It has been said that life was simpler in the 60’s and 70’s, but that wasn’t necessarily true if you were a drag racer living in the midwest. In those early days, Southern California was the home to all the major component manufacturers, and speed equipment retailers that were crucial to the growth of the sport. Bill Pearson was a midwest racer and all around motorsport enthusiast who’s interest lead him to move to California in the summer of 1973. After attending a trade school in San Diego, Bill secured a job with Magnuson Product Development in Santa Ana California as a fabricator. Magnuson Product Development was a leader in automotive and motorcycle aftermarket product development. Jerry Magnuson owner of MPD took Bill under his wing and mentored him in manufacturing and product development. While at MPD, Bill became a journeyman machinist, foundry pattern maker, and product designer working with some of the biggest names in the automotive field. Jerry promoted Bill in early 1976 to head up Magnuson Product Development’s R & D department. Bill quickly became friends with magazine editors and writers who were always wanting to know what was in development and learn of the next new product to hit the automotive market. It was through these friendships Bill learn how to market the products he was creating.
In mid 1978 Bill moved back to his parents home in Kansas unsure of what he was going to do next. Within a month of returning Bill received a call from a former customer at Magnuson Product Development. The customer said that Jerry Magnuson had given him Bill’s number because MPD’s shop was overloaded and they couldn’t get to the customers project for some time. Bill took on the project and others while still living at home setting the stage for what was to come.
In late 1978 Pearson Manufacturing Corporation was formed for the development of new products for the automotive and motorcycle aftermarket industries. Working out of the home workshop was no longer an option so Bill moved the business into its new home, a 2,000 square foot space located in Lenexa, Kansas. Over the years Bill expanded PMC’s customer base to include all fields of manufacturing not just automotive. In addition, PMC began to get request for the design and construction of custom machinery and packaging equipment. All the time Bill continued with his auto racing and developed two lines of performance products. Many of these products were branded and sold by leading speed equipment distributors and retailers as well as being marketed by PMC under their own brand names.
By 1988 Person Manufacturing Corporation was at full capacity turning away more business than it was taking in. Bill sought to expand the company but due to the economy of the time and high double digit interest rates, Bill was unable to find suitable financing. In 1989 Bill was offered a lucrative position with one of his customers who was planning a large expansion of their own. This offer included the purchase of Pearson Manufacturing’s assets and equipment. Bill decided to accept the offer and closed Pearson Manufacturing Corporation in late 1989. For the next five years Bill oversaw the processing and packaging equipment design, construction, and automation of a company that grew from 250 employees to 450 employees.
While in operation, Pearson Manufacturing Corporation grew from a one man operation to five full and two part time employees in 1986. Bill always remembered how he learned his skills through mentorship and hard work. Working with state and federal programs, Pearson Manufacturing Corporation in 1980 started an apprenticeship program to train machinist, fabricators, and pattern makers. From 1980 to 1989 Bill trained more than 17 new machinist and fabricators.
Over the years Bill has had a number of careers. In 1993 Bill started a small part time business designing and building custom packaging and labeling equipment controlled by a custom computer of Bill’s own design. Later he was offered a lucrative position with a startup company as their plant engineer and later promoted to general manager. In 1999 Bill once again changed careers by becoming a software developer for banking software company. In 2014 Bill retired from a 20+ year career in software development as a manager of software development and a senior programmer.
Being the entrepreneur Bill is, combined with his experience in manufacturing, electronics, and software development, Bill decided in July of 2021 to restart Pearson Manufacturing Corporation.