Family-Owned, Family-Driven for Three Generations
This company started with a simple belief: if you work hard, treat people right, and never stop improving, you can build something meaningful. That belief still drives us today. As a family-owned business, we’re deeply grateful to the employees and communities who have been part of our story. We honor the legacy that built Ashley, while working every day to shape a future defined by integrity, innovation, and purpose. When we succeed together, we create a brighter future for everyone in the Ashley family.
Ron Wanek
Founder and Chairman
Ron grew up on a sharecropper’s farm, and through the family’s hobby of crafting furniture, he cultivated a lifelong passion that spearheaded his legacy. He partnered with a group of investors to form Arcadia Furniture Corporation in 1970. In 1982, Arcadia Furniture and Ashley Furniture merged into one company: Ashley Furniture Industries. Ron’s determination and expertise were the driving force in laying the groundwork for one of the most incredible success stories in the history of the furniture industry.
Horatio Alger Award
Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans
Manufacturing Hall of Fame
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
Furniture Hall of Fame
American Home Furnishings
Honorary Doctorate in Business
High Point University
Horatio Alger Award
Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans
Manufacturing Hall of Fame
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
Furniture Hall of Fame
American Home Furnishings
Honorary Doctorate in Business
High Point University
Todd Wanek
President and CEO
Furniture is in Todd’s DNA, as he has worked across all facets of the business. From 1989-1993, he developed Ashley’s presence in Asia. Returning in 1994, he led Ashley’s upholstery expansion. In 1997, he launched Ashley’s first retail store, which has grown to 1,100+ locations globally. As CEO since 2002, his passion and focused commitment for improving Ashley’s operations, products, and services is unrelenting, positioning the company for continued growth into the future.
Furniture Hall of Fame
America Home Furnishings
Titan of the Industry
Furniture Today
Trailblazer of the Year
Home Furnishings Association
Pillar of the Industry
International Home Furnishings Representatives Association
Cameron Wanek
Chief Information & Supply Chain Officer
Cameron manages Ashley’s global supply, demand, quality, sourcing, and technology initiatives. He optimizes data integration, strengthens the supply chain, and enhances the customer experience. Starting at Ashley in 2007, Cameron worked in metal fabrication, grounds, quality control, and supply chain. He spent a significant amount of time in Asia developing quality standards, conducting inspections, and streamlining processes with factories and suppliers.
Paul Broyhill Future Leader
American Home Furnishings
40 Under 40
Furniture Today
Rising Star
International Home Furnishings Representatives Association
Travis Wagner
Chief Operations Officer
Travis is responsible for continuing to innovate and grow Ashley’s advanced manufacturing facilities worldwide. Travis began his career with Ashley in 2002, loading and transferring product for market. He then moved into manufacturing, working in upholstery and maintenance. In 2009, Travis relocated to Vietnam where he spent over a decade leading and growing all of Ashley’s manufacturing and distribution facilities throughout Asia.
Paul Broyhill Future Leader
American Home Furnishings
40 Under 40
Furniture Today
Laura Forsythe
Senior VP of Merchandising
Laura leads the merchandising, interior design and visual teams for Ashley Global Retail and works in close collaboration with Ashley Furniture Industries, store operations, e-commerce and marketing. Starting as an Ashley intern in 2007, she gained experience across finance, supply chain, and quality control. In 2011, she moved to Asia to launch Ashley’s first international store in China and manage merchandising. Returning in 2014, she launched ashleyfurniture.com and led eCommerce operations for four years. She has since overseen retail finance, interior design, marketplace business and merchandising across Ashley brands
Paul Broyhill Future Leader
American Home Furnishings
40 Under 40
Furniture Today
Women of Influence
Furniture Today
Over 80 Years of Innovation
Ashley Furniture has experienced 19 major rebirths
Arcadia Furniture Corporation, formed by Ron Wanek and other investors, opens in Arcadia, WI, producing occasional tables.
1970
Ashley introduces wall systems.
1972
The furniture company develops its own transportation fleet, now one of the largest private fleets in the industry.
1974
Ownership transition and restructuring occurs. The company evaluates its product line, expands, and retools its facilities.
1976
Arcadia Furniture Corp. and Ashley Furniture Corp. merge into one company: Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.® (Ashley) corporate offices are relocated from Chicago, IL to Arcadia, WI.
Ron Wanek becomes majority stockholder.
1982
Ashley begins manufacturing bedroom furniture.
1983
As imports take over the table business, Ashley begins overseas trading, and manufacturing.
1984
Ashley begins manufacturing dining room furniture.
1985
Millenium Concept: A unique polyester finishing technique that gives wood furniture an impeccable luster. This is the largest product line investment ever made in the furniture industry.
1986
Ashley begins using various combinations of glass, marble, steel, and wood in its product designs.
1988
Ashley’s intermodal rail yard is established, the only one in Wisconsin, and one of seven private yards in the U.S.
1992
Ashley establishes a manufacturing facility in Ecru, MS, adding upholstery to its product lineup.
1994
Ashley introduces leather upholstery.
Todd Wanek becomes President of Ashley Furniture Industries.
1996
The first Ashley HomeStore opens in Anchorage, Alaska.
Ashley introduces motion upholstery, including recliners.
1997
First international Ashley Furniture HomeStore opens in Aichi, Japan.
2000
Ashley establishes its first international manufacturing and distribution super plant in Kunshan, China.
Todd Wanek becomes CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries.
2002
Ashley Furniture Industries becomes the world’s largest manufacturer of furniture.
2005
Ashley Furniture HomeStore becomes the #1 furniture store brand in North America.
2006
Ashley launches mattress line, Ashley-Sleep®.
Ashley launches accessories division.
2009
Ashley accelerates the expansion of its international retail presence.
2012
Ashley establishes Ashley Global Retail Headquarters in Tampa (Ybor City), Florida.
Ashley HomeStore launches e-commerce website, providing a seamless customer shopping experience across numerous devices.
2015
Ashley introduces outdoor furniture.
2016
Ashley makes major investments in robotics, further solidifying its place as a leader in advanced automated manufacturing.
2017
Ashley invests heavily into direct-to-consumer delivery.
2018
Ashley HomeStore opens 1,000th store.
Ashley welcomes Baby and Ready to Assemble (RTA) furniture as new product lines.
2019
Ashley re-invents its supply chain operations while facing obstacles of the global pandemic.
Ashley celebrates its 75th anniversary.
2020
Ashley HomeStore rebrands to Ashley, with a new logo, and refreshed store model.
2022
Ashley invests heavily into Artificial Intelligence, and develops integrations throughout the organization.
2023
Ashley acquires Resident Home ($1B company) expanding direct-to-consumer mattress business while leveraging manufacturing capabilities.
2024
Core Values
Honesty, and Integrity
Be forthright
Dirty Fingernail
You get what you inspect, not what you expect
Passion, Drive, and Discipline
Give everything you have to your job
Continuous Improvement
Know the business
Growth Focused
Always dominate and be in a #1 position in the furniture industry
A Culture of Leadership
Lead at every level in the organization
Customer Centric
Deliver on what is promised to the customer
Boundaryless
Work for the greater good of the organization