In this episode, Doug Wing, former Vice Chairman of Little Giant Ladders, shares his journey from business leadership to philanthropy. The conversation covers his experiences, lessons from selling a family business, post-retirement ventures, and his family's history of giving. The episode concludes with a rapid-fire round about personal giving and Doug's perspective on service.
Welcome to the "Go Big to Give Big" podcast with Randy Molland and Steve Arneson! In this episode, we discuss the inspiring power of giving with Doug Wing. Doug has over 40 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, sales, sales leadership, and executive management. He was a Co-owner and Vice Chairman at Little Giant Ladder Systems, helping grow the company to become the 3rd largest ladder company worldwide with over $200 million in annual sales revenue. In his last 5 years at Little Giant, he oversaw the cable and telecom industry, generating over $150 million in sales. With 45 years of service alongside family members, Doug retired in 2019 and co-founded Boar Investment Group in 2020, focusing on multi-family real estate and property management. He is also an active board member of The Honoring Heroes Foundation, supporting fallen police officers and their families. In addition, Doug has completed two missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
With his wife and two daughters.
In this episode, Doug shares his story of how his father, Hal Wing, built Little Giant Ladders into a multi-million-dollar company that is renowned for its company culture. Doug, and his brother, took the reins after their father's passing and continue to build on the success of their father's unique combination of product innovation and human connection. Doug discusses how his father taught them the values of quality, truthfulness, integrity, and ethics, which he has carried into his own life. We learn about Ryan, an employee Hal saw potential in and groomed for success who eventually moved on to investing in multi-family housing and real estate with his friend as well as starting his own business. Doug talks about having meaningful relationships, taking risks, and giving back - something that was instilled in him by his parents. He also shares stories of generosity, including donating two classic vehicles in an auction that raised $120,000 for scholarships.
“Find something that you really love and care about, and you have passion about, and do that. Because if you do that, you'll never work a day in your life.” – Doug Wing
Connect with Doug by following him on LinkedIn and Instagram or by checking his websites https://www.dougwing.com/ and https://www.giantsuccess.com/
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(0:00) Introduction and mission of the GoBigToGiveBig Podcast
(1:05) Discussion on Doug Wing's journey with Little Giant Ladders and his approach to leadership
(12:10) Expansion and future plans for Little Giant Ladders
(17:13) Emotional journey and lessons learned from selling a family business
(21:06) Doug Wing's post-retirement ventures and importance of staying busy
(26:16) Doug Wing's family influence and their history of giving
(31:15) Discussion on Doug's favorite ways to give back and his involvement with charitable organizations
(37:13) Doug Wing's favorite moments of giving and the legacy he continues
(41:45) The Giving Round: Rapid fire questions about personal giving, improving company culture, and Doug's perspective on service
(54:20) How to connect with Doug Wing and closing remarks from the hosts
(55:58) Post-show message from Randy Mullen and Steve Arnison
