ERIE SAUDER THE MAN THE LEADER WHAT IS

ERIE SAUDER THE MAN………. . ………THE LEADER

WHAT IS SAUDER ALL ABOUT? l SAUDER WOOD-WORKING- LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF READY TO ASSEMBLE FURNITURE

Expanding the Vision l l SAUDER MANUFACTURINGONE OF THE LARGEST MANUFACTURERS OF CHURCH FURNITURE

Preserving History for Generations l SAUDER FARM AND CRAFT VILLAGE (1976 -To preserve Black Swamp Heritage)

Welcome Home l l l Sauder Village also houses the Barn Restaurant (1861), which opened in 1976 Heritage Inn Founder’s Hall (1988)

ERIE THE CHILD l l Parents Dan and Annie Sauder migrated from Germany Erie J. Sauder was born August 06, 1904 (Weighed 2 lbs) “No Chance of Survival”

Overcoming Obstacles l l At age six, his sevenmonth-old brother Leo passed away At age eight, another sibling, seven-year-old Mabel died suddenly

Formative Years l Erie spoke no English when he entered school

Formal Education l l l Eighth Grade Education Hard Work-Farming Life Learned wood-working by making tools to make farming life easier Built a gas powered lathe at age 17 “Big Break” traveling salesman from Chicago

More Biographical Information l l His mother died when he was 20 years old Married in 1927 to Leona Short (business partner)

Biographical con’t l After Leona’s death, he eventually remarried Orlyss Short in 1976.

Leadership Accomplishments l l Trip to Chicago to follow up resulted in his first large furniture order; 25, 000 end tables (age 19) Founded Sauder Woodworking 1934 Founded Subsidiaries Archbold Container and Sauder Manufacturing Founded Sauder Farm and Craft Village as a not for profit living history village

Accomplishments con’t. l l Company generates hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Board of Directors for Farmers and Merchants State Bank, the Sunshine Children’s Home, the Ohio Mission Board, the Oaklawn Center, Goshen College and Defiance College.

Still More Accomplishments l l l Awarded Honorary doctorate degrees from Northwest State Community College, Defiance College and The Ohio State University 1969 Archbold Citizen of the Year Inducted into Ohio Senior Citizen’s Hall of Fame and the Hall of Honor of the Area Office on Aging in 1986

Still More l l Ohio Designer Craftsmen Achievement Award in 1987 Governor’s Award in 1992 Received Fulton County’s First Historical Site Marker with the Sauder Historical Village Keynote Speaker at Duke University on entrepreneurship in late 1980’s

Philanthropist l l Made 18 trips to Paraguay through a project he led for the Mennonite Economic Development Association following WWII. At age 88, when asked about the contributions in Paraguay, he stated through tears “Nothing in all my life’s experiences compared to helping in the development of the colonies in Paraguay.

Career Milestones l l Overcomes great adversity (low birth rate, premature death of two siblings, minimal formal education). Knows early his primary gifts. Dreamed during the Depression when others gave up hope. A ‘chance’ circumstance/the traveling salesman

More Milestones l l l First major deal (25, 000 small end tables) Turning the corner with help from others Founding of the Sauder companies in existence today. Humanitarian activities (returning the favor) Philanthropy contributions Adaptations to circumstances (Fires, Inhouse energy production)

Who was this leader? l l l A Man of Great Faith Impeccable honesty/ Led the way by own actions Entrepreneurial thinker/Visionary Servant minded Motivator of Others to dream/pursue/conquer

A Life Remembered l l Upon his death in 1997 at age 92, family members recall two scenes that best described the heart of Erie Sauder, a leader in everyone’s eyes: The factory worker and the commander and chief!

ERIE J. SAUDER- The Man

The Servant

The Leader

References l l Rohrs (1993) Wiens and Rohrs (1993) Sauder Farm and Village (1996) Rohrs, C. (1993). Erie and his village. Archbold, OH: Sauder Farm and Craft Village. Sauder Farm and Village. (1996). Erie J. Sauder, a man who made a difference [Brochure]. Archbold, OH: Author. Sauder Wordworking Company (2005). Sauderinteresting historical clips [DVD]. United States: Sauder Wordworking.

References con’t. l Wiens, F. , & Rohrs, C. (1993). Faith, hope & love, these three at work in Paraguay. Archbold, OH: Anne Coburn Griffis.

Special Thanks l l l The following individuals offered personal knowledge, history and information during the creation of this project: Debbie David-Granddaughter of Erie Sauder Kim Krieger-Director of Marketing, Sauder Village