Manufacturing
Chairman, president and CEO
Badger Meter | Brown Deer
Ken Bockhorst joined Badger Meter in 2017 as its chief operating officer and was promoted to president, chief executive officer and chairman each successive year after. The Brown Deer-based manufacturer of flow measurement and control products has 1,900 employees company-wide and ranks among the 50 largest public Wisconsin companies by revenue. Badger Meter has managed to grow its top line amid supply chain challenges in recent years. Previously, Bockhorst was an executive vice president with Actuant Corp., and held prior leadership roles at IDEX Corp. and Eaton Corp.
Education: Bachelor’s, Marian University; Executive MBA, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Favorite Wisconsin restaurant: “Too many great choices to pick one restaurant, but the Lobster Pot Pie at Third Coast Provisions in Milwaukee is amazing.”
As you enter your office, What would you choose to be your walk-up or theme song: “‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem. Making sure that you do everything within your power to succeed. You never know how many opportunities you will get, don’t let it pass you by.”
First car: “1977 Chevy Nova. Rescued it from the junk yard at 16, and drove it for four years.”
Biggest recent success: “Our Badger Meter team has pulled together to overcome many of the significant challenges posed by the supply chain crisis. To do this on the back of successfully navigating a global pandemic has been like hitting grand slams in back-to-back innings. I couldn’t be more proud of the results achieved during these times by all of our employees across the world.”