News

Dynamic Duo

4/19/24 -- Wesson, Miss. – Two Wesson men team up for a new business venture.

Ricky Breazeale, 41, has worked in the spray foam insulation industry for 13 years in every area from sales, manufacturing, contracting, technical – and now to distribution. Breazeale married Wesson native Jessica Breazeale, 41, which brought the family to town nine years ago.

 The Breazeales had lived in North Alabama, but a new job opportunity popped up in a completely new field for Ricky – insulation sales. Ricky seized the opportunity and moved his family to Gulfport, Miss. After two years of coast life, the Breazeales decided to move to Wesson after Jessica’s step-father, the late Harry Whittington, had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

“We just knew we were needed. My mother-in-law Kim didn’t ask us to…but we knew she’d need the help…but more so the company,” said Ricky.

Harry had retired from a long career with the United States Air Force.

When the Breazeales moved to Wesson, they had to learn to readjust to small-town life.

“It’s definitely different. There’s not a lot of the same amenities, things we were used to,” said Ricky. “But we’re glad to be here. Jessica’s hometown is pretty cool…maybe cooler than Ellisville. I loves Jones County but Copiah County is now home, too.”

The Breazeales got settled in and built a neighboring home by Kim, while Ricky worked up the ranks in the insulation industry.

Jessica teaches part-time for Co-Lin. She has also owned and operated another Wesson business since 2017. Jessica Breazeale Consulting is a digital marketing firm with two employees and multiple contract laborers. The Breazeales are entrepreneurial-minded. It must have been too many “Shark Tank” episodes.

Then come the Duguids…

Brent and Stephanie Duguid moved from Phoenix, Arizona, after working in K-12 and higher education to start their new home, new life, new family, and new education careers at Co-Lin. The pair worked at Co-Lin, Stephanie for 16 years and Brent for 11 years.

After leaving Co-Lin, Stephanie branched out to start her own Wesson business. At Do Good Leadership, Stephanie Duguid is a leadership expert, professional development specialist, author, consultant, and podcast host of a monthly show, “Empowering Women in Educational Leadership.” Most recently, she joined Jumpstart Test Prep, a Brookhaven company, as the Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

After a chance encounter at a Wesson Basketball game one evening last year, Ricky and Brent began to dream up a multi-million-dollar idea: spray foam distribution.

The old Sunflower grocery store on Highway 51, most recently the town’s haunted house, has become the new home of Grace Foam Solutions, a spray foam distribution company.

Ricky was compelled to name his business something that reflected his values and a name that would shape his new company motto, beliefs, and vision. Brent agreed the name was not just fitting but perfect.

Grace Foam Solutions (GFS) was born in September 2023, and Brent joined full-time in January 2024.

“Since we are children of God and covered by His Grace, we get the opportunity to share this message of Grace with customers, vendors and the entire community. This isn’t just a business but a ministry, too,” said Breazeale.

Brent started as a humble delivery driver and now proudly wears the title part-owner. Brent was the Dean of Career, Technical, and Workforce Education at Co-Lin, the former owner of two businesses in Phoenix, Arizona; one was a handyman business, and the other was an auto body restoration shop.  His impressive, unique, and vast experiences and skills developed throughout his life have all come full circle to Grace Foam Solutions.

“As the Dean of CTE, I had the privilege of fostering the growth and innovation of technical programs. This opportunity is bridging my life and professional experiences with a new venture where we are creating a foundation to build a brighter future”, said Duguid.

The dynamic duo make quite the team. Two different ages and personalities that balance each other out perfectly. Ricky’s tenacity for selling and expertise in insulation, coupled with Brent’s calm, professional demeanor, and incredible technical skills for all things mechanical, make for a perfect pair.

GFS distributes to Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia and Tennessee. In seven months, GFS has already opened up two more locations in Boonville and Hattiesburg.

“We plan to bring jobs to Wesson. Our end goal is to continue to grow exponentially. There are huge things on the horizon for this company,” said Breazeale. “God has blessed us and we want to be a blessing in return.”

“Our new venture in Wesson embodies the spirit of community, faith, and hard work.  It’s a blessing to launch a faith-based company that not only produces American-made products but also actively supports our local community.  This company is a living testament to the values instilled throughout my life experiences”, said Duguid.

GFS is a distributor of Central Urethane products based out of Lagro, Indiana.

While GFS, does not install, they do sell to contractors who offer installation services. If you need a free estimate on spray foam insulation, GFS would be happy to refer you to trusted, credentialed installers.

###