Author

Bruce Werner

Bruce Werner spent the first half of his career at Werner Ladder, with executive responsibilities in all facets of the business. During that time the family completed 6 acquisitions and sustained 10% annual growth for over a decade. The family later exited the business in a successful LBO.

As an independent consultant, he helps owners address their governance, strategy, capital, talent, and succession issues. This work is based on several decades of deep operational experience. He has started and built businesses in finance, energy, and technology, in addition to being a partner in a private equity fund.

His governance experience includes forming new boards and serving on established boards, both advisory and fiduciary. Seven of his twelve board seats have been with family businesses. He has performed Audit, Governance and Compensation committee work.

An author, Mr. Werner has published Your Ownership Journey, which focuses on the 12 secrets of personal and business success, in addition to Navigating Private Company Governance. In addition to numerous webinars and podcasts, he has been published in Private Company Director, Wealth Management, Estate Planning, Trusts & Estates, and other national publications.

An accomplished public speaker, he has connected with business audiences across the country on these same topics, working with Bank of America Private Bank, Vistage, Cavendish Global Forum, National Association of Home Builders, and the Turnaround Management Association. His academic relations include Northwestern’s Kellogg School,  Cornell’s Smith Family Business Initiative and Loyola University’s Family Business Center.

Mr. Werner received a B.S Mechanical Engineering/Public Policy from Carnegie-Mellon University. As an IBM Fellow, he graduated from Stanford University with a M.S. Manufacturing Systems Engineering degree. He completed his education at the MIT Sloan School, earning an M.S. Management with a focus on Strategy and Operations.