About Chief
About Chief
Chief Industries has been a family-owned, service-oriented manufacturer since we opened our doors in 1954. From humble beginnings to a diverse, global corporation featuring 7 brands, we’re proud to help communities thrive and engineer relationships.
The quintessential American success story began when Virgil Eihusen launched a small construction company — Chief Industries — from a garage in Grand Island, Nebraska. From Virgil Eihusen to his son, Robert, and now to his grandson, DJ as Chairman and CEO, Chief has been guided by strong leaders who maintain a clear focus on its core values – take care of the stakeholder, strengthen the company through diversification, and respect our employees.
At Chief, our leadership’s priority is supporting our 7 brands and 1,400 employees. We know that our strength comes from our people, collaboration, and open communication.
“The strength of Chief Industries comes from its ability to capitalize on the diversity of its family of brands,” says DJ Eihusen. “Working together keeps costs down, deadlines met, and workers employed. The future looks very bright for continued growth.”
Our mission is to provide unparalleled personal attention to meeting the needs of our customers while treating all stakeholders with dignity and respect, thereby ensuring our strength and stability.
We Engineer Relationships
Our organizational strength comes from our people, collaboration, and a common goal focused on our customers. Success for us starts with a strong foundation — we’ve been family-owned and focused on relationships since the beginning — and continues with a diverse family of brands that work together and help each other to achieve balance. Our vision isn’t to be the biggest, but to be the best. The best for our employees, for our customers, and for communities around the world.

CEO Statement
My grandfather founded Chief as a small construction company in 1954. His entrepreneurial spirit always kept driving him to explore new opportunities. With more than six decades of remarkable growth and diversification, we have honed our focus to 7 distinct, specialized brands that comprise our company.
You will find Chief products and services used in a wide range of industries around the world including agriculture, commercial construction, structural steel, factory-built housing, ethanol production, transportation, community development, and more. We are proud to be a leader in each of those industries through our advances in technology, innovative design, and unparalleled customer service and personal attention.
We continuously communicate with key stakeholders about their needs and keep our customers at the forefront of everything we do, gathering their input and expertise to stay prepared for major industry changes. We understand it’s important to be forward-thinking and stay fresh and relevant.
All the while, we’re a culture set in a family atmosphere. The fact that we remain a family-owned and operated business is one of our competitive advantages and it means a lot to our company and our employees.
Business is a lot like life: it’s about surrounding yourself with the right group of people; and our people are our differentiator. We know our success is due to the people we work with every day: our suppliers, our customers, the communities we reside in, and our employees.
Our vision is to provide leadership to our stakeholders, to the industries we are involved in, and with the products and solutions we provide. We are Trusted, Tested, and True.
Milestones

- 1954
Eihusen Construction is founded, the inception of Chief Industries, Inc.
Eihusen Construction is founded, the inception of Chief Industries, Inc.
January 1, 1954 - 1959
The company name was changed to Big Chief of Nebraska
The company name was changed to Big Chief of Nebraska
October 1, 1959 - 1961
Chief Agri is founded
Chief Agri is founded
October 1, 1961 - 1966
Chief Buildings is founded
Chief Buildings is founded
January 1, 1966 - 1967
Chief hosts its 1st Annual Company Picnic at Izaak Walton Park in Grand Island, NE
Chief hosts its 1st Annual Company Picnic at Izaak Walton Park in Grand Island, NE
June 15, 1967 - 1968
Chief Agri Fort Dodge, IA plant is opened
Chief Agri Fort Dodge, IA plant is opened
February 1, 1968 - 1968
Chief won the Partners in progress award from the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce
Chief won the Partners in progress award from the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce
March 25, 1968 - 1968
Virgil Eihusen was named Small Businessman of the year by the regional office of the Small Business Administration in Omaha
Virgil Eihusen was named Small Businessman of the year by the regional office of the Small Business Administration in Omaha
April 25, 1968 - 1968
Chief Changes name from Big Chief of Nebraska, Inc. to Chief Industries, Incorporated
Chief Changes name from Big Chief of Nebraska, Inc. to Chief Industries, Incorporated
June 15, 1968 - 1968
Chief Agri opens a fully automated grain bin plant in Rensselaer, IN
Chief Agri opens a fully automated grain bin plant in Rensselaer, IN
September 25, 1968 - 1969
Chief Buildings plant expanded as operations grew
Chief Buildings plant expanded as operations grew
September 25, 1969 - 1970
Chief opens BonnaVilla, a manufacturer of mobile homes in Aurora, NE
Chief opens BonnaVilla, a manufacturer of mobile homes in Aurora, NE
January 2, 1970 - 1971
The first Dealer Incentive/Loyalty Trip was taken
The first Dealer Incentive/Loyalty Trip was taken
July 5, 1971 - 1973
Grand Island Contract Carriers was acquired
Grand Island Contract Carriers was acquired
September 20, 1973 - 1978
Chief started a Presidential Award Club to honor dealers and District Managers for achieving million-dollar sales volume goals
Chief started a Presidential Award Club to honor dealers and District Managers for achieving million-dollar sales volume goals
October 25, 1978 - 1984
Chief Fabrication opens for business
Chief Fabrication opens for business
February 25, 1984 - 1987
Chief Buildings operations expands to the plant in Renssalaer, IN
Chief Buildings operations expands to the plant in Renssalaer, IN
March 25, 1987 - 1990
Chief Ethanol is formed
Chief Ethanol is formed
May 30, 1990 - 1993
Virgil Eihusen named Chairman Emeritus. Robert Eihusen named Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
Virgil Eihusen named Chairman Emeritus. Robert Eihusen named Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
September 26, 1993 - 1996
Chief Agri opens operations in Rousies, France
Chief Agri opens operations in Rousies, France
June 9, 1996 - 1997
Heartland Electric was acquired
Heartland Electric was acquired
September 25, 1997 - 1999
Chief Carriers expands operations to Renssalaer, IN
Chief Carriers expands operations to Renssalaer, IN
August 1, 1999 - 2001
Arrowhead Steel Fabricators began
Arrowhead Steel Fabricators began
November 15, 2001 - 2007
Chief Buildings expands technical service operations to Lincoln, NE
Chief Buildings expands technical service operations to Lincoln, NE
April 22, 2007 - 2010
Robert G. Eihusen retired and DJ Eihusen is named Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
Robert G. Eihusen retired and DJ Eihusen is named Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
May 26, 2010 - 2011
Grand Island Contract Carriers officially became Chief Carriers, Inc.
Grand Island Contract Carriers officially became Chief Carriers, Inc.
April 2, 2011 - 2011
Chief Development is formed with operations based out of Grand Island, NE
Chief Development is formed with operations based out of Grand Island, NE
September 25, 2011 - 2011
Chief Environmental Products started
Chief Environmental Products started
October 25, 2011 - 2016
Chief Ethanol opens second plant in Lexington, NE
Chief Ethanol opens second plant in Lexington, NE
May 16, 2016 - 2017
Chief Buildings expands operations to Fort Dodge, IA
Chief Buildings expands operations to Fort Dodge, IA
September 25, 2017 - 2018
Chief Construction expands operations to Lincoln, NE
Chief Construction expands operations to Lincoln, NE
September 25, 2018