Great American Business Leaders of the 20th Century
Michael A. Volkema
Herman Miller
1995–Present
1995–Present
Herman Miller
1995–Present
1995–Present
- Industry: Fabricated Goods
- Era: 1990
Volkema was devoted to turning the office furniture company into a profitable enterprise. Developing an extensive 12 person Executive Leadership team, Volkema redesigned HM’s core value system, launching the Blueprint for Corporate Community program, which has a new-found focus on customer driven business. In addition to this plan, Volkema created a more cost-effective production process and introduced an array of new customer products, allowing HM to return to profitability, earning net income of $144 million in 1998.
Education / Military
- Graduate: Wayne State University
- Undergraduate: Western Michigan University