Michele Wiggins-McDowell’s business card identifies her as Chief Executive Officer of Wiggins Lift Company. While it is not surprising to see women holding CEO titles in today’s business world, it might be somewhat surprising to see that Michele heads up a business that is one of the most diversified manufacturing companies in the heavy lift equipment business.

It might also be surprising to find out that Michele not only leads Wiggins Lift Company, a world recognized manufacturer in the heavy lift truck industry, but that her resume includes a description of someone who has touched just about every facet of the company. While the resume doesn’t say anything about working on the assembly line - which she surely has done - it does highlight her early years, at the age of fourteen, delivering parts to the line as a runner. She has also worked in the main office, filling in as needed.

Wiggins is obviously a family business, founded in 1965 by Mel Wiggins, led by son Mike and now headed by granddaughter Michele since 2014. Mike Wiggins took the helm when Mel retired. Mel Wiggins had an idea that he could build a machine that would assist the local farmers during harvest. Wiggins designed and manufactured a machine that not only harvests crops, but washed and boxed it, while moving down the rows. The development of Wiggins Lift from this point on includes numerous materials handling applications including cargo handling at ports and warehouses, a specially designed forklift for U.S. Navy destroyers and lifts that handle some of the largest pleasure boats afloat at marinas around the world.

After Mel Wiggins retired, the team of Mike Wiggins and Michele’s father-in-law, Jack McDowell, carried on the development of Wiggins Lift Company into a worldwide supplier of lift trucks, primarily in the marina industry. As recreational boating expanded and pleasure boats grew in size and complexity, the need for specialty equipment became essential as marinas moved inland to store pleasure craft on high capacity racks. Wiggins’ ability to innovate, and apply lift equipment criteria to specialty equipment, led to other assignments as the military, and the seaport industry saw Wiggins’ potential.

The role of the Wiggins family business developed with a partnership formed between Mike Wiggins and Jack McDowell. Today, the families are intertwined after Michele married Jack’s son. Micah McDowell, Dr. Marcus McDowell, Michele’s son and Mike Wiggins’ grandson, oversee Global Sales and Business Development.

Michele’s role as CEO has not been a “boss’ daughter so she gets the job” sort of progression. Prior to entering college, she held a number of menial jobs at the factory including janitorial, parts runner and purchasing. After attending college at Abilene Christian University in Texas, Michele returned to Oxnard, California to assume the role of Director of Purchasing and then Chief Financial Officer. With the retirement of Mike Wiggins in 2014, Michele became CEO as the third-generation leader of the company.

Sometime after her return from college, Michelle worked as Director of Finance. Coming out of this period, Michelle indicates that she gained a great deal of respect for the Wiggins people that demonstrated an extraordinary loyalty, as well as insight into what it takes to lead a company. She also indicated a great deal of respect for Wiggins’ vendors who stood-by the company during this period.

Under her leadership, Michele has guided Wiggins Lift with a unique insight into the business of building and selling forklift trucks. Wiggins has also built a stronger relationship with Taylor Machine Works’ dealership network for the marina business. Wiggins also awarded a dealership, located in California, headed by former Marketing Manager, Michael Marzhal. His company, XLifts, markets and supports Wiggins Lift trucks working closely with the factory.