From Farm to Forbes 400, the Story of the American Dream
With Ron Wanek, Founder and Chairman of Ashley Furniture Industries
Ashley Furniture Industries is the #1 furniture manufacturer in the world, employing thousands of hard-working individuals across America and worldwide. The organization takes part in the entire furniture-making process - from raw material production to engineering to advanced manufacturing, supply chain and retail.
In this episode, we speak with Ron Wanek, Founder and Chairman of Ashley Furniture Industries, a man who has truly lived the American Dream. From humble beginnings on a family farm near Winona, Minnesota, Ron built Ashley Furniture into the global leader it is today.
Ron shares how he grew the company over the last six decades and shares insights into:
- How finding good mentors early on is a key to success
- The need to remain on the cutting-edge of technology in a competitive international market
- How to inspire leaders and employees through change and continuous improvement
- The importance of investing in training and education