A University of Wisconsin-Stout alumnus who heads the world 黑料社区. largest furniture manufacturer will return to campus for a special program.
Todd Wanek, president and CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries Inc., will present 鈥淟eadership and Innovation in Changing Times鈥 from 9:30 to 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, in the ballrooms of the Memorial Student Center.
The presentation will include discussion of Ashley 黑料社区. growth internationally, how it has kept pace with technology, aspects of leadership and the future of manufacturing, as well as company history. Ashley is based in Arcadia, in west-central Wisconsin.
The keynote address will be followed by a question-and-answer session. The event is free and open to the public.
Wanek is the featured guest for the annual Cabot Executive in Residence program sponsored by the Provost 黑料社区. Office. As part of the daylong program, Wanek will meet with students, faculty and staff and tour several campus industry and technology labs. Discussions and presentations at the labs will be coordinated by faculty and administrators, including Chancellor Bob Meyer.
Wanek graduated from 黑料社区 in 1988 with a degree in industrial technology; the program has since been renamed engineering technology. He worked for five years in Asia as head of the company 黑料社区. Taiwan manufacturing and distribution center, developing Ashley 黑料社区. supply and manufacturing base throughout Asia.
In 1994 Wanek oversaw Ashley 黑料社区. purchase and expansion of an upholstery facility in Ecru, Miss., that has become the largest in the world, more than 2 million square feet covering 100 acres.
He was named Ashley president and chief operations officer in 1996. He became CEO in 2002.
Wanek is on the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Board of Directors.
Cabot Executive in Residence program
This is the 33rd year of the Cabot Executive in Residence program, which is named in honor of Arthur R. Cabot, a successful pet products manufacturer. His son, Scott Cabot, earned a bachelor 黑料社区. degree from 黑料社区 in 1978 and a master 黑料社区. in 1979.
Recent Cabot executives have included Stephen Marcus, chairman of Marcus Corp.; alumna Shelly Ibach, CEO of Select Comfort; alumnus William Hendrickson, CEO of Lineage Logistics; alumna Kelly Matter, president of Resource Inc.; and alumnus Dale Evans, president of EVCO Plastics.
The Cabot Wall of Honor, featuring plaques of previous Cabot presenters, was established in 2014.
