--- title: Young Kearney Entrepreneur Building Nationwide Business description: Charlie Wolford, who launched his business journey at just 17, has rapidly transformed his holiday lighting service into a dynamic, multi-state enterprise. --- [Skip to content](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/news-center/p/item/63168/young-kearney-entrepreneur-building-nationwide-business#main-content) [![Development Council for Buffalo County logo](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/hubfs/Development%20Council%20Logo_1-23-23_V1.png)](https://growbuffalocounty.com) - About Buffalo County - [Communities](https://growbuffalocounty.com/communities) - [Livability](https://growbuffalocounty.com/live) - [Labor](https://growbuffalocounty.com/work) - Site Selectors - [Sites & Buildings](https://growbuffalocounty.com/sites-buildings) - [Target Industries](https://growbuffalocounty.com/target-industries) - [Regional Data](https://growbuffalocounty.com/regional-data) - [Location Advantages](https://growbuffalocounty.com/location-advantages) - Strategic Initiatives - [Build Buffalo County](https://growbuffalocounty.com/build-buffalo-county) - Business Support - [Incentives](https://growbuffalocounty.com/incentives) - [Resources](https://growbuffalocounty.com/resources) - [Entrepreneurs](https://growbuffalocounty.com/big-idea-buffalo-county) - About DCBC - [Services](https://growbuffalocounty.com/services-1) - [Staff](https://growbuffalocounty.com/staff) - [Board](https://growbuffalocounty.com/board) - [Investors](https://growbuffalocounty.com/membership) - [News](https://growbuffalocounty.com/news) - [Contact Us](https://growbuffalocounty.com/contact-us) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # Young Kearney Entrepreneur Building Nationwide Business [Admin](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/author/admin) Published May 31, 2025 Reading Time 1 min read Charlie Wolford, who launched his business journey at just 17, has rapidly transformed his holiday lighting service into a dynamic, multi-state enterprise.  Now 22, Wolford leads Haven Lighting Solutions and Haven Patio Furniture, companies with headquarters in Kearney, NE, and Rapid City, SD, and ambitions to expand nationally. His businesses generate regional economic activity through trade shows, local installations, retail sales, and strategic partnerships with contractors and builders. Haven is now the sixth largest dealer of Gemstone Lights, and its patio line is built on the reputable Prairie Patio Furniture brand. A defining characteristic of Havens success is its uniquely young and energetic leadership team, which reflects Wolfords original entrepreneurial spirit. At 25, Ben Griess serves as Wolfords second-in-command, bringing prior startup experience from launching a coffee shop. The rest of the team includes marketers, managers, and installers largely in their early 20s. This youthful, forward-thinking team drives aggressive marketing and growth strategies, including a presence at 40 trade shows in a single year and an active social media campaign. Wolfords vision blends scalability with values, maintaining a Christian, community-focused identity while aiming for national reach. Havens blend of bold leadership, premium products, and customer-first guarantees (including a 20-year warranty) makes it a rising force in both the lighting and patio furniture industries. [Read the full article](https://kearneyhub.com/news/local/business/article_027bf363-ac3b-489e-8636-02fd1dbb1cb2.html) [Admin](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/author/admin) Share #### Let's Connect We’d love to hear from you—reach out anytime and let’s start the conversation. ## Related Posts [Trevor Lee appointed to the CCC Board of Governors The Central Community College Board of Governors is pleased to announce the appointment of Trevor Le...](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/trevor-lee-appointed-to-the-ccc-board-of-governors) [City of Ravenna Expands Housing Through Rural Workforce Housing Fund The City of Ravenna, Nebraska recently completed a new 4-plex housing project, supported by a $350,0...](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/news-center/p/item/62937/city-of-ravenna-expands-housing-through-rural-workforce-housing-fund) [Kearneys TechoNE Crossing: Ideal Location for High-Tech Companies! 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