Fastner Company Expands to Sidney

The name Guy Lamson Huyett came to the small town of Minneapolis, Kan., in the late 1800s. He opened a hardware store that would be known as G.L. Huyett.

The company has recently expanded to Sidney.

The company has opened the G.L. Huyett Tech Center at 1041 9th Ave. in Sidney. An open house and ribbon cutting was held Tuesday morning.

G.L. Huyett came to Sidney by way of a contact within the Cabela's community. G.L. Huyett Chief Executive Officer Tim O'Keeffe said he was asked if his company would be represented at a job fair earlier this year. O'Keefe said he was unaware of the event, but quickly put together a presentation to represent the company. He then met with officials at Western Nebraska Community College in Sidney and met with about 30 applicants. The office has a staff of two with plans to expand to 15 to 25. He describes Sidney as a culture that fits the company.

Part of what attracted the G.L. Huyett company is the changes that occurred with the acquisition of Cabela's by Bass Pro.

O'Keeffe said Tuesday the company has four goals: project management, e-commerce presence and development, data analytics and merchandising.

"This is a speculative endeavor," he said.

O'Keefe said G.L. Huyett isn't focused on hiring a large number of employees, but on being an important part of the community.

"We're never going to be a huge employer, but hopefully we'll be an important employer," he said.

The original G.L. Huyett company is located "just a few miles from the geographic center of the U.S.," according to the company's website.

O'Keefe and his wife Carol purchased the G.L. Huyett company in 1992. Prior to purchasing the company, O'Keeffe opened a business brokerage firm in Kansas City and was a charter member of the International Business Brokers Association. He sold 300 companies between 1985 and 1992, representing the seller in most of the transactions.

G.L. Huyett now has two offices, Minneapolis and Sidney, and distribution centers in Arizona, Tennessee and Kansas.

The G.L. Huyett company manufactures fastners including bridge pins, clevis pins, flat washers, lynch pins and snaprings.