Risks and rewards

When Dale Hagerty purchased Cabinets by Charron in Escondido, Calif., in 1979, the deal included a small customer base, some basic machinery and a few anxious employees. It was hard, even for Hagerty, to imagine that the business would prosper for another 31 years and counting.

"Thinking back now, I am quite surprised at some of the things that we were able to produce with what we had to work with," says Hagerty.