Name: Dave Lemanski
Job Title: CEO
Organization: Chippewa River Industries, Inc.
Website: crind.org
Favorite Restaurant: Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago
Favorite Sports Team: Green Bay Packers
Favorite Hobby: Bow Hunting
What makes a great leader?
I believe the following makes a great leader:
a. Communication – Leaders need the ability to clearly communicate the vision and direction of the organization, to understand other points of view, and the ability to actively listen while thoughtfully considering diverse perspectives.
b. Courage – Leaders need the courage to make difficult decisions and the courage to fail while demonstrating humility. Being courageous enough to not know all the answers and to allow your team to improve/learn through failure.
c. Integrity - Leaders have the emotional intelligence to always do what is right. People without integrity are not leaders rather, they are authoritarians with no respectful value. Integrity is the foundation of trust, and trust makes a person a leader worth following.
How does emotional intelligence help you lead and connect with yourself or others?
I believe everyone has the capacity to grow their emotional intelligence. The first step is understanding what EI is—developing an awareness of being aware. The next step is applying that awareness to your personal life and leadership approach. This is not a static event but a continuous journey of growth. As I reflect on my own EI development, I’ve become more mindful of how I respond in challenging situations. In the past, I tended to react impulsively. Now, I strive to respond with greater thoughtfulness and intention. Recognizing areas for improvement—such as self-regulation in my case—requires humility and is a key marker of self-awareness. Finally, applying empathy, practicing effective communication, and having the courage to make a final decision, are essential to motivating others and creating space for honest feedback.
What is the most important thing you value in workplace culture and why?
Integrity. At CRI - Integrity is our commitment to treating our employees, the public, our customers, stakeholders, and one another with dignity, equity, honesty, and mutual respect. This commitment fosters trust. This creates an effective workplace in that trust, as the foundation of psychological safety, and healthy and effective relationships, allows our team to offer the best services for our customers.
What are some awesome new things you are doing at your organization or in the community?
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to helping individuals live as independently as possible. Every program we design is built to support that mission. At one of our satellite offices, we’re excited to be developing a Youth Services Program aimed at supporting at-risk youth and youth with different abilities. This initiative will focus on building the skills necessary for gainful employment and long-term success. Recognizing the importance of strong leadership at every stage of life, the leadership team at CRI has also identified a need for leadership training that emphasizes communication, courage, integrity, and emotional intelligence (EI). This need spans from pre-teens to seasoned professionals. To meet this need, we’re launching a new training series called “Ignite Your Impact”—a high-impact leadership session designed to meet participants where they are.
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Dave is a member of Employ Humanity. Learn more about membership
Dave attended Leadership Day @ Lambeau. Learn more about event