MILESTONES
Big Shoes Lori Davies is named the first non-family president of Clow Stamping
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eggie Clow, the venerable patriarch of Clow Stamping Company in Merrifield, made an indelible first impression on Lori Davies when she attended her first staff meeting 10 years ago as the company’s newly-named controller. The meeting lasted just 15 minutes. She asked a colleague: “Is that the usual length of these meetings?” “Oh no,” she was told, “it was kind of long.” The lesson: Don’t let your culture get distracted by big proposals and long meetings, Davies says. “We don’t necessarily do those things here. I learned that from Reg. He is a get-it-done kind of guy, no messing around. He does not micromanage.” Clow is known inside the company and out as a no-nonsense executive. “I consider myself a master delegator,” he says today. “I like to put the right people in the right job and let them do it—or we’re going to talk about it.” Davies apparently learned her lessons well. In early January she was named the company’s first-ever non-family president. It will be “a bit of a challenge,” she admits. “I have some pretty big shoes to fill.” Replacing owner Clow, she will be just the third president in the company’s nearly 50-year history. Clow and Davies first discussed the promotion four years ago. Clow liked her financial background and admired how she earned the respect of the company’s other top managers. “I also wanted someone with new ideas,” he says. “All my other managers have been here a long time. I wanted someone to come in here with a fresh set of ideas.” Clow Stamping was founded by Everett and Gladys Clow in 1970. Reggie, their son, started working at the company right
Reggie Clow will remain the company’s CEO, but gives the reins as president to CFO Lori Davies.
SPRING 2018 ENTERPRISE MINNESOTA /
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