Helen Johnson-Leipold

Strong succession planning is a critical element of all the Johnson enterprises.

Without trust, no organization can sustain innovation because without trust, no one is willing to take the risks that innovation requires.

There are so many issues, so many opportunities to bring people together who have different perspectives, to develop action plans, and to have a significant impact on those issues.

It's important to understand economic trends, but, in my mind, it's more important to understand how to buck the trends.

The Great Recession rocked the foundation of every financial institution, including Johnson Bank. We were struggling, and it was happening under my watch.

As a former member of JWA's management team, and more recently as a director, I am delighted to have the opportunity now to take the reins of leadership of the company. I look forward to working with JWA's management team to chart the course and execute the plan to further strengthen and broaden JWA's leading product franchises.

The outdoor recreational industry is highly seasonal and heavily influenced by weather conditions.