James D. Reigle

Chairman Emeritus

Mr. Reigle is the son of founder, J.O. Reigle. Like his father, James D. acquired front-line sales experience in the cookware business before assuming leadership in the overall operations. Before joining Regal Ware in 1949, he served as a sergeant in the US Army Air Corps in Germany and earned a Bachelor of Science-Commerce degree. His earliest tasks, in the Receiving Department, were humble ones, supplying production lines by “lugging crates and cartons from truck to dock.” From these modest beginnings developed a man who eventually became the president of the company upon his father’s retirement in 1965.

As James D. Reigle relates, his father would much rather sell one top-quality product for a higher price than two low-quality items. James D. believes such attention to quality and durability, along with customer trust and loyalty, determines the success of a business. When he assumed the company’s leadership, James D.’s goal was to continue the company’s growth under the philosophy initiated by his father. That goal was achieved in a spectacular fashion between 1965 and 1990. Regal Ware experienced tremendous growth, and employment grew 285% during the period.

According to James D. himself, “the second task of a good executive is to train his replacement,” making the transition to his successor a smooth one. His eldest son, Jeffrey A. Reigle became Regal Ware’s President in 1992. Today James D. continues to be an integral member of Regal Ware’s Executive Committee as Chairman of the Board.

Jeffrey A. Reigle

President & Chief Executive Officer

Jeffrey A. Reigle represents the third generation of Reigles to lead the company. With his extensive sales and production background and enthusiastic management style, Jeff is uniquely qualified to lead the largest privately owned housewares manufacturing company in the United States. Mr. Reigle was born in West Bend, Wisconsin, and continues to reside in that city. He graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1973, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business.

Jeffrey joined the company in 1973 as a management trainee and held several progressively responsible positions within Regal Ware, including various sales and production management positions from 1973-1984; Vice President, Corporate Development from 1984-1986; Vice President, Sales from 1986-1988; Executive Vice President, Housewares Sales from 1988-1991. Mr. Reigle is actively involved in numerous industry organizations, including the Direct Selling Association and the Cookware Manufacturers Association.

David N. Lenz

Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Lenz was appointed Chief Operating Officer in March 2016 and oversees day-to-day operations and people systems to effectively grow the organization ensuring strategic goals and operational excellence. Since joining Regal Ware in 2002, Dave has served in progressive leadership capacities with increasing responsibility in both the operations and administrative support functions of the company. Most recently he served as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing with responsibilities for Regal Ware brands sales and marketing, executive leadership and management of new business development, and corporate benefits and salary administration at the senior level.

Other positions include Corporate Director, Human Resources from 2002 – 2004; Vice President and General Manager, Manufacturing from 2005-2007; Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer from 2008-2014. Prior to joining Regal Ware he held various positions at The West Bend Company including Safety Administrator from 1991-2000, Manager of Employment, Salary Administration and Safety in 2000, and Vice President of Human Resources from 2000-2002.

Dave earned a BSE degree from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater and Masters in Human Resource Management from the Keller Graduate School of Management in 1998. An active community participant, Dave served as a Board Member for the Family Center of Washington County from 2003-2009. He has been on the Board of Directors for Economic Development Washington County since 2009, and served as Board President for that organization 2012-2013.

Tracy Pearson

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Tracy joined the Regal Ware family in 2014. She brings more than 25 years of expertise in all facets of Finance and Operations, and has extensive public and private company experience in healthcare, distribution, technology services, and energy sectors. Ms. Pearson provides financial reporting to all levels of internal management, as well as external to Regal Ware’s Board of Directors and investment partners. Tracy oversees the Finance and IT departments, and manages the corporate Legal department.

Tracy holds a Master’s Degree in Finance and Organizational Consulting from Boston College.

Douglas J. Reigle

Senior Vice President, Strategic Sales

Douglas J. Reigle, also a third generation descendent of founder J.O. Reigle, was born in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, graduating from Carroll College in 1981 with a Bachelor’s Degree in both Business Administration and Economics.

In 1993 Mr. Reigle was appointed Director of Regal Swan Ltd., a joint venture company located in Birmingham, England. He returned to Regal Ware in 1995 as Vice President, International Sales; served as Vice President Direct Sales from 1998-2001; held the position of Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing from 2001-2010; served as COO 2010-2012; and 2013-2019 Vice President, Supply Chain Management, and currently holds the position of Senior Vice President, Strategic Sales. Doug was elected to Regal Ware’s Board of Directors in 1995, and named an officer of the company in 2001.

Mr. Reigle has represented Regal Ware in a variety of industry organizations, including the Housewares Export Council of North America, the British Cookware Manufacturers Association, and the Wisconsin World Trade Center. Doug is a past President of the Cookware Manufacturers Association (2011-2012); and is a current member of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) International Council, the DSA Party Plan Council, and the DSA Family Owned Business Council.

Joseph A. Swanson

Senior Vice President, Operations

Joe joined Regal Ware in 1983 as a Management Trainee. He brings to his position a vast knowledge of Regal Ware manufacturing operations, including background in Purchasing, Quality Assurance, and Production Supervision. Joe received his BS in Industrial Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and earned his MS in Management from Cardinal Stritch University.

Mr. Swanson most recently served as Vice President and General Manager from November 1992 through August 2005 when he assumed his current responsibilities. As Senior Vice President, Operations, Joe is responsible for Product Development, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Global Sourcing, and Corporate Lean/Continuous Improvement initiatives. In 2014 Joe additionally assumed responsibility for overseeing the Human Resources department.

Active in many community activities, Joe is a past board member of the KEYS Scholarship organization of Kewaskum High School, past board member of the Threshold, Inc. of Washington County, and Past President of the Kettle Moraine YMCA

Ryan Reigle

Senior Vice President, Sales

Ryan is a fourth generation descendent of Regal Ware founder J.O. Reigle. He graduated 
from St. Norbert College in 2003 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Economics and earned his Executive MBA from Texas Christian University.
Ryan began his career with Regal Ware in 2007 as Manager of International Sales. From 2013 to 2016 he served as Sr. Vice President Sales and Marketing for the Saladmaster Division located in Texas. In January 2016 he was appointed President of Saladmaster, overseeing global sales and operations worldwide, growing the division by 20+%. In May of 2018 Ryan became Group Vice President, Direct Sales Divisions and in October 2019 was appointed Sr. Vice President, Sales. This appointment moved him back to the Kewaskum Corporate offices providing oversight of all Regal Ware sales divisions. His extensive background in global sales and operations provides a solid base of experience that allows strategies to be developed and implemented across the organization.
Ryan is a member of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) and sits on their Board of Directors.  Since moving back to Wisconsin, Ryan has become involved with The Tower Heritage Center (formerly Washington County Historical Society). Ryan was elected to Regal Ware’s Board of Directors in 2018.