Luke Burmeister, Chief Financial Officer, has a strategic role in the overall management of Didion Milling, Inc. His responsibilities include planning, implementing, managing, and directing accounting, finance, information technology, automation, business systems, procurement and legal. Luke provides leadership in the development of short and long-term strategic financial objectives, business development, strategic planning, exploration of business opportunities and continuous improvement throughout all levels of the organization.
The rate of change in today’s marketplace is faster than it has ever been in the entire history of manufacturing. Just a few years ago, a manufacturer could differentiate themselves on quality, on-time delivery performance, or customer service. Nowadays, with the vast majority of manufacturers having implemented lean manufacturing techniques, most everyone can meet quality, delivery performance, and good customer service - it is considered a cost of doing business. The world is changing at unprecedented levels and the only differentiator in the future will be those who choose to automate, therefore emerging as leaders in their respective marketplace. In an increasingly connected and networked world, Luke has been instrumental in Didion being ahead of the forthcoming developments in today’s resource revolution. Didion has created a “blue ocean” strategy by implementing a management paradigm shift seamlessly connecting information technology, plant automation, and enterprise resource planning.
Mr. Burmeister earned a bachelor of business administration in finance, investment, and banking from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He worked as a financial planner with John Hancock Financial Services prior to earning a master’s degree in finance, investment, and banking from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He has also earned a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater and has passed the CPA. After serving as a financial analyst for a large laser printing business, Luke went on to become a corporate controller for a large manufacturer for several years prior to joining Didion Milling, Inc. Since joining Didion Milling, Inc., the company has grown significantly and he has been involved with that growth on a number of different levels.