40 Under 40: Stephen Cukrowicz
System Engineer III; Fleetwood RV; With company: 12 years | Industry experience: 12 years
While Stephen Cukrowicz’s leadership may not be defined by people management, his nominator says Stephen demonstrates leadership rooted in systems thinking, technical foresight and cross-functional enablement.
“His leadership is evident in how he identifies bottlenecks, builds scalable solutions and elevates the capabilities of those around him,” his nominator says. “He leads by example, taking initiative to retool legacy systems, streamline workflows and create tools that empower others to work more effectively. His work on middleware, program management and engineering change automation has improved operational efficiency but also fostered a culture of proactive problem-solving.”
Stephen worked his way up the ranks from drafter, advanced drafter and lead drafter, supporting the system engineer before being promoted to System Engineer II, taking ownership of engineering systems and custom programming. He was promoted to System Engineer III at Fleetwood RV because of his ability to maintain the productivity and efficiency of the Product Development and Engineering department. Stephen has achieved his Lean Six Sigma greenbelt and blackbelt certification, and Design for Six Sigma certification.
“His tools have improved collaboration between engineering, sourcing and production by making technical data more accessible and actionable. His enhancements to change management workflows and product information accessibility have streamlined communication and reduced friction between departments,” says Richard. “Steve’s work reflects a consistent pattern — he builds systems that solve challenges and create lasting value. His ability to simplify complexity and deliver scalable solutions has made him a trusted contributor to the organization’s long-term resilience and agility.”
Stephen’s curiosity and hands on mindset extends to outside of work, evident in his hobbies. He’s an avid homesteader, growing a variety of fruits and vegetables while raising rabbits and chickens. He shows a strong respect for nature, blending principles of sustainability and self-sufficiency.
“He also practices blacksmithing and light fabrication, often building or modifying tools and equipment to suit specific needs. Whether hammering out new hardware, tinkering with his laser or experimenting with new materials on his 3D printers, he thrives on learning through doing. His hobbies reflect a lifelong passion for craftsmanship, problem-solving and continuous improvement,” says Richard.
Stephen’s advice for up-and-coming leaders in the RV industry:
Patience and diligence aren’t just virtues, they’re tools. Learn your environment before trying to fix it. Most problems have more than one root cause, and most goals have more than one path. Don’t be afraid to try something unconventional if it gets you there. And while it’s important to push boundaries, it’s just as important to know where your comfort zone is. Visit it when you need to recharge, but don’t build a house there.
What it means to Stephen to be a 40 Under 40 honoree:
Being named a 40 Under 40 honoree is a moment to pause. Not because the work is done, but because it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come when you’re focused on solving what’s next. I appreciate the recognition, but more than that, it’s a reminder that the systems I’ve built and the decisions I’ve shaped are making a real impact.
