John D. Wood

Don Wood Foundation Recognizes John Wood's Leadership
The Don Wood Foundation is celebrating its 5 year anniversary with exceptional staff and new headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana. These accomplishments would not be possible without the tireless commitment and hard work of John D. Wood.

John D. Wood was a founder of the 80/20, Inc. and a significant part of its tremendous success. After retiring from the company John Wood was called back to service as of chairman of the board of the 80/20 corporation and founding chair of the Don WoodFoundation in the wake of his father and 80/20 founder, Don Wood’s illness and death.  As a result of John’s dedicated work his father’s dream of establishing the Don Wood Foundation is a reality and poised to be a transformational influence on the future of Northeast Indiana.

John views this anniversary as the perfect time to transition the leadership mantel and responsibilities to the next group of Foundation leaders. As John steps down from the Foundation’s board, he and his wife Audrey, who herself devoted countless volunteer hours to the Foundation, look forward to spending even more time with their children and grandchildren and hope that the Foundation fully achieves Don Wood’s goal of transforming Northeast Indiana.

​Since the Foundation was created and under John’s leadership it has awarded $13,339,342.30 through 73 grants to support industrial technology, machine tool technology, engineering technology, sales, entrepreneurship and leadership throughout the region. The Board and staff are deeply grateful for John, his influence and legacy will live on in the Foundation’s work and stewardship of his father’s legacy.