Julie Fussner, CEO of Culver Franchising System and Don Fussner, CEO of Johnsonville will be the first “power couple” speakers at the next Cap Times Power Hour on Wednesday, April 8 at The Edgewater Hotel.
Julie Fussner is the first woman to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Culver Franchising System, LLC, the franchisor of over 1,000 Culver’s restaurants across 26 states. Her appointment in 2025 marked a historic milestone for the brand and reflected her exceptional leadership, strategic insight, and deep commitment to Culver’s mission of genuine care.
Julie joined Culver’s in 2017 as Vice President of Marketing, bringing nearly two decades of experience in food consumer packaged goods, including leadership roles at Kraft Foods. Her ability to translate consumer insights into impactful brand strategies quickly elevated Culver’s national presence and deepened its emotional connection with guests.
Throughout her career, Julie has demonstrated a unique ability to understand what drives people—how they feed themselves and their families, and what they value in a brand. Her leadership style is rooted in authenticity, integrity, and a passion for people. As CEO, she continues to champion Culver’s values of Midwest hospitality and purposeful growth, guiding the brand into its next chapter with bold vision and heartfelt care.
Don Fussner is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of experience in consumer-packaged goods manufacturing, including 16 years in the meat industry. Currently serving as CEO of Johnsonville, Fussner’s career is distinguished by progressive leadership roles and transformative initiatives at renowned companies such as Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Kraft/Heinz, and now Johnsonville.
His leadership in contract manufacturing and integration was pivotal during the merger between Nabisco and Kraft, during which time he managed a $2 billion
Joining Johnsonville in 2019 as CFO, Fussner advanced to COO and, in 2024, CEO. His tenure is marked by strategic cost transformation, acquisitions, integrated business planning, operational excellence, and a company-wide culture refresh. Throughout his career, Fussner has been recognized for his ability to lead through complexity, deliver results, and foster a culture of operational excellence and innovation.
The moderator for these ongoing sessions will be Mark Richardson, president of Unfinished Business Consulting and CEO of GigBlender.
Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. for check-in, hors d’oeuvres and networking. The conversation itself will run for one hour and will start at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale; admission is $40 or $295 for a table of eight.
This event is sponsored by UBS; Newcomb Construction, American Family Insurance; WPS Health Solutions; NHTI, Zimbrick and Godfrey Kahn Law
Partners include: The Edgewater Hotel, Cargo Coffee and Hinckley Productions
