Shawne P. Kleckner (born May 22, 1972 in Webster City, Iowa) is an American entrepreneur, co-founder and President of The Right Stuf International.
Kleckner is a graduate of Iowa State University, with a degree in Computer Engineering.
In the late 1980s, Kleckner worked for Century Systems, a Des Moines, Iowa-based computer reseller. Todd Ferson, owner of Century Systems, was a fan of the 1960s television show Astro Boy. Originally a shell company created to buy and resell telescopes,[1] Right Stuff (the original company name) was reborn as an animation sales company. While Ferson is no longer with the company, Astro Boy remains one of Right Stuf's top sellers, and a major motion CG-based motion picture based on the character is scheduled for release in October 2009.[2]
Kleckner is a recipient of the ACE North American Entrepreneur of the Year award, and he has also been featured in Inc.[3] and USA Today articles on entrepreneurship. The Right Stuf International made the Inc. 500 list in 1999.[4] He was also selected as one of Des Moines' 40 Under 40 by the Des Moines Business Record.[5]
Concurrent with his efforts at Right Stuf, Kleckner previously served as Vice President of Business Affairs and CFO of Century Systems and Senior Vice President of Intersphere Lasergames, in addition to serving on several regional corporate boards.
Kleckner is passionate about the environment, and when his company moved to a new facility in 2005, he remodeled the facility to be energy star compliant, utilizing geothermal heating.[5] He supports events and organizations including Reggie's Sleepout, The Rooftop Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa and the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence. His business also sponsors a program that provides work experience to children with special needs from the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District.