Donald F. Larsen

Published: November 01, 2007

Experience Speaks

How did you get into the converting business?
I always wanted to own my own business. That tradition was part of my family history. When I saw a bagmaking company with an impressive customer base was for sale in 1992, I made my first major investment.

How would you describe your management style?
I look for talented people and give them lots of space!

What is your key to retaining good employees?
Offering very competitive opportunities is one aspect. We also make sure employees know their contributions have real impact on the business.

What is the biggest mistake you made and how did you fix it?
My original investment in bagmaking was in a commodity and stagnating market. I fixed it by looking at value-added converting in growth areas.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy seeing the business growth, new customers brought on board, and sharing the fun of that success with employees.

What is the best advice you ever got?
Work hard; play hard!

What is the biggest threat to the converting industry right now?
New technology is a threat and a benefit. If a converter is committed to staying up to date and market focused, there is no threat.

What do you enjoy least about your job?
At times I have to look at details I’d rather delegate. Sometimes my team insists I go through the fine print with them. Fortunately I have people that know when to do that!

What is the key to growing a business in a bad economy?
Our team has a habit of experimenting on—and mastering—many substrates. We offer customers economies by streamlining multiple processes compared to their past experience requiring multiple converters to do the same work.

How do you handle a difficult customer?
Some of the best successes occur when a difficult customer is won over by the results of our work, including short-deadline timeframes for emergencies, new product trials, and day-to-day reliability.

What do you know now that you wish you had known when you started out?
I wish I had been better at some investment ideas, particularly in pre-selling equipment, so we could have realized faster returns.

Do you have a personal hero?
Don Schneider, who was instrumental in the success of Schneider National, a transportation provider. Don is a leader who was driven to succeed yet was fair and honest.

About Larsen Converting Industries
1750 Morrow St., Green Bay, WI 54302
larsenconverting.com
Founded 1992; 2 plants; 65 employees
Specialty | Industrial packaging; tissue and towel overwrap; fast food disposables; infant care market