Business Turnaround and Reinvention
Michael Happe
President and CEO of Winnabego Industries
April 11, 2025
3:00 PM
Shea Room
245 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
About the Session:
Join us for an exclusive opportunity to hear from Michael Happe, CEO of Winnebago Industries, and EY's 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year. Since 2016, Michael has served as the CEO of Winnebago Industries, after almost two decades at The Toro Company. Amidst a during period of financial and brand distress for Winnebago, Michael spearheaded Winnebago's reinvention and recovery over the last decade.
During this event, Michael will share lessons learned over the course of his three decade career, from his time at Toro to Winnebago. He'll describe his experiences reinventing Winnebago, and the steps he took to transform the brand.
Whether you're interested in launching your own business, working at a large organization, or holding c-suite level roles, this event is a great opportunity to learn more about what it takes to build and maintain a successful brand.
About
Michael Happe
Michael Happe was appointed to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of Winnebago Industries in January of 2016. He also serves on the board of the Winnebago Industries Foundation. Mr. Happe is responsible for the overall vision, strategic direction, and performance of the Winnebago Industries enterprise, and especially accountable for nurturing and strengthening a culture that cares deeply for its employees and customers. Under his leadership, Winnebago Industries has grown from a single Winnebago product brand to a premium portfolio of outdoor brands with several major acquisitions including Grand Design RV, Chris-Craft, Newmar, and Barletta Boats. Prior to joining the company, he served most recently as an Executive Officer and Group Vice President at The Toro Company. During his 19 years at Toro, he held a series of senior leadership positions across a variety of their domestic and international divisions. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the William Allen White School at the University of Kansas and received a Master of Business Administration degree from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He currently sits on the board of directors for another publicly listed NYSE company, H.B. Fuller, and is active in several community, academic, and outdoor / manufacturing industry boards.