ANDREW KOENIG

CEO, CITY FURNITURE, TAMARAC

A Florida-based home furnishings retailer with about 2,500 employees, City Furniture has 35 stores, four distribution centers and two corporate offices in Florida. The company launched a 5% giving pledge to return profits to the communities it serves and has announced a 2040 “green promise” to achieve carbon neutrality. Koenig attributes the company’s safety rates, high customer satisfaction, low turnover and record top-line revenue growth to City Furniture’s adoption of lean thinking, a management philosophy based on the Toyota Production System. He has worked at City Furniture for nearly 19 years, five years as president and CEO.

EDUCATION: Elon University (BS), Nova Southeastern University (MBA)

IF I WERE GOVERNOR: I would tackle the home insurance industry challenges and high rising rates throughout the state. We need to ensure Florida is an attractive place to live, and insurance is causing some concerns due to affordability, fast-rising rates, fraudulent claims that cost a lot for everyone, etc.

MENTOR: My father, Keith Koenig. He’s done some amazing things such as building City Furniture since 1971. More importantly though, he’s been a great citizen in Florida, trying to make it one of the best places to live in the world.

READING: The Machine That Changed the World holds significant importance because this book that’s over 20 years old shows the power of the culture at Toyota. I’m constantly trying to build an amazing organization and I love learning everything I can from Toyota.

INSPIRING FLORIDIAN: Wayne Huizenga was someone who inspired me as a kid and until this day. I loved his story, working so hard as an entrepreneur building Waste Management, Blockbuster, AutoNation, etc. Amazing story of starting with humble beginnings and living the American Dream.