Last week, nearly 300 Ruan leaders from across the country gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, for our triennial Leader Summit. The event brought alignment to the strategy and future growth of the business, reinforced our culture and Guiding Principles, and celebrated the meaningful impact our leaders are making every day for Ruan and our customers.
This year’s theme, “Write Your Story,” served as a guiding thread for how each of our leaders contributes to the broader narrative of defining Ruan’s future while building upon the legacy established over the past 94 years.
Ruan’s Chief Executive Officer, Ben McLean, opened the event by reflecting on the company’s rich history and emphasizing that the decisions our leaders make, the cultures they build, and the relationships they establish within their teams not only shape their own journeys but also contribute to the next chapter of Ruan's story.
Throughout the multi-day event, leaders representing our dedicated operations, maintenance groups, distribution and fulfillment centers, and departments across our Des Moines Campus heard from Ruan’s senior leadership over a variety of topics. The sessions encouraged attendees to reflect on the past and embrace the future, equipping them with tools and ideas that they can take back to their teams and enduring partners.
Leaders also had the chance to hear from keynote speakers, including Trevor Ragan, founder of Train Ugly, and Jamie Clarke, adventurer, entrepreneur, and author, who both provided fresh perspectives through inspirational storytelling.
While the full event brought well-deserved recognition to our leaders across the organization, one of the highlights was the Awards and Recognition Ceremony. During the ceremony, our 2025 Operation of the Year Finalists and Winners’ Circle Honorees were honored, who will publicly be announced in the coming weeks, in addition to the recognition of the recipient of Ruan’s Wayne A. Roswick Extraordinary Service Award.