On Wednesday, Oct. 21, The Network’s Civic Engagement Series featured Chad Carleton, founder and CEO of Good Company, for a conversation on scaling a business, leading through rapid growth and why he continues to build in Springfield.
A Springfield native, Carleton got his start in food service, including several years as general manager of Bruno’s downtown, before helping grow Everything Kitchens to nearly $60 million in sales. When one of that company’s manufacturers asked for help shipping its direct-to-consumer orders in January 2020, a new business was born. Fueled by the COVID-19 e-commerce surge and a strong network of industry peers, Good Company grew from $1 million in 2021 to more than $30 million in 2025.
Carleton explained that a 3PL, or third-party logistics provider, stores, picks, packs and ships orders for e-commerce brands that don’t want to manage their own warehousing. Good Company was shipping a million orders a year before it even had a name. After one client jokingly invoiced them as “Chad Party Logistics,” he spun up a simple website and the name Good Company stuck. Today, it reflects how he wants to run the business: a good place to work, doing good work with good people.
One of the key takeaways from the discussion was that growth doesn’t require chasing every opportunity. Good Company has never marketed itself, relying entirely on referrals earned by going above and beyond for a select group of clients. Carleton also shared how the company once parted ways with its largest client to protect its team, a decision his employees rallied behind. “Success does not come at all costs. Some revenue is not worth taking,” he said.
The conversation also highlighted Springfield’s strategic advantage. Located near the nation’s population center, Springfield is one of the only places in the country with no Zone 8 shipping, the most expensive USPS zone. Paired with a lower cost of living and strong quality of life, Carleton said it makes recruiting both talent and clients an easy sell. His one wish for the region? A rail spur.
For young professionals, his advice was simple: invest in your community early. Starting Springfield’s 1 Million Cups chapter at 23 changed the trajectory of his career. “As much as you invest in another person’s success, you can expect them to invest in yours,” Carleton said.
Thank you to Chad for joining us and sharing his story, and to our young professionals for a great morning of conversation! Thank you also to our Series Presenting Sponsor, Care to Learn, and Presenting Annual Program Sponsor, OMB Bank.