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In Memoriam: Rich Ryan, President & CEO, Dorner Mfg

We are sad to report that PMMI Board of Directors member Rich Ryan was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident near the border of Idaho and Washington, on Saturday, Sept. 8. He was 59. "Our hearts and prayers go out to Rich's family and friends, and to the people fortunate enough to have worked with him every day at Dorner," says PMMI Chairman Nick Wilson, president of Morrison Container Handling Solutions.

We are sad to report that PMMI Board of Directors member Rich Ryan, president & CEO of Dorner Mfg., was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident near the border of Idaho and Washington, on Saturday, Sept. 8. He was 59.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to Rich's family and friends, and to the people fortunate enough to have worked with him every day at Dorner," says PMMI Chairman Nick Wilson, president of Morrison Container Handling Solutions. "This is a tragic loss and it leaves a void in PMMI and the industry."

Ryan also served on PMMI’s Business Intelligence Committee and was active in the 2011 Long Range Planning/Strategic Vision process.

“He contributed to PMMI as it is today, and helped to design and shape the PMMI of the future,” Wilson adds.

Ryan came to Dorner in 2005 as chief operating officer following a highly esteemed career at Rockwell Automation. He is credited with leading Dorner through the economic downturn in 2008–2009 and guiding it through its recent acquisition by Incline Equity Partners. One newspaper account notes that under Ryan’s guidance, company sales more than doubled.

Rich Ryan is survived by his wife, Denise, and two sons, Colin and Timothy.Visiting hours will be conducted Friday, Sept. 14, from 3:00–8:00 pm local time at the Church and Chapel Funeral Home (Waukesha, Wisc.), and on  On Saturday, Sept. 15, family and friends will celebrate his life in a service at Westbrook Church (Hartland, Wisc.). 

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations to the Immune Deficiency Foundation.

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