Charley Johnson and Brandon Mackay started working at SnugZ when they were in high school, and it quickly became more than a job for both of them.

Setting aside their original plans for the future, Johnson and Mackay stayed with SnugZ, building their careers and helping to build the company, founded in 1989 by Bryan and Patti Hicks.

Tragedy struck the company in 2004 when Patti Hicks, the company's chief executive officer, died. At the time, Mackay was chief operating officer for SnugZ, and Johnson was director of sales and marketing.

The two were thrust into leadership roles and, before long, decided to purchase the company from its remaining owners. SnugZ had no internal sales force at the time, so Johnson and Mackay staffed a company booth at nine trade shows in the period immediately after the sale — this despite the fact that Mackay was debilitated and in major pain from a dirt-biking accident.

The pair decided to expand SnugZ' capabilities into manufacturing lanyards, an unusual move given that most promotional products companies buy from outside vendors. SnugZ now has about 170 employees and is a major player in its industry — or, as Johnson put it: "There's one thing SnugZ and our competitors have in common — we both wake up every morning with SnugZ on our mind."

Besides its core lanyards business, SnugZ now sells lotions, hand sanitizers, lip balm, flashlights, candle sets, picnic items, electronics and a line of eco-friendly products. It has made products for the U.S. Army, Coca-Cola, Dell, Verizon, Lockheed Martin and dozens of others.