Celebrating 90 Years | The Heritage Group

This past November, The Heritage Group celebrated 90 years as a family-owned business.

From our humble beginnings — one man, one truck, and a dream — we are continually evolving to realize our founder John E. Fehsenfeld’s vision of a long-term family business, guided by his core family values.

Over the past 90 years, we’ve seen exponential growth, built on the shoulders of the Fehsenfeld family and our extended Heritage family of employees. Four generations of family leadership and our lasting relationships with employees, customers, and communities form a foundation that keeps us strong.

We started out delivering home heating oil during the Great Depression, and now operate more than 50 companies, and employ more than 7,000 hardworking people who want to make a difference. This is our story. This is our Heritage Family.

“The Heritage Group has never been in a better position than it is today. Let’s go for another 90 years.”

1930s

THE FIRST GENERATION

Our founding father: A man, a truck and a dream

With $10,000 and a dream, John E. "Jack" Fehsenfeld begins a residential home heating oil delivery service called Crystal Flash. Even during the Great Depression, Jack makes money each year, relying on his core values of honesty, integrity, and fairness, and his commitment to meeting customer needs and building lasting relationships.

1940s

THE FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION

Gathering Steam: Steady expansion and growth

The Crystal Flash business evolves into an independently branded series of convenience stores, which provide cash flow to support growth. Crystal Flash expands north, as Michigan Crystal Flash, operated by Frank Fehsenfeld's uncle, Art Barnes, who Frank joins in 1936. In Indiana, Mac Fehsenfeld runs the company. In 2002, Michigan Crystal Flash, which evolves into independently branded convenience stores, is sold to Speedway.

1950s

THE SECOND GENERATION

Paving the way: Becoming a construction leader

After he lays the foundation for success, John's vision of a family-owned business becomes a reality when he sells majority stock in the company to his three sons, Frank, Fred Sr., and Mac. In 1955, John appoints Fred Sr. to take over as CEO. Under Fred Sr. and the second generation of the Fehsenfeld family, The Heritage Group expands into asphalt and aggregates, paving the way to make The Heritage Group a market leader in the transportation, construction, and materials business. The company's first asphalt plant opens in Indianapolis in 1957.

1960s

THE SECOND GENERATION

A natural extension: Indiana aggregate

The aggregates business begins when The Heritage Group purchases Indiana quarries in order to make better roads and other products. The addition of high-quality aggregates sparks a period of dramatic growth and leads to the development of the Heritage construction business. The Heritage Group now owns more than 17 quarries throughout Indiana.

1970s

THE THIRD GENERATION

Going green: Environmental services

When we seize the opportunity to reclaim fuel from a company near one of our quarries, The Heritage Group enters what is now known as the environmental business. Our environmental group grows to become the largest privately held environmental services business in North America and an industry trailblazer, recognized by the EPA for having the cleanest record in the country. We launch both the first fully permitted hazardous waste landfill and the first certified EPA lab in the United States. We also grow to become a one-stop waste management solution for hazardous and non-hazardous waste streams, tailoring solutions to meet customer needs-whether landfill, recycling, or reuse.

1980s

THE THIRD GENERATION

Solving big problems: Game-changing research

In the late 1970s, Fred Jr. becomes CEO at 29 years old, and the third generation of Fehsenfeld family leadership begins. As a young leader, Fred Jr. inspires The Heritage Group core value with his mantra, "Bet on young people. They will surprise themselves!" With the help of John Vercruysse as CFO, Fred Jr. steers The Heritage Group into an exciting period of growth.

In 1980, Fred founds the Heritage Research Group, an in-house R&D laboratory, which helps The Heritage Group companies, customers, and partners evolve and adapt to an ever-changing marketplace. Supporting partners and customers, the research group provides innovative chemicals and now holds 55 patents with another 20 pending in the United States.

1990s

THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION

Refining our portfolio: Entering the chemical and fuel industries

A small bet leads to our entry into the specialty chemical and fuel product segments of our business when Fred Jr. purchases a bankrupt refinery in Louisiana and turns it around. This project leads to a partnership with the Grube family and the development of Calumet Specialty Products, which specializes in hydrocarbon and fuels. Calumet becomes a public company in 2006.

2000s

THE FOURTH GENERATION

Monumental progress: Growth in Specialty Chemicals

As the fourth generation joins the company, The Heritage Group strengthens its presence in the specialty chemicals industry. Amy Schumacher and the Grube family found Monument Chemical, and Amy becomes CEO of the new company. Closer to home, our pioneering use of steel slag for resurfacing the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2004 leads to world records.

International expansion continues in this decade, as The Heritage Group helps provide high performance polymerized asphalt and a waterproofing system for China's Qingdao Bay Bridge, one of the longest bridges in the world.

2010s

THE FOURTH GENERATION

Synergies and opportunities: Building on our strengths

The Heritage Group expands into global markets with operations in Kallo, Belgium. This decade, The New Ventures group is created to support innovation and growth through investments in our core and adjacent markets. The 2010s also lead to expansion into brownfield developments, and our chemical business grows as we make our own chemicals out of raw materials and blend chemical products for other companies.

In 2014, The Heritage Group invests in future leaders by launching Kids Science Camp for the children of Heritage employees to help kids age 8-12 develop a passion for science and learn to tackle big problems by thinking creatively.

In 2017, we complete construction of The Center. Designed to facilitate discoveries and connections, the new space creates a relaxed environment for collaboration and innovation.

The Heritage Group Accelerator powered by Techstars makes its home in The Center in 2019, hosting 10 startup companies each year with a goal to help solve some of the world's most pressing challenges. Over 13 weeks, the startups scale their businesses and go to-market strategies under the guidance of mentors from The Heritage Group's networks.

2020s

THE FOURTH GENERATION

Innovating for the future: Investing in you

In 2020, Amy Schumacher becomes the fourth generation of the Fehsenfeld family to serve as CEO. With its background in material science and chemistry, The Heritage Group continues to support programs, initiatives, and organizations and commits to building a better tomorrow by fostering future leaders today.

From our evolving businesses to rewarding employees for their ideas and pioneering research that's changing the world, The Heritage Group keeps on growing. The growth will continue as we invest in our people, support innovation, and create new opportunities within our company, across the nation, and around the world.

In November 2020, The Heritage Group celebrates its 90th anniversary-and is looking forward to 100 years!

“You don't make it to 90 years without a history of long-term thinking, staying true to who you are, and most importantly, by surrounding yourself with the very best people.”