Brandon Leingang’s Journey from Family Trade to Small Business of the Year

Heritage is important to Brandon Leingang, ’99—so it makes sense the fourth-generation North Dakotan would learn his father’s trade, then venture on his own to become a business owner and community volunteer.

“I was born into the home improvement industry,” Brandon said.

In 1977, his father, Al, opened Leingang Steel Siding, Thermal Line Windows, & Twin City Supply in Mandan. As a teenager, Brandon worked in the shop, doing grunt work from sweeping floors and unloading trucks to going to job sites and hanging vinyl siding on homes. Hard work didn’t bother Brandon as he also worked at a computer call center and a funeral home, mowed lawns, and did odd jobs around town.

“It was kind of a weird balance,” Brandon said. “I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do. I had a ton of work experience, but I still didn’t have that exact thing.”

Al Leingang understood that the success rate of a business handed down from parent to son or daughter was very low.  In 1997, Brandon’s junior year at the University of Mary, his dad sold the business to a national company.

That same year, Brandon interned for the new owners, and soon after graduation, he was offered a job in the sales department.

“So, I ended up with a sales job, and for basically 20 years, I loved it,” Brandon said. “I thought, ‘OK, this will be kind of fun and different’. I knew a lot of the employees and people already, and I killed it. I loved dealing with homeowners and giving them ideas and different products.”

Over the course of those two decades, Brandon excelled at his craft by absorbing knowledge and advice from longtime employees and managers. He also watched and learned from his dad, who met and talked with people in the community with genuine interest.  

“My father was just exceptional at it. I had him as a good role model,” Brandon said. But once the home center’s ownership changed hands multiple times, Brandon grew disenchanted. “I actually took a stint away from it,” Brandon said. “It was kind of frustrating. I saw my father’s name on the sign, and people thought he owned it, or I owned it. It was getting stale. It wasn't for me anymore. There was creativity in me that I couldn’t take to the next level.” 

He reached that next level in 2019 by becoming his own boss, founding Heritage Exteriors by Brandon Leingang.

“I always wanted to own a business. I was always the person leading people, getting people together,” Brandon said.   In a large company, it’s ‘we need to make more money’. That's what really kills my soul. I'm more about knocking their socks off, and in a small company, I knew I could take my creative heart to work and do that.”

The business’s name pays homage to his dad and ancestry, assuring customers that they will receive inspired, artistic creativity from the owner and his staff.

“I have a great group of employees. I like to call us a boutique shop. We're small enough you can basically see everybody every day. I can see customers every day when they walk in and say hi.”

Brandon’s work ethic and moral code were set early in life, but his time at Mary transformed his faith.

“Taking classes on the Church and its history definitely enlightened me,” he said. “I liked that experience. I never had a nun as a teacher until college—you can ask next-level questions and get next-level experiences.”

Brandon met his wife, Taylor, ’00, a scholar-athlete, while attending Mary. They married in 2004 and have two sons, Afton and Bennett. When he wasn’t coaching his children’s youth soccer and hockey teams, he was volunteering with the Mandan Athletic Boosters board and other charity functions and fundraisers.

“It was great getting to know my kid’s friends and teammates and their parents,” Brandon said. “They would say, ‘If you needed somebody’s phone number, call Brandon.’”

His children are older now, but his commitment to the community is still strong and relevant.

“It's hard for me to let go because things are still happening,” Brandon said. “I have a fear of missing out. I'm getting that next phase of life, but I have so many good memories. And now, as a business owner involved in community, and it's been great to give back.”

In 2024, Heritage Exteriors by Brandon Leingang received the Small Business of the Year award from the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber/EDC.

“I still love providing that extra energy for customers,” Brandon said. “I get pumped when people come in here and go, “Wow, this is amazing! Thank you—this is totally different; how come nobody else showed us that?’ That’s what fills my heart.”