As seen in the Tried & True Summer 2025 issue
In a corner of northwest Missouri—where four miles west puts you in Nebraska, a short drive north lands you in Iowa and Kansas lies just to the southwest—Liles Enterprises stands as a testament to the kind of quiet resilience and family-driven purpose that defines the heart of America’s drainage industry. But this isn’t just a business story. It’s the story of Rob and Susan Liles—partners in marriage, in business and in a shared belief that good work, done with integrity, always finds its way.
“We just kind of took it one step at a time,” Rob says. “When you don’t come from a corporate background, you don’t build an empire. You build trust. One customer at a time.” And that’s exactly what they’ve done—laying the foundation in 1994 when Rob joined his father’s construction business, pushing forward through hardship after his father’s untimely passing and ultimately expanding into Liles Enterprises, the pipe distribution center that today serves a multi-state region.
But don’t mistake their growth for luck. What started as a spot to park equipment turned into a thriving drainage hub thanks to a helpful comment from a truck driver—“This would make a good drop yard”—and a decision to act on a gut feeling. From that spark in 2014 to a major strategic switch to Fratco in 2024, the Liles’ journey has been anything
but ordinary.
We’ve given every little bit of blood, sweat and tears to this business,” Susan says. “But the best part is, we’ve done it together.”
A Business Built on Family—and Dirt
Ask Susan how Liles Enterprises grew, and she’ll tell you it was a team effort from day one. Though she spent over a decade in banking, she stepped into the family business full-time in 2014 after Rob’s mother retired. “If we’re going to be a family business, don’t you think it’d be better if I ran the books?” she recalls asking Rob. “Nobody else is going to take care of the books like I am.”
What began with two employees now includes three generations, blending the Liles’ construction roots with the evolving needs of the drainage market. Their son, Jameson, helps with construction and GPS mapping services. Wyatt (dating their daughter, Sarah) floats between tasks depending on demand.
The lines between Liles Construction and Liles Enterprises blur often—and intentionally so. “We tried to keep them separate at first,” Susan says. “But really, one doesn’t exist without the other.” Their construction experience enhances their distribution business, especially when customers come to Rob not just to buy pipe, but to talk installation strategy.
“I’ve been installing tile since 1995,” Rob says. “When someone walks in and says, ‘Have you ever used this?’ I don’t just sell them something—I can tell them exactly how it performed in
the field.”
From Trust to Transition
That practical knowledge is part of what gave Liles Enterprises staying power in a market long dominated by a local competitor who sold and installed pipe. “When we started out, that company had been around 40 years,” Rob says. “But we earned customers’ trust by being honest and by knowing our stuff.”
Over time, that same trust extended to their supplier relationships But after nearly a decade with one manufacturer, Rob and Susan began to feel their needs—and their customers’ expectations—were outgrowing the partnership. They wanted more than a pipe supplier. They wanted a collaborator who valued quality, flexibility and responsiveness as much as they did.
That’s when Fratco entered the picture.
“At first, it was intimidating,” Rob admits. “We knew switching manufacturers wouldn’t be easy. But we also knew it was the right move.”
Rob was introduced to Fratco at a Missouri Land Improvement Contractors Association event in early 2024. The conversation there sparked a deeper dialogue—and a few months later, Liles Enterprises officially came on board as a Fratco distributor.
“It didn’t take long for Fratco to realize we weren’t your average customer,” Rob says. “I was asking about product specs, manufacturing quality and how to make things better.”
Fratco rose to the challenge. “One of our customers needed two full truckloads of 15-inch pipe drilled with 1/8-inch holes—not slotted,” Rob recalls. “They didn’t have it in stock, and it was peak season. But our salesman and the yard crew drilled every stick by hand and had it delivered in three days. That’s what going above and beyond looks like.”
Strength in Specialization
Liles Enterprises offers more than just pipe. Their distribution yard, which spans seven acres, supplies HDPE and HDPP pipe, precision risers, couplers and metal culverts. They also provide GPS mapping and field design—critical services that help their ag customers plan efficient and effective pipe installations.
And while agriculture remains a cornerstone of their business, Rob and Susan see growing potential in commercial work. “We’re right between Omaha and Kansas City,” Susan says. “We’re seeing more calls for stormwater systems, and Fratco’s polypropylene ProCorr is a great fit
for those jobs.”
Their regional knowledge also gives them a unique advantage. “It’s amazing how things vary between states,” Rob says. “Missouri contractors might want precision risers, but cross the border into Nebraska or Kansas, and they’re asking for concrete drive-over risers. You’ve got to stay flexible.”
The Human Side of Drainage
Behind every order, delivery and design, there’s a familiar face. Their receptionist, Emily Stickell, has been dating their son, Jameson, for four years. Their yard manager, Steven Hale, is the only team member not related by blood or relationship—but he’s just as much a part of the family.
Even their daughter, Sarah, now a licensed LPN, weighs in on business decisions when needed. “She’s probably the best salesperson of the bunch,” Susan laughs. “She’s got a spark.”
From a very young age, Jameson seemed destined for the family business. While other kids were building block towers, he was out in the backyard pushing dirt with a toy bulldozer, mimicking the machines his dad ran in the field. Dump trucks, excavators and mini dozers weren’t
just playthings—they were early tools of the trade.
That early fascination stuck. Today, he plays a vital role in both the construction and drainage sides of the family business, handling everything from GPS mapping to deliveries, showing how some career paths really do start in the sandbox.
“Jameson is a sponge,” Rob says. “He’s just always understood this world.”
Always On, Always Available
The Liles’ phones are always on. With remote access to their inventory system and a willingness to answer calls late at night or on weekends, they’ve built a reputation for reliability.
“I’ve been in the contractor’s shoes,” Rob says. “Trying to finish a job before two inches of rain hits, and you need one last coupler. That’s why we make sure someone’s always available—even if it’s Saturday at 3:00 p.m.”
That kind of service, and the wisdom that comes with lived experience, is part of what draws new contractors to their lot. “A lot of the younger guys have heard through the grapevine that Rob’s the guy to talk to,” Susan says. “He’s been where they are. And he’s willing to help.”
Growing Together
Looking ahead, Rob and Susan see more than just opportunity—they see alignment. Their partnership with Fratco isn’t just about sourcing quality pipe. It’s about working with a company that mirrors their own values: integrity, accountability and an unwavering commitment to doing things the
right way.
“From the very first conversation, we could tell Fratco wasn’t just another manufacturer,” Rob says. “They care about quality like we do. They listen. They treat you like a partner, not a number.”
That shared mindset has made all the difference—especially during the early months of their transition to Fratco in 2024. The relationship was built on mutual trust, a hands-on approach to solving problems and a belief that customer service doesn’t clock out at 5 p.m.
They’re a family business, too,” Susan adds. “They understand what it means to give something your all. That’s why it works.”
With Fratco’s expanded product offerings and support, Liles Enterprises is poised to further expand into commercial drainage while continuing to serve its core agricultural customers with the same attention to detail and boots-on-the-ground expertise it has always been known for.
“We’re not here to just sell pipe,” Rob says. “We’re here to build something that lasts—just like Fratco. That’s what makes us a good team.”
