Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More

Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts.

Please enter a valid zipcode.

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Chad Marshall is a successful local businessman and the profits he earns are more than monetary.

Marshall is the founder of Fuse Fabrication in Mulberry. FUSE is an acronym for “For United States Employment.”

His company does sheet metal work and structural metal manufacturing.

Marshall said he began learning about business from a young age, being mentored by his grandfather.

But Marshall said he didn’t love everything about the business world. He said he decided early on not to care more about profits and the treatment of workers.

“They need a fair chance,” Marshall said of some of his workers that he hired despite troubled backgrounds. “And a lot of them may have a bad record from their earlier years and nobody wants to give them an opportunity.

“But you sit down and learn the heart of the person, what’s inside.”

A man of deep faith, Marshall strongly believes everyone deserves a chance. Even if it’s a second chance.

“You need to care for the people,” he said. “You need to get out there. You need to elevate them, teach them, teach them to elevate others as well. Be a light for individuals.

A lot of my core values come from biblical principles.”

Many of chad’s employees have troubled backgrounds including drug arrests and prison time.

And while all don’t work out, Marshall said those who succeed are now some of his best workers.

And what about sharing his spiritual beliefs with his employees?

“I’ll minister if they walk through the door but i do not push it on them,” he said. “They have to be willing and they have to be ready.        

And the only that is only they will know.”

And when it comes down to the way he runs his business?

It’s not my ability but my availability to do God’s work.”