Steve Nielson | Director of Operational Excellence
Gardner-White Furniture

Steve Nielson is the Director of Operational Excellence at Gardner-White Furniture, where he leads strategic initiatives focused on operational efficiency, change management, and cross-functional collaboration. In his role, Steve also oversees team management functions including recruitment, talent development, and performance evaluation, while managing operational analysis and budgeting to support data-driven decision making. With a 26-year career entirely at Gardner-White, Steve has built his resume from the ground up — beginning in the receiving department, working as a delivery driver for a decade, and progressing through roles including Warehouse Supervisor, Delivery Manager, and Director of Distribution before taking on his current leadership position. One of Steve’s proudest accomplishments is earning his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in Operations Management from Oakland University at the age of 42 — a testament to his lifelong commitment to growth and excellence in operations.