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Companies Douglas Dynamics

Douglas Dynamics (PLOW): executive pay, fiscal 2025

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CEO total pay$3,008,565CEO Mark Van Genderen · source
Say-on-pay support95.49%Latest vote · source
CEO vs. named peers20th pct.Of 16 peer CEOs
CEO pay ratio44.02:1To the median employee · source

CEO pay, last three years

  • $577,233FY2023
  • $1,048,387FY2024
  • $3,008,565FY2025

CEO total pay was $3,008,565 in fiscal 2025, up from $1,048,387 in fiscal 2024.

FY2025: salary $651,421 · bonus $0 · stock awards $1,110,239 · option awards $0

Executives and directors

Frequently asked questions

Who was the highest-paid executive at Douglas Dynamics in fiscal 2025?
As disclosed, Mark Van Genderen (President and Chief Executive Officer) was the highest-paid executive at Douglas Dynamics in fiscal 2025, with total compensation of $3,008,565.
How does Douglas Dynamics's chief executive pay compare to its disclosed peer group?
As disclosed, Mark Van Genderen's total compensation ranked at the 20th percentile of Douglas Dynamics's disclosed peer group.
What is Douglas Dynamics's CEO-to-median employee pay ratio?
As disclosed, Douglas Dynamics's CEO-to-median employee pay ratio was 44.02:1.
How did shareholders vote on Douglas Dynamics's executive compensation?
As disclosed, 95.49% of shareholders supported Douglas Dynamics's executive compensation in the latest say-on-pay vote.
How much does Douglas Dynamics spend in total on board compensation for fiscal 2025?
As disclosed, Douglas Dynamics reported total board compensation of $1,149,807 for fiscal 2025.

Answers are drawn only from the figures disclosed in this brief and cited to their location in the source filing. Where a figure required for an answer is not disclosed, that is stated rather than estimated.

Full detail

Every table from the filing. Open any section.

Summary compensation table
Named executive officerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension / NQDCAll otherTotal
Mark Van Genderen$651,421$0$1,110,239$0$1,219,611$0$27,294$3,008,565
President and Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Lauber508,0000847,1330663,817026,5472,045,497
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Christopher Bernauer335,34234,000234,4880404,700015,7401,024,271
President, Work Truck Attachments
James Janik180,8330114,5960000295,429
Executive Chairman and Interim President and CEO(7)

A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.

Three-year trend — total compensation per named executive

Named executive officerFY2025 totalFY2024 totalFY2023 totalΔ FY2024→2025
Mark Van Genderen$3,008,565$1,048,387$577,233↑ +1,960,178
Sarah Lauber2,045,4972,454,1431,028,177↓ −408,646
Christopher Bernauer1,024,271———
James Janik295,4291,613,188—↓ −1,317,759

Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.

Incentive-plan design — the Compensation Discussion & Analysis

The company's compensation philosophy is centered on providing an opportunity for an executive's total annual compensation to exceed the general market level for similar roles, while aligning pay with the company's variable earnings model driven by snowfall variability. It emphasizes a mix of short- and long-term compensation, with a significant portion of variable pay linked to profitability, free cash flow, and return on net assets to attract and retain talent.

CEO STI target (% of salary)100%
CEO LTI target (% of salary)—
Independent consultantFrederic W. Cook & Co, Inc.
Clawback policytrue
Anti-hedgingtrue
Anti-pledgingfalse
Equity grants and outstanding awards

Grants of plan-based awards — fiscal year 2025

ExecutiveAwardGrant dateThresholdTargetGrantedMaximumGrant-date fair value
James JanikRSU2025-03-03——4,394—$114,595
Christopher BernauerPSU2025-03-03—1,332—2,66478,295
Sarah LauberPSU2025-02-19—8,779—17,558486,433
Sarah LauberRSU2025-02-19——13,694—360,700
Mark Van GenderenRSU2025-02-19——8,386—220,887
Mark Van GenderenRSU2025-03-03——13,978—364,546
Christopher BernauerRSU2025-03-03——5,989—156,193
Mark Van GenderenPSU2025-02-19—4,479—8,958125,475
Mark Van GenderenPSU2025-03-03—4,659—9,318136,928

Vehicle mix — grant-date fair value by award type

Named executive officerTime-vested (RSU)Performance-vested (PSU)Options / SARs% performance-vested
James Janik$114,595$0$00.0%
Christopher Bernauer156,19378,295033.4%
Sarah Lauber360,700486,433057.4%
Mark Van Genderen585,433262,403030.9%

% performance-vested = PSU grant-date fair value ÷ (RSU + PSU + Options), a computed value with the derivation shown in the register.

Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end 2025

ExecutiveAwardShares unvestedExercise priceMarket value unvested
Christopher BernauerPSU2,664—$86,980
Christopher BernauerRSU5,989—195,542
Mark Van GenderenPSU23,882—779,747
Sarah LauberPSU31,591—1,031,446
Mark Van GenderenRSU37,589—1,227,281
Sarah LauberRSU38,703—1,263,653
Director compensation
DirectorCash feesStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveAll otherTotal
Donald W. SturdivantIndependent · Audit · Compensation · Nominating and Corporate Governance$120,833$114,596———$235,429
Joher AkolawalaIndependent · Audit · Compensation · Nominating and Corporate Governance90,000114,596———204,596
Lisa R. BacusIndependent · Audit · Compensation · Nominating and Corporate Governance87,500114,596———202,096
Margaret DanoIndependent85,000114,596———199,596
Kenneth W. KruegerIndependent · Audit · Compensation · Nominating and Corporate Governance75,000114,596———189,596
Bradley M. NelsonIndependent · Audit · Compensation · Nominating and Corporate Governance · Partial-year service059,247———59,247
Jennifer I. AnsberryIndependent · Audit · Compensation · Nominating and Corporate Governance · Partial-year service059,247———59,247
Mark Van GenderenEmployee director · Newly elected000—00
James L. JanikIndependent000—00

Board fee structure and ownership guideline

Annual cash retainer$75,000
Annual equity retainer$120,000
Per board meeting fee—
Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov)15,000 / 12,500 / 10,000
Stock ownership guideline$550,000

Total cost of the board

ComponentFY2025
Cash retainers and fees$458,333
Equity awards (grant-date value)$691,474
All other compensation$0
Total cost of the board$1,149,807

Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.

Peer group, and who names Douglas Dynamics as a peer

Companies that benchmark against PLOW

15 companies name PLOW as a compensation peer

The list of companies that name PLOW as a peer is temporarily unavailable — recheck shortly.

Disclosed peer group — fiscal year 2025

The compensation peer group as the company disclosed it in its own proxy — the reference set behind the percentile above.

Peer reciprocity

The companies Douglas Dynamics names as compensation peers that name it back in their own disclosed peer groups.

Chief executive pay against the peer group

Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company’s own proxy statement.

RankCompanyFYChief executiveSalaryStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveTotal
1Federal Signal Corp.2025Jennifer Sherman$1,016,617$3,635,646$1,211,852$2,255,000$8,421,321
2The Shyft Group2024John Dunn780,0004,983,2730892,9226,704,927
3Enerpac Tool Group2025Paul Sternlieb929,4234,520,6340951,3326,548,272
4Compass Minerals2025Edward Dowling Jr.1,000,0003,500,01901,645,2806,343,575
5Esco Technologies2025Bryan Sayler830,5003,052,88601,661,0005,586,139
6Kadant Corporation2025Jeffrey Powell970,9003,036,18101,491,8005,519,261
7Lindsay Corporation2025Randy Wood837,7442,375,165749,9691,117,6985,095,625
8Motorcar Parts of America2026Selwyn Joffe831,5883,140,5290782,4964,840,825
9Alamo Group Inc.2025Robert Hureau296,2503,544,0800451,2504,526,676
10Astec Industries2025Jaco van der Merwe836,5392,244,3700779,4554,030,731
11Mayville Engineering Co.2025Jagadeesh (Jag) Reddy736,4502,380,000——3,183,288
12Ceco Environmental Corp.2024Todd Gleason717,3831,627,505289,575382,6563,051,771
13Douglas Dynamics2025Mark Van Genderen651,4211,110,23901,219,6113,008,565
14L.B. Foster Company2025John Kasel790,4171,319,3570654,4002,920,512
15Twin Disc, Incorporated2026John Batten712,0711,002,7670440,0602,345,850
16Hurco Companies, Inc.2025Gregory Volovic675,8001,249,991002,023,603

Each peer’s compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer’s figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.

