As the chief executive officer of Briess Industries Inc., Craig Briess said his passion isn’t reignited by a conscious decision, but instead, it emerges from within. “Progress drives my passion, and I pursue progress by trying to consistently identify solutions to challenges and seek opportunities to develop and apply new ideas,” he said.
As the company continues to grow, Briess said he retains a degree of hands-on engagement in various aspects of the business. “This allows me to understand important considerations that are sometimes overlooked or not given sufficient gravity in the management decision-making process,” he said. “Understanding the how and why of operations – and other departments – provides me with a satisfying experience, and also a benefit that tangibly improves my own decision-making.”
Briess Industries Inc. has been family-owned since 1876, and is now the largest U.S. specialty malting company in the U.S. The company serves the beverage (mostly beer & spirits) industry, as well as the food and pet food industries, with high-quality malt and other specialty ingredients.
In the past year since he was named a Titan 100, Briess has led efforts to reactivate the Manitowoc facility’s maritime infrastructure – an initiative heralding a new era of transportation opportunities – savings, diversification and risk mitigation. As a result, the company has continued to grow its inbound maritime volume and build its supply chain resilience.
While Briess said he is proud of the tangible accomplishments, including creating new products and steering the company toward growth in expanding markets, his greatest achievement has been positively influencing the company’s ethos. “Since stepping into the chief executive officer role just over three years ago, I have focused on strengthening the culture that defines Briess and underpins our success,” he said. “I often remind our team that it is this culture – marked by innovation, a family-oriented approach, and a genuine kindness – that has enabled Briess to grow from a small malthouse in Chilton into the largest specialty malting company in the U.S., serving both the beverage and food markets.”
Fostering an environment where employees are encouraged to take ownership of their ideas and champion them leads to innovation and better team morale, said Briess. “The business world is replete with aspirational statements about culture and values, but what sets Briess apart is our commitment to truly living them – and this starts with leadership,” he said.
The greatest leadership lesson Briess learned this year has been the importance of setting aside the natural feelings of discouragement, frustration and even defeat that can arise when confronted with obstacles. “Projecting confidence, certainty and enthusiasm in finding solutions is crucial; in other words, a genuine resilience that must be communicated,” he said. “My role as chief executive officer goes beyond mere strategy and direction; it involves being a source of confidence and stability for my team.”