Norman Asbjornson

Founder & Director, Aaon

Search every verified Norman Asbjornson interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Norman Asbjornson, founder and director of AAON, committed $50 million to Montana State University’s College of Engineering in 2014. At a press conference announcing the gift, Asbjornson said he considered it a responsibility to give back to those who helped him succeed, including MSU and his hometown of Winifred, Montana. He placed stock in escrow to guarantee the donation and encouraged others to contribute to the university’s plans for an innovative, collaborative educational structure. Asbjornson also reflected on his career and personal philosophy. He described being recruited to lead a small Tulsa, Oklahoma company, which he grew into AAON, citing 25 consecutive years of 10.8% compounded growth. He attributed his success to lessons in honesty from his parents, emphasizing the importance of self-honesty and learning from failure. He noted that he considered being born in the United States a privilege and shared his view that those who are most successful have often failed the most.