The Legacy of Myles McDonough

Myles McDonough led a life of ScaleUp entrepreneurship and embodied the principles that make MBI entrepreneurs so successful. Despite great odds, Myles led a small startup from a garage in Spencer, Massachusetts, to a global company known as Flexcon. His story mirrors the challenges faced by so many MBI entrepreneurs and demonstrates not only what success looks like, but how it is achieved through resilience, listening, and conviction. 

Born in the United States, Myles immigrated to Ireland and spent much of his early life there before returning to the U.S. Growing up Irish at that time was challenging, and with limited financial means, Myles learned early that opportunity would not be handed to him. These experiences instilled in him a deep motivation to change his fortunes and a willingness to work harder and take greater risks than those around him. 

That work ethic defined his early adulthood. While attending Seton Hall, Myles took night classes so he could work his way through school, holding a sales position at Sears and later securing a second job as a chemistry technician at Johnson & Johnson. After graduation, he joined Rubber and Asbestos (now National Starch and Chemical Company), where he was finally able to fully pursue his passion for sales. There, Myles distinguished himself not only through effort, but through empathy — even learning Yiddish to better communicate with customers — honing the listening skills that would later define his entrepreneurial success. 

Those skills would soon be put to the test. March 9, 1956 marked a defining moment in Myles’ life. On that day, his first son, Mark, was born — reinforcing the importance of family and responsibility that would guide so many of his future decisions. Amid the joy and uncertainty of new parenthood, Myles faced another pivotal choice. 

That same day, Myles told his wife Jean that he was leaving his job to become an entrepreneur. Years of listening to customers had revealed a gap in the market, and Myles believed strongly believed that he could fill it. Armed with confidence born not from ego but from preparation and persistence, he was willing to risk everything to build a better future for his family. 

“If I was smart enough to create the stuff… to make their ideas a reality, I could go into business myself,” Myles once said — a belief that soon became action. 

Myles found a small garage on Maple Street in Spencer where he founded his company using equipment he built himself, often sourcing parts from local scrapyards. This early resourcefulness was not simply a necessity; it became a defining trait of the business. Myles took on contracts that larger competitors ignored and rejected the idea that he knew better than his customers. Instead, he listened — carefully — and built solutions around their needs. That approach fueled rapid growth. 

As the company grew, Myles came to understand that his greatest assets were not machines or materials, but people. He invested earnestly in his team, taking a genuine interest in their lives and development. This belief — that strong management teams build strong companies — became central to Flexcon’s success and remains a core principle of Flexcon – and MBI – today. 

What truly set Myles apart, however, was his unwavering respect for relationships. He believed that understanding people mattered as much as understanding products. Customers, partners, and employees were treated with the same honesty and intensity he brought to his work. Rather than getting bogged down in conflict or contracts, Myles believed goodwill and trust would move the business forward faster — and time and again, he proved that approach right. 

Throughout his life, Myles embodied the ScaleUp mindset: resourceful, resilient, and relentlessly focused on improvement. His confidence was rooted in experience earned through long hours and hard lessons. Because he had worked harder than most from a young age, he trusted his instincts and was willing to bet on himself once he found the right opportunity. 

Still, the path was far from easy. During the 1973 Oil Crisis, Myles’ son Neil recalls watching his father pace as raw material inventory dwindled with no clear way to replenish it. As supplies dropped to the final five gallons of a critical product, the future of production hung in the balance — until a delivery truck finally arrived, allowing operations to continue. It was a moment that underscored both the fragility and resilience of entrepreneurial endeavors. 

At other times, Myles faced the familiar challenge of scaling with limited resources. When production staff was short, he worked the factory floor himself, in between running upstairs, changing into a suit, and meeting prospective customers. When new equipment was unaffordable, he and his team returned to the scrapyards, piecing together what they needed to keep innovating. These moments reflected not only determination, but a refusal to let constraints define possibility. 

Family remained central throughout it all. Myles made his decision to pursue entrepreneurship alongside Jean, reflecting a shared courage and belief in what could be built together. He valued reflection and “thinking time,” often including Neil in long conversations about the business. And while he worked tirelessly, he was intentional about quality time — bringing his family skiing every winter weekend, reinforcing the importance of balance, presence, and perspective. 

Giving back was another constant. One day in a scrapyard, Myles noticed a car following him — only to discover it was a group of nuns seeking materials for their schools. He began setting items aside for them, a small act that reflected a lifelong commitment to generosity. Today, the McDonough name appears prominently across Worcester, embossed on arts, education, healthcare, and entrepreneurial institutions that recognize the family’s leadership, service, and dedication to the city’s resurgence. 

Myles McDonough’s legacy is defined not just by what he built, but by how he built it — through listening first, taking calculated risks, and never losing sight of the human side of business. His story continues to inspire entrepreneurs who see opportunities where others see obstacles, and who believe that determination, creativity, and integrity can transform humble beginnings into lasting impact.