EAGLE President and CEO David Beeken Recognized as Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year

Release date: 6/27/2003

For Immediate Release

EAGLE President and CEO David Beeken Recognized as Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year

OMAHA, NEBRASKA, June 27 – The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award honors entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, hard work and perseverance have created and sustained successful, growing business ventures. Founded in 1986, the awards are presented in 38 U.S, regional competitions and 35 worldwide competitions. The Iowa/Nebraska program, now in its fifteenth year has recognized over 130 outstanding business leaders. Individuals awarded in the Iowa/Nebraska program will become eligible for the national awards, given in November in Palm Springs, California.

This year six categories were awarded including: Emerging Entrepreneur, Master Entrepreneur, Technology Entrepreneur, Manufacturing Entrepreneur, Family-Owned Entrepreneur and Financial Services Entrepreneur. David Beeken, President and CEO of EAGLE Window & Door, Inc., Dubuque, Iowa was nominated and later awarded the Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year at a ceremony in Omaha, Nebraska on June 26, 2003.

Throughout his rise as a high school graduate on the production floor of EAGLE Window & door, Inc., to the CEO's desk, David Beeken has closely followed this advice: "Worry less about what you will make, and more about what can be learned." Using his voracious appetite for learning all aspects of the business, from production to sales to distribution, Beeken has double sales and found new markets for EAGLE's products.

Fresh out of high school, Beeken took a job on the production floor of what was then Caradco, a window distributor that has been in business since 1866. Beeken’s path to success found him working in a variety of positions, continually rising in the company until he was named president and CEO three years ago.

Beeken sets EAGLE apart by offering modified door and window products to its customer instead of completely customized products. This allows the company to charge premium rates for windows and doors but not disrupt the production process as much as customizing would. Beeken has achieved rapid growth in sales at EAGLE by focusing on two growing markets – high-end homes and the institutional segment, such as health care facilities, schools, and churches – and by expanding its sales in the South and West, where year-round construction activity opens more doors for EAGLE.

Having worked his way up the corporate ladder, Beeken understands the value employees at all levels of the company bring. He holds dear the philosophy that "bricks and mortar make a company but people make a business," and he listens to input and ideas on how to improve operations at frequent employee meetings.

Throughout the years, EAGLE has gone through several ownership changes, in addition to a bankruptcy filing by its parent company. In 2002, the company sold off EAGLE, one of its few profitable operations, to a private-equity company. Throughout this tumult, one of EAGLE's consistent aspects has been Beeken's leadership and commitment. His guidance has kept employees motivated and eager to make EAGLE soar.

Source: Ernst & Young LLP Driving Force – The Element of Success