Dan Stocke and Rod Johnson took over World Block Incorporated 2 years ago when their boss was set to retire.

They knew the company served an important need in the region.

"The benefit that we have to the Northland is keeping the manufacturing sector alive and showing some sort of success in keeping manufacturing here. We are kind of a dying breed," says Stocke.

Duluth based World Block Incorporated develops steel forms that are used to mold concrete blocks.

"Those blocks are then used for big industrial and commercial type jobs like roadways and parking lots holding back a lot of earth," says Stocke.

Through the years... Stocke and Johnson have expanded their expertise in product development... which has resulted in more job openings.

"We do all of our own design and all of our own manufacturing here up to the painting part of the process so that has allowed us to add jobs to our facility," says Johnson.

Although World Block has seen dramatic growth... last year the recession began to take a toll on the company.

"If we can go in and fix those problems in the bad times then we know what to look for in the good times and we will be that much stronger for it," says Stocke.

Their hard work is paying off with the company anticipating further expansion.

"For the long term future with 5 to 10 years we anticipate on getting back on our growth track that we were on before hopefully 10 percent to 20 percent per year," says Johnson.

World Block Incorporated currently employs 12 people.

It also works directly with many Minnesota companies such as Carlson Concrete and Superior Steel.