Aaron Jagdfeld
President and CEO, Generac Power Systems Inc.
S45 W29290 Highway 59, Waukesha
Industry: Power generation equipment
Employees: 1,500
www.generac.com
Aaron Jagdfeld is president and chief executive officer of Generac Power Systems Inc. He says innovation comes from throughout a company.
“To be successful in any marketplace requires three things: innovation in products and services; the implementation of key insights; and a workforce that can sustain momentum.
“Innovation drives growth. From our humble beginnings in a barn in Wales, Wisconsin, Generac has been a pioneer in the generator industry for more than 50 years. Our industry-leading products now address nearly every situation requiring backup electrical power generation, and our commitment to innovation will ensure that the company continues to grow well into the future.
“A keen awareness of the external factors that affect any business is critical for future success. The pace at which change now occurs in markets is dramatic – entire industries can be impacted in very short periods of time. Developing unique insights into customer needs plays an important role in staying ahead of the market. These insights, coupled with a commitment to innovation, position businesses to quickly adjust to forces outside of their control.
“It’s the innovation that comes from employees that fuels a company’s growth. From the salesperson who is able to listen and hear the needs of the customer, to the engineer who designs a unique way to solve that customer’s need, to the marketer who creatively tells the world about that solution, to the manufacturing employee who skillfully turns the solution into a physical product. Every employee contributes to the overall ability to innovate, and it’s our job to recognize and nurture their strengths.”
