Mike Braun

Owner
Meyer Distrubuting

Laureate 2023

Mike Braun is an entrepreneur with great vision. He started working at Meyer Body Company in 1981, bought half interest in 1986, and became
sole owner in 1994 with only 15 employees, in Haysville, Indiana, with about 21,000 square feet of warehouse space and an office in a mobile
home. Now there are over 1400 employees, in 48 states, and in Canada, with over 4 million square feet of warehouse and office space in 89
locations across the country. Over 25% of the space is in Jasper, employing about 450 locally. He is also owner of Meyer Logistics, a sister company
that services all Meyer customers plus third-party warehouse and transportation needs, owning their own fleet. Their sales increase averaged 20%
a year since 1981. Challenging times were in the 80s with high interest rates, and 90s with a very competitive market, and Mike made sound
financial decisions with a diversified business plan. In 2008-2010 when many competitors closed their doors, Mikes vision for Meyer Distributing

enabled them to diversify, acquire, and expand, positioning them as one of the top distributors in the nation. They received the coveted SEMA
Distributor of the Year Award in 2010, 2015, 2017 as well as many nominations and industry awards from various manufacturers.
Mike was courageous to self-insure his employees in order to reduce their health care costs. Meyer has not had a premium increase for their
employees in the last 15 years. He has shared this success with anyone who will listen. He built the family business, treating employees as family.
Mike would say a major accomplishment is that 3 of his 4 children will continue the family business, and its future is in good hands.
Mike graduated from Wabash College in 1976 summa cum laude in Economics and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He was the first class of
entrepreneurship offered at Harvard Business School, where he graduated in 1978 with an MBA. This class and business degree gave him the
courage to think and act differently from his peers, moving back to his hometown to start his own business, a very unusual move.
Mikes hobby of forest management has also turned into a business. He buys timber ground for investment. This includes tree planting, timber
stand improvement, along with hunting and fishing on these properties. He and a friend were awarded the Charles Deam and Pioneer Forestry
awards for woodland management. Mike is a member of the Nature Conservancy, Indiana Woodland Owners Association and Quail & Upland
Game Alliance. In 1979, Mike co-founded Crystal Farms, Inc. which expanded over the years to become one of the largest turkey operations in the
tri-sate.
Mike is a mentor to many who want to start their own business, are in a financial bind, need succession planning, or want to know about Meyers
health plan. He takes the time to meet and discuss as a confidante. He has inspired leaders in the community with his common sense and fiscal
approach. He has inspired youth having coached youth baseball, basketball and soccer.
Mikes community service includes Jasper, Dubois County, the State of Indiana and our country. He served on the Greater Jasper Consolidated
School Board for 10 years. He was elected State Representative for District 63 from 2014-2018. Mike is now serving as a US Senator. He overcame
huge odds in beating two US Congressmen to win the primary and then win the election over an incumbent, where incumbents win 85% of the
time. He serves on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, Agriculture, Budget, and Appropriations & Aging Committees. Mike has the honor of
being elected the first US Senator from Dubois County and in 2021 had the most bills passed of any US Senator.
Mike was recognized as an outstanding JHS alumnus in 2008 for his leadership and involvement. He received the Dubois Strong Entrepreneur
Award. He was an Eagle Scout, President of his high school class, and President of the Student Body at Wabash College. He is on the Conexus
Indiana Logistics Council Southwest and the Mid-State Corridor Development Corp. Mike is a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Joseph
Parish. Mike is married to Maureen and they have 4 adult children and 6 grandchildren.