Description

Stepping into leadership in a family business isn’t just about earning a title—it’s about earning trust. In this session, siblings Megan Weiler Green and Joel Weiler of Weiler (a second-generation manufacturing business based in Knoxville, Iowa), along with Reynolds Cramer of Fareway (the iconic grocery brand based in Johnston, Iowa), share their experiences navigating growth, responsibility, and identity as next-gen leaders.

From building credibility to balancing family expectations, Megan, Joel and Reynolds offer real-world insights on what it takes to lead with purpose and prove yourself in a legacy-driven environment.

MEGAN WEILER GREEN

Megan Weiler Green serves as Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel at Weiler in Knoxville, IA. Green is also General Counsel for Weiler Forestry, Inc. in LaGrange, GA. Green is a graduate of Iowa State University (B.S., Finance) and the University of Iowa College of Law (Juris Doctorate). Green worked for 9 years as in-house counsel for State Farm Insurance Companies in Bloomington, IL, counseling clients in multiple states on legislative, regulatory, banking, litigation and public policy issues. 

In 2017, Green and her family moved back to her home state of Iowa. Her family’s manufacturing business was growing rapidly and needed dedicated counsel. Green’s work experience and passion for the family business made the move a natural fit. Green joined as Counsel and Procurement Manager. Green led Weiler through a major acquisition as they closed on the purchase of Caterpillar’s purpose-built forestry business in the fall of 2019. She transitioned from Procurement to Engineering in 2019, where she spent five years managing the engineering, service, product safet,y and technical publications groups before moving into the CFO role in 2023. Green is a member of the company’s senior leadership team and is President of the Weiler Foundation for charitable giving. She is also active in several community leadership activities, including serving as a commissioner for Marion County Economic Development, a commissioner on the Attorney Grievance Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa, and multiple apprenticeship and career readiness committees. Additionally, she serves on the boards of two outside companies.

JOEL WEILER

Joel Weiler is Engineering Manager at Weiler, a Knoxville, Iowa-based manufacturer, where he also serves on the senior management team and multiple company boards. Since joining the business full-time in 2019, Joel has held key leadership roles in safety, HR, operations, and production—driving major initiatives such as COVID-19 response, facility integration, and in-sourcing of wire harness and steel cutting operations.

In his current role, Joel oversees engineering, service, technical publications, HR, and wire harness assembly, contributing to strategic planning and innovation across the organization. A second-generation family member, Joel returned to Central Iowa after practicing dentistry for five years and holds degrees from Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.

REYNOLDS CRAMER

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Reynolds W. Cramer joined Fareway in 1985, when he began working in the Boone Fareway store at just 16 years old. During college, he moved and worked in the Decorah Fareway store in the meat department for three years. When speaking of this experience, Cramer explains, “I knew it would be important to understand all aspects of our business and why our meat departments are second-to-none.” After working in two stores as assistant manager he was promoted in 1997 to store manager, opening a new Fareway store in Des Moines. In 2000, he was promoted to district supervisor at the corporate office in Boone, Iowa. In 2008, he was elected to the Real Estate Committee, and has been instrumental in choosing the strategic placement of new Fareway locations ever since. In 2009, Cramer was elected to the Board of Directors for Fareway, in 2010 he was named as a regional vice president and in 2012 as an executive vice president in charge of all retail operations. Cramer’s promotion to CEO for Fareway Stores, Inc. occurred in February 2014. 

In addition to his responsibilities with Fareway, Cramer is active in many charitable organizations, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, ChildServe, Easterseals, Ronald McDonald House, UnityPoint Health Foundation, and he has served as President for Variety-the Children’s Charity. Cramer is also a board member of the Iowa Business Council and Vice Chair for the Food Marketing Institute in Washington D.C. He is an advocate for animal rescue, having adopted several animals from various rescue organizations. In April 2023 Cramer was humbled when he was inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame. A native Iowan and graduate of Boone High School in 1987 and Luther College in 1991. Cramer has two daughters, Ashley, 25, and Zoe, 20. Reynolds and his wife, Sheila, live in Norwalk with their son Benny, 7.