40 Years Of Partnership: General Pattern & 21st Century Bank
Family-Owned Business In Blaine Builds Enduring Legacy
When a business makes it past its first 10 years – the period in which up to 65% of businesses fail – there’s reason to celebrate. And when an organization surpasses an astonishing 100 years, it becomes part of an exclusive tier of about .5% of businesses to see such success.
Blaine, MN-based General Pattern is one of those success stories – and 21st Century Bank is honored to be a part of it.
The Evolution Of A Century-Old Business
Since its founding in 1922 by Ernest S. Reiland, General Pattern Company has shaped the future of American manufacturing. It started as a small wood pattern shop, and since the 1980s, has grown into one of the country’s most vertically integrated plastic injection molding and prototyping companies. The company remains family-owned, laser-focused on innovation, and deeply rooted in its community.
“General Pattern carved out a niche in a tough industry by focusing on what they do best,” said Blair Oklobzija, Senior Vice President and Market President at 21st Century Bank, who manages their lending relationship. “They’re not trying to be everything to everyone — they specialize, and they deliver.”
Today, General Pattern is led by third generation CEO Denny Reiland and woman-owned by fourth-generation president Staci Thill.
“Even though we are an older company, we utilize new technology to get the correct product to our customers,” said Thill. “And we’ve maintained those family-owned business values as we grew.”
What we needed was someone we could call up, talk to directly, and trust. Tom and his team listened. They believed in our vision. And from day one, it felt like a true partnership.”
From Wooden Patterns to Prototypes and Injection Molding
The company got it start supporting the foundry industry by crafting tooling – which is the equipment used to create parts and products in manufacturing. The tooling was used in the metal casting process, where molten metal is poured into a mold to create a specific shape.
Over time, manufacturing shifted, and in the 1980s, outsourcing took hold. The Reilands responded by evolving their offerings – pivoting into prototype creation and injection molding for consumer goods. By embracing change and investing in cutting-edge technology — becoming the first company in the U.S. to install a DMLS machine for 3D printing (2005) — General Pattern found its new niche. Today, the company helps high-powered brands bring products to market faster through its suite of services, which ranges from prototyping and mold-making to injection molding and final assembly.
“The reason for our growth is listening to our customers,” said Reiland. “Finding all these services in one place is remarkable. We’re the one-stop-shop our customers were looking for.”
As their capabilities have grown, their core values remain the same. General Pattern hires team members who are dependable, hard-working, fun, and committed to always finding a way to adapt and improve ways of doing business.
“Both Staci and Dennis are sharp, and they’re good people.,” said Michael Gallagher, the Chief Deposit Officer at 21st Century Bank. “You can tell they really value their employees. They’re very open, very friendly – and they make you feel at ease. These are great attributes of strong leaders.”
Family-Owned 21st Century Bank Backs General Pattern
Our partnership with General Pattern began in a way that’s common between us and our customer base – through relationships and referrals. Stone Construction – a business that was, and remains, a customer – recommended Reiland reach out to us back in the 1980s. At the time, General Pattern had just eight employees and $800K in annual sales – and was seeking to relocate to Blaine, MN.
We began serving as a key partner in helping General Pattern thrive – from one family-owned business to another.
“What we needed was someone we could call up, talk to directly, and trust,” Reiland said. “Tom and his team listened. They believed in our vision. And from day one, it felt like a true partnership.”
The respect between Reiland and our CEO and board chair, Tom Dolphin, deepened. In the 1990s, Reiland became a shareholder in the bank – cementing the relationship and providing both entrepreneurs an opportunity to serve as sounding boards for each other, both seeking advice and sharing recommendations. For this reason, Reiland has played an integral role in the long-standing success of our bank.
Dolphin said, “Denny is one of the truly great entrepreneurial minds that I have come across in my 50 years in banking. He has always been motivated to move to the next level.”
General Pattern
How Small Business Administration (SBA) Expertise Fuels Growth
Over the years, 21st Century Bank has supported General Pattern by providing an array of tailored financing solutions. The bank has structured SBA 504 and 7(a) loans for the company to purchase property, acquire large equipment and expand operations.
“Today, we own about half of our eighteen buildings which house our operations, all together about a third of a million square feet,” said Reiland. “Those purchases wouldn’t have been possible without SBA financing, and without a bank that understands how to navigate the process with us.”
For General Pattern, access to flexible financing means its team can respond to customer demand quickly, invest in new technologies and support a growing team, while continuing to operate with the nimbleness and values of a family-owned business. That’s part of what drew them to 21st Century Bank – which offers the products of a big box bank with the speed and service of a family-owned bank. Throughout the course of the partnership, General Pattern expanded to now employ 220 people while securing $50M in annual revenue.
The initial loan relationship paved the way for a close-knit one between General Pattern and our Business Banking team.
“General Pattern knows if they need us, they get exceptional assistance,” said Gallagher. “Our Business Banking team strives to answer questions immediately for our customers – it’s important that we be there for both proactive planning and emergency responses.”
General Pattern Becomes Known For Its Caring Culture – And Christmas Celebrations
Despite its scale, General Pattern hasn’t lost its family focus. Employee engagement is woven into the company culture, from company-wide barbecues to its legendary Christmas Village.
The holiday event began as a modest display created by employees during downtime – and has since grown into a massive celebration. It features over 16K square feet of lights, decorations and interactive experiences which are free and open to employees, families, customers and community members. The displays are made by employees who have gaps in their schedule – a commitment to supporting the team through meaningful labor, not lay-offs.
“The Christmas Village isn’t just a party, it’s a symbol of who General Pattern is,” said Oklobzija. “This initiative keeps people working during slow times, builds pride and brings the whole team together. That culture of care and connection is what sets them apart from other companies.”
The depth of relationship between General Pattern and 21st Century Bank extends far beyond banking – the bank’s employees work the Christmas Village each year and attend summer barbeques.
Tailored Business Banking, Expert Advice
For General Pattern, 21st Century Bank is a trusted business advisor, invested in its long-term success.
“Ou relationship is about more than convenience,” Denny said. “It’s about trust. When we’ve hit challenges — whether it was during the 2007/08 financial crisis or managing post-COVID growth – we’ve always known we could pick up the phone, talk to someone we know and work it out together. You don’t know how good a bank relationship is until the world goes through a financial crisis and you need help.”
21st Century Bank provides business banking products and services, cash management, conventional financing and Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for General Pattern – all served alongside tailored recommendations and a deep understanding of their unique needs.
With a century of innovation, five generations of leadership, and a tight-knit culture rooted in values, General Pattern stands as a powerful example of what family businesses can achieve with the right partners by their side. With the ongoing support of 21st Century Bank, the company is positioned to keep growing, evolving, and giving back — for generations to come.
