Doug Watts Joins Central States Manufacturing as President

by David Flaherty | 30 May 2025 1:33 pm

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Central States Inc. has announced that Doug Watts[2] has joined the company as president of Central States Manufacturing. Watts comes to his new post with more than two decades of manufacturing and leadership experience and will oversee operations, sales, logistics, and customer service for Central States Manufacturing.
“First and foremost, Doug was a strategic fit for us from a culture and customer-first perspective,” says Jim Sliker, Central States Inc. CEO. “Doug’s experience in the building products industry is only surpassed by his character, leadership, and dedication to excellence. He will be instrumental as we guide the company toward continued success and innovation.”
Most recently, Watts completed a distinguished 22-year tenure at Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, where he held several key leadership roles, including president of Architectural Glazing Systems, where he oversaw full profit and loss (P&L) responsibility for business units across the United States and Canada. Over a three-year period, Watts helped grow the company’s revenues by 50 percent.
His background includes experience in delivering full building envelope[3] solutions, ranging from aluminum storefronts and curtain walls to windows and glass, supported by estimating, engineering, and project management services. He began his career in sales at Binswanger Glass and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Management from West Texas A&M University.
“I’m honored to step into the role of president at Central States Manufacturing,” Watts says. “This company’s culture of integrity, innovation, and employee-ownership is truly special. I’m excited to serve alongside our incredible team of employee-owners as we continue building on our legacy of excellence. I also want to thank Tim Ruger for his outstanding leadership over the last decade. Tim’s contributions have positioned us for continued success, and I look forward to building on that foundation.”
Outgoing president Tim Ruger joined Central States in 2013 after a long career of leadership positions in automotive manufacturing. Under his leadership, Central States Manufacturing has experienced significant expansion, averaging more than 25 percent growth year-over-year, bringing new products and services to the market, and opening five new manufacturing facilities with two more scheduled to open their doors this summer. Ruger continues his work with Central States in the role of chief strategy officer.

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