Jeff Lorenger, chairman and CEO of HNI Corp., and the management team at the Muscatine-based company will be honored with the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business’ Oscar C. Schmidt Iowa Business Leadership Award for its contributions to Iowa business.

HNI, a publicly traded manufacturer of workplace furnishings and residential building products and a member of the Fortune 1000, has a long connection with the Tippie College of Business, dating to when former CEO Stan Howe received the same award in 1986. That connection is reflected throughout the the college’s Pappajohn Business Building, including HNI Auditorium and the Howe Galleria. In addition, many Tippie students intern with HNI every year.

Lorenger joined HNI in 1998, was named CEO in 2018, and became chairman of the board in 2020. A native of Denison, Iowa, he earned his BBA in marketing, his J.D., and his MBA from the University of Iowa. He is currently a member of the Tippie Advisory Board.

“As both a strategic thinker and culture builder, Jeff has been an important part of helping to make HNI one of the country’s largest publicly-traded companies,” says Amy Kristof-Brown, dean of the Tippie College of Business. “Jeff is a positive leader who has had a great impact not only in his industry but with all of the organizations that he has worked with as an advisor or board member.”

Lorenger and his management team will be honored at a ceremony and reception on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Merrill Hotel and Conference Center, 118 West Mississippi Dr., in Muscatine. The event is open to the public (RSVP required).

The Oscar C. Schmidt Iowa Business Leadership Award was established in 1980 to recognize outstanding Iowa business leaders. Past winners include W.A. (Bill) Krause of Krause Gentle, operator of Kum and Go convenience stores; the leadership team at Pella Corp.; J. Barry Griswell, chairman, president and CEO of The Principal Financial Group; and the Cloid Smith family of Sioux City, founders and owners of the American Popcorn Co. that makes Jolly Time popcorn; the leadership team at Des Moines-based financial institution Bankers Trust; and Tony Bedard, CEO of Frontier Co-op.

MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Snee, 319-384-0010 (o); 319-541-8434 (c); tom-snee@uiowa.edu