James L. “Jim” Packard, Sr., was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and has shared his life for 64 years with his wife, Nancy. Together they raised two children and are blessed with seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, all of whom reside in the Stateline Area. Jim and Nancy moved with their young family to Beloit in 1973.

Packard’s career began with Frito-Lay, where he played an essential role in staffing and opening the company’s new Beloit plant. Rising quickly through the ranks, he served as Plant Services Manager, Production Manager, and later Plant Manager in both Fall River, Massachusetts, and Beloit, Wisconsin.

In 1979, he joined Regal-Beloit Corporation as Vice President and General Manager of the Durst Division in Shopiere. Within months, he was elected President and Chief Operating Officer. By 1980, he became Chief Executive Officer, and in 1984, Chairman of the Board. Under his leadership, Regal-Beloit grew from $38 million in annual revenue in 1979 to $1.6 billion by the time of his retirement in 2006. But beyond numbers, Packard built a culture of innovation, accountability, and steady growth that positioned Regal-Beloit as a leader in manufacturing and as an anchor employer in the region.

Beyond Regal-Beloit, he has provided distinguished service on an extraordinary range of corporate, industry, financial, and community boards. His leadership has extended across Fortune 500 companies, national trade associations, and local organizations central to the vitality of Beloit and the region. He served on the Board of Directors for Gehl Corporation, West Bend, WI; Clarcor, Rockford, IL; Manitowoc Company, Manitowoc, WI; Elco Corporation, Rockford, IL; Douglas Dynamic, Milwaukee, WI; and United Plastics Corporation. His influence has been felt in manufacturing, finance, education, health care, and philanthropy.

Packard serves on the boards of ABC Supply, Hendricks Holdings, First National Bank and Trust Company, Mid-States Concrete, and Beloit Health System, as well as national and international industry associations. He was also a member of the Board of Governors of the American Stock Exchange along with NASDAQ and provided guidance as a senior advisor to investment firms including Baird Capital Partners and Aurora Capital Group. He has chaired or served on executive, audit, governance, and compensation committees for dozens of organizations, always with a focus on accountability, sound strategy and sustainable growth.

He has always coupled business success with a deep commitment to community. He co-founded the Beloit 2000 Group, which brought together local leaders to guide Beloit’s economic redevelopment and renewal. He played a pivotal role in relocating Regal-Beloit’s corporate offices to downtown Beloit, a move that brought new energy and investment to the heart of the city. He served Beloit College as a trustee and contributed his expertise to committees on finance, audit, and governance. He has been a trusted leader on the boards of the Stateline United Way and the YMCA working to strengthen the social and civic institutions that support families across the region. He was the founder and President of the River Bend Stadium Authority (ABC Supply Stadium) and numerous other civic organizations.

Together, Jim and Nancy Packard have been generous supporters of the community, giving of both their time and resources to advance the well-being of others. Their example reflects a shared belief that leadership is measured not only in business achievements, but also in the lives one touches and the community one strengthens. Their combined legacy is one of civic responsibility and a belief that strong communities are built when business leaders step forward to serve.

In discussion with Jim, he states some of his proudest accomplishments are these three: the co-founding of Beloit 2000, the relocation of Regal-Beloit’s corporate offices to downtown Beloit and the successful effort to raise the money and bring ABC Supply Stadium to life and ensuring that Beloit would have a state-of-the-art home for professional baseball and community events. Each reflects his enduring belief that strong communities are built when business leaders invest not only in their companies, but also in the places where people live, work, and gather.

From Indianapolis roots to international business influence, Jim Packard’s life is defined by both professional achievement and community stewardship. His leadership helped transform Regal-Beloit into a global company, guided countless organizations to new levels of success and strengthened Beloit and the Stateline area for future generations.

Today, Jim Packard is recognized not only as a transformative business leader but also as a dedicated citizen whose vision, dedication and commitment helped shape the Stateline area into a stronger, more vibrant place for future generations.