In his three years as CFO of Packer Fastener, Brian Hogeland has led a milestone transformation of the company’s financial operations. Joining in 2021 during a period of rapid growth, Hogeland tells us he quickly identified opportunities to streamline processes, align business goals, and introduce technology-driven solutions. With Packer Fastener’s quirky culture—known for slogans like “We’ve got the biggest nuts in town”—Hogeland’s mission was to bring structure without losing the fun spirit at the company’s core.
Read MoreHogeland’s strategic mindset reflects his career-long blend of finance and technology expertise. Early in his tenure, he introduced NetSuite as the company’s ERP system, replacing manual processes that once took weeks with real-time data and automation. This shift provided leadership with instant visibility into revenue, helping drive smarter, faster decisions across Packer Fastener’s growing network.
Hogeland also emphasized data-driven planning. His approach aligns financial metrics with operational indicators like employee productivity and vehicle profitability. This framework enables intentional, forward-thinking strategies, ensuring the company scales efficiently without wasting resources.
Throughout his career, Hogeland tell us he has championed innovation—whether through cloud-based tools or AI modeling—making finance a proactive force for growth. His ability to blend financial discipline with technology has better positioned Packer Fastener for sustainable growth in the years ahead.
“Every financial statement and analysis ultimately leads to cash flow. Without cash, the rest is just interesting footnotes.” —Brian Hogeland, CFO, Packer Fastener
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CFOTL: Tell us about Packer Fastener and your priorities as a finance leader?
Hogeland: Yes, I mentioned that we are in a very high-growth mode right now, and financing our expansion is significant. Along with that, we are focused on finding the right tools to help us evaluate options and size up different competing priorities for a limited amount of resources. So, what’s the best way we can monitor our progress against those goals? How can we use cash more effectively? NetSuite has given us many of the required capabilities, and we’ll also be augmenting that with some modeling from generative AI tools. Just earlier today, I generated a Net Present Value cash flow model using Claude, and from an AI perspective, we are really working to manage cash, support growth, and stay honest about what our capabilities are. From a finance perspective, I feel very excited about what we can bring to the table.
Packer Fastener | www.packerfastener.com | Ashwaubenon, WI