In the small town of Rutledge, Georgia, a family-owned business is making a global impact, one precision mold at a time. Since 1998, Versatile Mold and Design has specialized in designing, building and maintaining high-precision molds for thermoset and thermoplastic materials. Founded by Robert Heusser and now led by Robert (Bob) Heusser Jr., and his siblings Tim, Frank and Suzanne, the company has earned a reputation for innovation, quality and reliability across a range of industries.
But even the most technically advanced companies need support to navigate growth, manage workforce challenges and evolve with market demands. That’s where the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) came in.
“We kept getting asked by one of our biggest customers, Eaton Corporation, to put together a five-year business plan,” said Versatile president Bob Heusser. “We didn’t really know how to do that, and our accountant couldn’t offer much support. Then someone told us about the University of Georgia and how they worked with businesses like ours. That’s how we got started.”
Since that initial connection in 2012, UGA SBDC consultants have partnered with Versatile Mold and Design on nearly every aspect of their business—from strategic planning and financial forecasting to workforce development and exporting.
With support from former UGA SBDC consultant Laura Katz, the company developed its first formal five-year business plan. That roadmap became instrumental in strengthening its relationship with Eaton and justifying investments in advanced manufacturing technology.
“The SBDC helped us build the case to purchase a high-speed machining center, which allowed us to improve efficiency and profitability,” Heusser said. “We were also able to invest in new technologies that reduced the need for time-consuming secondary operations like polishing.”
This targeted growth strategy enabled Versatile Mold and Design to scale operations, add capacity and stay ahead of competitors by integrating cutting-edge equipment and processes.
As the business expanded, so did its workforce and the need for effective human resources practices. Facing cultural and communication challenges among a diverse team of employees, Heusser and his siblings turned again to the UGA SBDC office in Athens.
“We do a lot of work in Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica and it was becoming very hard for us to hire a lot of technical help in this area. To meet this need, we hired about a dozen people from the University of Puerto Rico and one of the trade schools there. We started to have some internal issues, people weren’t getting along,” said Heusser. “The UGA SBDC came in, conducted conflict resolution training for our staff, and the problems were resolved almost immediately. It was quite wonderful to work with them.”
The UGA SBDC also helped the company conduct an employee satisfaction survey and create an employee handbook—key steps in building a more cohesive, values-driven workplace.
In another initiative, UGA SBDC consultants guided the company through an exercise to define its core values and competencies, an eye-opening process that helped unify leadership and clarify the company’s mission.
“It helped us focus and communicate that focus both internally and to our customers,” Heusser said. “The fact that we were working with the University of Georgia really made an impression on our clients.”
In 2017, Heusser completed the UGA SBDC’s GrowSmart program, an intensive training course designed to help business owners plan for sustainable growth. The experience connected him with peers, industry experts and lenders, while also introducing digital tools and marketing strategies that fueled new client relationships.
“GrowSmart helped me understand how to use platforms like LinkedIn to market our services,” Heusser said. “That’s how I connected with medical technology companies, and it just snowballed from there.”
The program also laid the groundwork for a smooth acquisition process when Heusser later decided to sell the company.
“We had sold a business before using a consultant, but this time, thanks to what I learned from UGA, we were able to handle it ourselves. It was so much easier,” Heusser said.
With UGA SBDC support, Versatile Mold and Design’s revenue grew from $3 million to $9 million. The company expanded its workforce from 28 to 52 employees and increased export sales to $2.7 million. What started as a mold supplier for the electrical industry evolved into a trusted partner for major medical technology companies.
In May 2024, Versatile Mold and Design entered a new chapter when it was acquired by The Heico Companies, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Heico’s Industrial Technologies Group. The acquisition has created exciting opportunities for continued investment, facility expansion and deeper integration into global markets.
When asked what advice he would offer other small business owners looking to make that next step for their business, Heusser doesn’t hesitate.
“Stay open minded and use the resources around you, especially those available through the UGA Small Business Development Center. Their support was invaluable to us.”
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
All programs of the UGA SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
The UGA SBDC is an accredited member of America’s SBDC.
The University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center
382 East Broad Street
Athens, GA 30602-5412
P: (706) 542-2762
