sent you home and had you work from home. If you had your own office with a door, I allowed you to stay. We use hand sanitizer and haven’t had any issues out here.

FIVE THINGS

BEST ADVICE RECEIVED – To be an honest businessperson

SPORTS – Ohio State Buckeyes

HOBBIES – Collect coins

TRAVEL – As long as it’s new, clean and safe, it’s fun to go to different places.

BOOK – It’s been so long that I can’t remember the last one I read, but things are so virtual now that you can listen to them on your laptop.