From bull riding arenas to industrial job sites, Lonnie Steverson’s story is built on grit, risk, and resilience.

In this episode of Ground Up Growth, Lonnie—owner of Circle S Incorporated—shares how a family business that started with painting and “figuring it out” evolved into a multi-state industrial cleaning operation. After losing his father at just 20 years old, Lonnie and his mom worked to keep the business alive, eventually growing it into a company with 80+ employees serving plants across the Southeast.

Along the way, Lonnie was also chasing a different kind of dream—competing as a professional bull rider in the PBR. He opens up about that chapter, the injuries that changed his path, and the moment he chose to go all-in on the business.

This conversation is about more than hydroblasting and hard jobs—it’s about leadership, earning respect, taking care of your people, and learning the work from the ground up.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to build something that lasts, this one’s for you.