President & CEO, Ariens Company
Dan Ariens, great-grandson of company founder Henry Ariens, joined the company in 1983 and became President and CEO in 1998. Since that time, Dan’s leadership has been defined by a set of five Core Values and 15 Management Principles that clearly outline management expectations. His core values are simple and unwavering: Be Fair; Be Honest; Respect the Individual; Keep our Commitments; and Encourage Intellectual Curiosity.
A strong proponent of Lean manufacturing principles, Dan has created a culture
of continuous improvement that has resulted in the creation of world-class manufacturing facilities by Lean standards. He was personally recognized in 2007 with the Eli Whitney Productivity Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and is frequently tapped as a mentor by organizations promoting Lean leadership. In 2012, Dan was inducted into the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) Hall of Fame in recognition of his ability to inspire others in their pursuit of manufacturing excellence.
Over his tenure, he has led several strategic acquisitions, creating a family of brands that represent several of the most respected names in the consumer and commercial equipment markets as well as the replacement parts and accessories segment of the industry. Dan is also an active participant in industry issues, having served on the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) Board of Directors since 2000, including two terms as Board Chairman.
Dan plays leadership roles in the Wisconsin business community, serving on several Boards of Directors for educational entities, for-profit companies and non-profit economic development groups in the state, including the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Authority Board (Vice Chair), Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (Chair) and the NEW North. He also holds a position on the Executive Committee of the Green Bay Packers’ Board of Directors.
Dan is also on the Board of Directors for the National Center for the Middle Market, located within The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business. The group serves as the leading resource on the U.S. middle market economy.
Under Dan’s leadership the company has received a number of recognitions:
2005 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
2006 Wisconsin 75 ‘Generation of Innovation’ Award, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, Milwaukee Wisconsin 75
(Wisconsin 75 is a list of the largest privately-held companies in the state)
2006 Business & Industry Award – Entrepreneur in Manufacturing, Marian College
2007 Eli Whitney Productivity Award (Dan Ariens), Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
2007 Entrepreneur of the Year – Midwest Regional Finalist (Dan Ariens), Ernst & Young
2008 Bert Grover Child Advocacy Award (Dan Ariens), Wisconsin Association of School Board Administrators (WASDA)
2008 Entrepreneur of the Year – Midwest Regional Finalist (Dan Ariens), Ernst & Young
2010 Quality Management: Quality Leadership 100, Quality Magazine
2011 Excellence In Business Award, Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
2011 Most Influential People in Green Industry (Dan Ariens), Green Media, publisher of Arbor Age, Landscape and Irrigation,
Outdoor Power Equipment and SportsTurf.
2012 AME Hall of Fame, Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME)