Dick Haworth began his career in 1964 as Assistant Sales Manager when he joined his family-owned business. At that time, Modern Products, Inc. employed 79 members with sales of $1,285,000 in the partition and moveable wall business. In 1967, Dick was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1969.
Dick returned to the company as Executive Vice President in 1969 with responsibility for manufacturing and new product development. He was instrumental in developing the Modern Office Module system ¬- introduced in 1971 and later known as the UniGroup® Office Interior System. That same year, sales exceeded $5 million and employment reached 118 members. The company name was changed to Haworth, Inc. in 1975.
In 1976, Dick became the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. His love for new ideas kept him involved in product development and market introduction, resulting in exciting new products. For example, Dick led the development and introduction of the industry’s first electrified, panel-based office furniture system, ERA 1R, which earned the second largest intellectual property settlement in the history of the Patent Office in 1994. He holds 14 patents for the company.
In 1994, Dick was named Chairman and CEO of Haworth. Over the next 14 years, he continued to build the company into a global, multi product line company with sales of $1.65 billion and over 7,300 members worldwide. Today, Haworth has manufacturing plants and showrooms in most major American, European and Asian cities and dealers worldwide. The company is a global manufacturer of office furniture environments, including furniture systems, desks, files, seating, movable walls, raised access floors and institutional furniture.
Dick continues as Haworth Chairman Emeritus and a Board member while remaining engaged with customers, product development, engineering and community projects – his areas of special passion.
Dick is a native of Holland, Michigan. He received a bachelor’s degree in business from Western Michigan University in 1964. Dick served as a WMU Trustee and also received the WMU Distinguished Alumni Award. He sits on the board of advisors for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, is a member of the Business Leaders for Michigan and is involved in many community initiatives.