Daktronics’ Longtime Boss Reece Kurtenbach Steps Down From Company His Dad Co-Founded
March 5, 2025 by Dave Haynes
It would be reasonable to think that word from Daktronics that it had come to an understanding with its activist investors meant the company could focus entirely on making and selling big indoor and outdoor LED displays, but on the immediate heels of the investor fuss being resolved comes word that the company’s longtime President and CEO is stepping down.
Reece Kurtenbach stepped down effective Wednesday from his roles as President, CEO and Chairman of the company board. He will “remain involved with the business in an advisory role supporting Daktronics’ digital transformation plan,” says the company in an investor relations press release.
Kurtenbach has been with the company since 1991, and in charge since 2013. His father Al co-founded the company back in 1968.
The Board will engage a nationally recognized executive search firm to help identify a permanent Chief Executive Officer. While this process continues, the Board has appointed Brad Wiemann, the Company’s Executive Vice President, as Interim President and CEO. Mr. Wiemann has been with Daktronics since 1993. He has served in a variety of roles at the Company across manufacturing, engineering, product development and other functions. In his current role, he oversees the Company’s Commercial and High Schools & Parks and Recreation business units. He has played a key role in standardizing products to simplify engineering and manufacturing for outdoor products, such as billboards and message centers, as well as developing Daktronics’ sales and service channels.
To further accelerate the Company’s transformation, Daktronics Board member and former CFO of Wells Fargo, Howard Atkins, has been appointed Acting CFO and Chief Transformation Officer, effective at close of business today, March 5, 2025. This transition allows Sheila Anderson to focus on her role as Chief Data and Analytics Officer, a position she assumed in October 2024, while the Company’s search for a permanent CFO proceeds.
The Board has also appointed Andrew Siegel, currently the Company’s lead independent director, to serve as the new independent Chair of the Board. Mr. Siegel is an accomplished investor and sports, media and technology executive.
These appointments support the Board-led business transformation intended to position the Company for its next phase of innovation, commercial growth and global market expansion.
“Since its founding over 50 years ago, Daktronics has grown into a world leader in video communications displays and control systems,” said Mr. Kurtenbach. “I am incredibly proud of what we have been able to achieve together, and deeply humbled by the remarkable hard work, commitment and loyalty of our team members that has enabled us to get to this point. I am confident that Daktronics has a strong foundation in place, supported by the increasing momentum from the Company’s transformation, to continue its global growth. This is the right moment for me to step back as CEO and to turn the business over to the next generation of leadership. I believe Daktronics is well-positioned to expand its market leadership position and create significant long-term value for our customers, shareholders and all stakeholders.”
“On behalf of the Board, I want to express our gratitude and highest respect to Reece for his leadership and continued commitment to Daktronics,” Mr. Siegel said. “During Reece’s 34-year tenure – including 12 years as CEO – he has been a thoughtful leader and mentor to the team, and instrumental in building Daktronics into the world-class business it is today. From developing groundbreaking new technology and expanding Daktronics’ global footprint into new markets, Reece has helped establish Daktronics as an industry leader. We will continue to benefit from his expertise and deep industry relationships as we welcome this next chapter of evolution for Daktronics.”
I have tried but can’t read financial statements – it just looks like Klingon to me – so here’s what’s been happening according to the company:
Fiscal Q3 2025 financial highlights include:
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Sales of $149.5 million, a 12.2 percent decrease from the third quarter of fiscal 2024
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Gross profit as a percentage of net sales of 24.6 percent was similar as compared to 24.5 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2024
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Operating loss of $3.6 million, compared to operating income of $8.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024; adjusted operating income was $1.2 million(1) after excluding $4.8 million of consultant and advisor related expenses associated with business transformation initiatives and corporate governance matters
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Net loss for the quarter was $17.2 million, adjusted net income(1) was $0.5 million for the quarter after excluding the non-operating non-cash debt fair value adjustment and tax impacted operating adjustment for consultant and advisor related expenses associated with business transformation initiatives and corporate governance matters
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Cash flows from operations of $12.0 million for the fiscal third quarter and $74.8 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2025
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Product and service orders of $186.9 million(2) for the quarter, a decrease of 2.7 percent from the third quarter of 2024 and $540.7 million on a year-to-date basis, a year-to-date increase of 1.2 percent
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Product order backlog of $273.2 million(2) at January 25, 2025, compared to $236.0 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2025 and $328.3 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2024
The Kurtenbach’s have dominated Daktronics since it was founded. The whole company was basically started with the mission to give Kurtenbach’s college students a place in SD for them to work so they did not move off to NY, Chicago or LA. Direct community financial support and subsidies from the Univ. of SD have literally made the company possible at all. Free or cheap masters degree in EE students and university equipment were readily available to assist the company as needed for free or at little cost. This gave them a competitive edge and lower costs than any other real LED display company in the USA. The company’s success, was the school’s success, was the city’s success, was the county’s success, was the state’s success. A truly government/academic/corporate conglomerate to make sure that no one else got into the professional/college/HighSchool scoreboard business and if they did, they made sure the company did not make any money doing it. Consequently, due to the highly sought after flashy stadium projects, DAKT has had to keep lowering their prices until they were awarded the deals. Since many other display companies were desperate to get a shot at doing one of those high profile projects, DAKT either had to offer a price lower than anyone else or give financing packages that no one else could/would give. Because of this, the company has really NEVER made a profit. They have been content to just break even or even losing a little bit just to keep their kids at home. The key unwritten goal was to make more jobs in SD. Consequently, the stock price has never really done much under their leadership until recently when rumors that big changes were coming came out. Now with a new CEO coming on board, hopefully someone that is not related to the family can focus on steering the company towards actually making money as opposed to just keeping their kids home at night. Good or bad, no matter what you think about DAKT, they are the only real USA company left in the LED display business that is not buying products made in China. Maybe with the TTT, Trump Tariff Tax of 25% on products from China, they will actually be able to get enough for it’s products to actually make a real profit as opposed to just giving their kids a job.