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Ralph C. Stayer is the owner of Johnsonville, LLC. Ralph joined his parents’ family business after earning a finance degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1965. He led the company from 1968-on, retiring as CEO in 2015. He served as Chairman of the Board until 2020, when his wife Shelly assumed the role. Under his leadership, Johnsonville expanded from a small butcher shop to a thriving global brand.
During his four decades as leader of the company, Ralph grew Johnsonville from a local Wisconsin brand, to an international leader in the food industry. The strong relationships he cultivated with customers, distributors and partners around the globe led to increased sales and an extensive presence worldwide. Today, Johnsonville is the No. 1 national sausage brand and is enjoyed by consumers in more than 40 countries.
Ralph’s accomplishments extend well beyond the company’s sales and financial success. His business operations method has been lauded for its “people-first” focus, blending teamwork and individual accountability, thus developing exceptional talent at all levels. In 1982, Ralph developed “The Johnsonville Way,” a unique and highly regarded company culture focused on growth, accountability and developing one’s God-given talents. More than 40 years later, “The Johnsonville Way” continues to guide how the organization and its members operate.
In 1990, Ralph established the Leadership Dynamics consulting firm, which specialized in coaching leaders of large organizations on strategy and execution through people. He wrote “How I Learned to Let My Workers Lead,” which was published in the Harvard Business Review – one of their top 100 most reprinted articles. He also co-authored the business best-seller, Flight of the Buffalo, published by Warner Books. His current book, Love Your Neighbor, will be in bookstores in Fall 2023. Ralph also writes two monthly book reviews for Gulfshore Life magazine.
Ralph was named CEO of the Year by Tom Peters in 1988 and was a finalist in the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2000.
Ralph is a First Tee Trustee and a Trustee of Boys and Girls Clubs in the Midwest Region. He has served on the Board of Directors of Brunswick Corporation, was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Marian University and was on the Boston College Board of Trustees. Ralph also served on the Board of Advisors for the Notre Dame Executive Education Department and on the Board of CEO.org.
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