From Press conference: Norm Asbjornson's $50 million gift to engineering at Montana State University · · Montana State University
“I was right I was right on myself and we have in 25 years had 10.8% compound Ed growth for 25 consecutive years sometimes up and sometimes down but take the 25 years and that what's H figures profitability has increased 24% per year for 25 years and the equity in the company has increased 26% in that time.”
On , Norman Asbjornson, Founder & Director at AAON INC, spoke about business growth during Press conference: Norm Asbjornson's $50 million gift to engineering at Montana State University on Montana State University.
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.