LA CROSSE, Wis., October 20, 2025 – Western Technical College is proud to announce that Ron Wanek, founder and chairman of Ashley Furniture Industries, has been named the 2025 Technical Education Champion (TECh) by the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association.
The TECh Award recognizes community and industry leaders who demonstrate an exemplary level of partnership with their local technical college to promote technical education and economic development.
“Ron Wanek has been an extraordinary partner to Western and to technical education across Wisconsin,” said Western President Roger Stanford. “His vision and generosity have expanded access to high-quality training, strengthened our workforce, and improved countless lives. He truly embodies what it means to be a technical education champion.”
Through the Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation, Mr. Wanek has provided transformational support to technical education in western Wisconsin. Through the Foundation’s major investment in the Wanek Center of Innovation at Western, they are helping create K-12 pathways into advanced manufacturing careers, equipping current programs with cutting-edge technology in cybersecurity, IoT, data analytics, automation, and mechatronics, and upskilling the regional workforce to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 and beyond.
Beyond his financial support, Mr. Wanek has been deeply engaged in workforce development and advocacy. When Ashley Furniture employees needed robotics training, he brought the equipment to Western and worked with college leaders to upskill faculty. He has met with state officials and educational partners to strengthen transferability, career pathways, and workforce readiness across Wisconsin.
Mr. Wanek and his team at Ashley Furniture continue to collaborate with Western by hiring graduates, hosting educators from across the country, serving on advisory committees, and promoting the importance of technical education to the company’s 18,000 employees nationwide.
"I am honored to receive this recognition from the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association," said Ron Wanek. "America's manufacturing future isn't guaranteed; it must be earned. Through the Wanek Center of Innovation and our partnership with Western Technical College, we're opening doors for the next generation of makers and innovators. We must continue to invest in upskilling our workforce and support the students and educators who will shape our nation's future for generations to come."
“Ron has shown what true partnership looks like,” Stanford added. “He doesn’t just invest in education—he invests in people. His commitment has changed lives, strengthened our communities, and elevated the role of technical education as the cornerstone of economic prosperity.”