don wood was the visionary and founder of 80/20 inc., an ......busy creating a system of t-slotted...

DonWoodwasthevisionaryandfounderof80/20Inc.,aninnovativeandprogressivecompanythathasbecomethenumberoneT-slottedaluminumextrusionbrandintheUnitedStates.

CallingDonWoodenthusiasticisalittlelikecallingMountEverestahill.Evenat80,hewasasoptimisticasanyoneyou’veevermet.Don’slegacyshowsthatwiththerightattitude,anunshakeableworkethic,andthetruevisionofanentrepreneur,itispossibletocreateaprofitable,cutting-edgecompanythatcanmakeadifferenceintheworld.Hisiscalled80/20Incorporated.

80/20wasbynomeansDon’sfirstbusinessventure.Infact,hisentrepreneurialcareerstartedearlierthanmostwhenhebegansellingseedsdoortodoorattheageof7.Followingagrowthspurt,Donstartedsellingvacuumcleanersattheageof12andwassuccessfulenoughtohelpsupporthisfamily.Likemanymenofhistime,Donwascalled

upontoserveintheU.S.ArmyduringtheKoreanWarandproudlyaccomplishedtherankofSergeant.Inadditiontogainingleadershipskillsinthemilitary,Don’swealthofexperiencecamefromworkingasajourneymantoolmakerandasasalesmanandmanagerwithintheautomationindustry.

In1989,attheageof58whenmostofhispeerswereplanningtheirretirement,DonandhissonsDougandJohnwerebusycreatingasystemofT-slottedaluminumextrusionsthatwouldbecomethe80/20constructionsystem.Dontirelesslypeddledhisconstructionsystemacrossthenationwithhisiconicdemonstrationvanandgurney.Hishardworkandpersistencepaidoff.In1990,Donandtwoofhissonssetupshopin2000squarefeetofspacewithinabusinessincubatorinFortWayne,IN.Duringthistime,Donhadtotacklemanyhardshipsthatnaturallycomewithstartingyourownbusiness.Hefacedthesedifficultieswithtrueentrepreneurialspirit–bypassinghisownpaychecktocoveremployeewages,washingbarsin5gallonbuckets,andrecruitingfamilyandfriendstoassemblepartsontheweekends.

Operatingoutofa255,000squarefootfacility,80/20nowsupportsover150,000customers,employs450stakeholders,andhasmorethan500milliondollarsofproductinthemarketplace.80/20productsaresoldthroughoutNorthAmerica,theUK,andAustraliatoallwalksoflife,fromgaragetinkererstohigh-techengineersatmulti-billiondollarcompaniesandgovernmentagencies.80/20iswidelyrecognizednotonlyforitsinnovativeproductbutalsoitsenlightenedapproachtobusiness,whereattitudeiseverythingandallpracticesrevolvearoundcreatinganoutstandingcustomerexperience.In2017,Donannouncedtoalloftheemployeesof80/20,Inc.thathisdreamwastocreateanEmployeeStockOptionPlan(ESOP)whichwouldgiveeveryoneanopportunitytoshareinthesuccessofthecompanybybecomingemployeeowners.

Beforehispassingin2019,DonalsoadvisedIvyTechCommunityCollegeasaregionalboardmemberandservedonmanyotherboards,includingtheFluidPowerSocietyand“Go!Whitley”AcceleratingInnovation.DonwasalsoanardentsupporterofthecommunityprovidingsupporttoawidevarietyofcausesincludingsettingupascholarshipatIvyTechCommunityCollege–NortheastandsupportingtheartswithafocusontheFortWaynePhilharmonic,tonameafew.Donwasalsoawardedmanyhonors,mostnotablyErnst&Young’sEntrepreneuroftheYearin2001.

Don,throughhislegacyofthe80/20FoundationTrust,continuestobeasupporterofentrepreneursandmanufacturingandindustrialtechnologies.Heoftensaid,“Ifyoudowhatyoulove,you’llneverworkadayinyourlife.Intotal,hislifestorydemonstratesthatthecombinationofhardwork,havingtherightattitude,anddaringtohaveanambitiousvisioncan truly turn dreams into reality. Don’s vision, through the good work of the 80/20 Foundation Trust, will beginbuildingonDon’sdreamofgrowingandtransformingthemanufacturingsectorinNEIndiana.