Gaylon S. Campbell

(1940 م)

Renowned Washington State University soil scientist Gaylon Campbell worked part time to blend an engineering background with customer needs and create an instrument that measures water potential. Decagon Devices, soon to be Meter Group Inc., makes instruments to test plant-available water in the soil. They are used in environmental monitoring and research. The company also manufactures water activity meters for food manufacturing and safety. Since its founding ۳۰ year ago, the company has averaged ۱۲ percent revenue growth each year. Four of nine next-generation Campbells are among Decagon’s ۱۷۰ employees, including Scott Campbell, the president; Tamsin Jolley, board treasurer; Colin Campbell, a soil scientist and vice president of core markets, and Julia Mumford, a marketing manager. Grandchildren work in a new internship program that Gaylon Campbell says will help them “connect to the mission of our business in a fundamental way.” Campbell says the company has improved corporate governance and avoided duplication by focusing the executive team on managing the firm day to day while having the board of directors oversee long-term strategy. Decagon has sold water-activity meters to such companies as Kraft and Nestlé but expects growth to come from providing quality-assurance labs with full digital systems to replace written records for safety inspections.