Incentive design against the same peers

CompanyAnnual incentive payoutLong-term vehicle mixPSU measures include TSRCompensation consultant
Douglas Dynamics174.2%PSU 50 · RSU 50Yes — Relative TSRFrederic W. Cook & Co, Inc.
Alamo Group Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosedPay Governance, LLC
Astec Industriesnot disclosedPSU 65 · RSU 35not disclosedFrederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.
Ceco Environmental Corp.40%PSU 75 · Options 25NoMeridian Compensation Partners LLC
Compass Mineralsnot disclosedRSU 50 · PSU 50not disclosedFW Cook
Enerpac Tool Group100.7%PSU 60 · RSU 40NoMercer, LLC
Esco Technologies200%PSU 70 · RSU 30NoPay Governance LLC
Federal Signal Corp.not disclosedPSU 50 · Option 25 · Restricted Stock 25not disclosedMeridian
Hurco Companies, Inc.not disclosedPSU 55 · RSU 45NoPay Governance, LLC
Kadant Corporation148%PSU 80 · RSU 20NoWillis Towers Watson
L.B. Foster Companynot disclosedPSU 60 · Restricted Stock 40not disclosedPay Governance
Lindsay Corporation132%PSU 50 · RSU 25 · Options 25YesMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Mayville Engineering Co.not disclosedPSU 50 · RSU 50not disclosedPearl Meyer
Motorcar Parts of Americanot disclosedRSU 50 · PSU 50not disclosedWillis Towers Watson
The Shyft Groupnot disclosedPSU 60 · RSU 40not disclosedMercer US LLC
Twin Disc, Incorporatednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosedPay Governance, LLC

Read from each company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis: annual incentive payout as a percentage of target, the disclosed long-term vehicle mix, whether performance-share measures include a total shareholder return component, and the retained compensation consultant. “Not disclosed” appears only where the company’s filing does not state the item.

Say-on-pay history and pay ratio
Meeting yearMeeting dateForAgainstAbstainSupportOutcome
20262026-04-2918,709,832732,824150,75995.49%Passed
20252025-04-2919,354,476863,482194,29794.82%Passed
20242024-04-2319,176,407479,937101,01497.06%Passed
20232023-04-2519,908,869142,40325,89899.16%Passed
20222022-04-2620,188,374123,865163,87398.59%Passed
20212021-04-2819,929,47583,422135,57898.91%Passed

Rows are labeled by annual-meeting year, with the meeting date beside each; the vote held in a given year acts on the prior fiscal year’s compensation.

Say-on-pay — history, company’s computation

Meeting yearMeeting dateApproval — company’s computation
20262026-04-2995.49%a
20252025-04-2994.82%b
20242024-04-2397.06%c

a. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions will have the effect of votes against this proposal, but broker non-votes will have no effect on approval of this proposal.”.

b. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions will have the effect of votes against this proposal, but broker non-votes will have no effect on approval of this proposal.”.

c. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions will have the effect of votes against this proposal, but broker non-votes will have no effect on approval of this proposal.”.

Approval percentages are the company’s own reported computations under its own stated standard, not recomputed by Velarion. Where a company does not state a standard, none is assumed.

CEO pay ratio

Ratio (CEO : median employee)44.02 : 1
CEO total compensation$3,057,144
Median employee compensation$69,456
Insider trades since the proxy

Every insider equity transaction reported on Form 4 after the 2025 proxy statement — acquisitions, dispositions, exercises, and withholdings — and therefore not reflected in any table in that document.

InsiderRoleTransaction dateCodeSharesPriceValueSecuritySource
Lisa R. BacusDirector2026-04-29A2,737$0$0CommonForm 4 ↗
Jennifer I. AnsberryDirector2026-04-29A2,73700CommonForm 4 ↗
Donald W. SturdivantDirector2026-04-29A2,73700CommonForm 4 ↗
Joher AkolawalaDirector2026-04-29A2,73700CommonForm 4 ↗
Bradley M. NelsonDirector2026-04-29A2,73700CommonForm 4 ↗
Kenneth W. KruegerDirector2026-04-29A2,73700CommonForm 4 ↗
James L. JanikDirector2026-04-29A2,73700CommonForm 4 ↗
James L. JanikDirector2026-05-11D6,00000CommonForm 4 ↗
Sarah LauberEVP & CFO2026-07-01D6,73554363,353CommonForm 4 ↗

Transaction codes per Form 4: A acquisition · S open-market sale · F tax withholding · M option exercise · G gift. Value = shares × price as reported. Dividend-equivalent and fractional-share accrual rows (derivative Class A, under $10,000 and under 2,000 shares) are aggregated per date; every row appears in full below.

Sources (60 citations)

Each figure is listed with the filing it comes from, where it appears in that filing, and the value as printed. Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.

  • Section 01, Mark Van Genderen. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 3,008,565. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Sarah Lauber. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 2,045,497. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Christopher Bernauer. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 1,024,271. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, James Janik. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 295,429. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, James Janik RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Christopher Bernauer PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Sarah Lauber PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Sarah Lauber RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Mark Van Genderen RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Mark Van Genderen RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Christopher Bernauer RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Mark Van Genderen PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Mark Van Genderen PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 07, pay ratio. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “CEO Pay Ratio”. As printed: 44.02 : 1. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Donald W. Sturdivant. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 235,429. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Joher Akolawala. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 204,596. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Lisa R. Bacus. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 202,096. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Margaret Dano. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 199,596. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Kenneth W. Krueger. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 189,596. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Bradley M. Nelson. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 59,247. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Jennifer I. Ansberry. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 59,247. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Mark Van Genderen. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, James L. Janik. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Lisa R. Bacus 2026-04-29. Form 4, filed 2026-04-30. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Jennifer I. Ansberry 2026-04-29. Form 4, filed 2026-04-30. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Donald W. Sturdivant 2026-04-29. Form 4, filed 2026-04-30. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Joher Akolawala 2026-04-29. Form 4, filed 2026-04-30. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Bradley M. Nelson 2026-04-29. Form 4, filed 2026-04-30. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Kenneth W. Krueger 2026-04-29. Form 4, filed 2026-04-30. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, James L. Janik 2026-04-29. Form 4, filed 2026-04-30. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, James L. Janik 2026-05-11. Form 4, filed 2026-05-13. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 02, Sarah Lauber 2026-07-01. Form 4, filed 2026-07-01. Insider equity transaction reported since the proxy statement. View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2026 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2026-05-01. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 95.49% (votes for as printed: 18,709,832). View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2025 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2025-05-02. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 94.82% (votes for as printed: 19,354,476). View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2024 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2024-04-26. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 97.06% (votes for as printed: 19,176,407). View filing ↗
  • Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed). Computed. Δ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.
  • Section 03b vehicle mix (computed). Computed. RSU / PSU / Options grant-date fair values summed per officer from the grants table; % performance-vested = PSU ÷ (RSU+PSU+Options).
  • Section 09b board cost (computed). Computed. Cash 458,333 + equity 691,474 + all other 0 = 1,149,807, summed across the director compensation table rows.
  • Federal Signal Corp., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-06. CEO total compensation as printed in Federal Signal Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 8,421,321. View filing ↗
  • The Shyft Group, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2025-03-31. CEO total compensation as printed in The Shyft Group's own proxy. As printed: 6,704,927. View filing ↗
  • Enerpac Tool Group, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2025-12-22. CEO total compensation as printed in Enerpac Tool Group's own proxy. As printed: 6,548,272. View filing ↗
  • Compass Minerals, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-01-23. CEO total compensation as printed in Compass Minerals's own proxy. As printed: 6,343,575. View filing ↗
  • Esco Technologies, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2025-12-10. CEO total compensation as printed in Esco Technologies's own proxy. As printed: 5,586,139. View filing ↗
  • Kadant Corporation, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. CEO total compensation as printed in Kadant Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 5,519,261. View filing ↗
  • Lindsay Corporation, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2025-11-21. CEO total compensation as printed in Lindsay Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 5,095,625. View filing ↗
  • Motorcar Parts of America, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-07-29. CEO total compensation as printed in Motorcar Parts of America's own proxy. As printed: 4,840,825. View filing ↗
  • Alamo Group Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-19. CEO total compensation as printed in Alamo Group Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 4,526,676. View filing ↗
  • Astec Industries, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-13. CEO total compensation as printed in Astec Industries's own proxy. As printed: 4,030,731. View filing ↗
  • Mayville Engineering Co., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-10. CEO total compensation as printed in Mayville Engineering Co.'s own proxy. As printed: 3,183,288. View filing ↗
  • Ceco Environmental Corp., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2025-04-10. CEO total compensation as printed in Ceco Environmental Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 3,051,771. View filing ↗
  • Douglas Dynamics (subject), Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. CEO total compensation as printed in Douglas Dynamics's own proxy. As printed: 3,008,565. View filing ↗
  • L.B. Foster Company, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-10. CEO total compensation as printed in L.B. Foster Company's own proxy. As printed: 2,920,512. View filing ↗
  • Twin Disc, Incorporated, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-09-14. CEO total compensation as printed in Twin Disc, Incorporated's own proxy. As printed: 2,345,850. View filing ↗
  • Hurco Companies, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-01-28. CEO total compensation as printed in Hurco Companies, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 2,023,603. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Mayville Engineering Co. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Mayville Engineering Co. names Douglas Dynamics in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Motorcar Parts of America reciprocity. DEF 14A. Motorcar Parts of America names Douglas Dynamics in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Alamo Group Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Alamo Group Inc. names Douglas Dynamics in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Astec Industries reciprocity. DEF 14A. Astec Industries names Douglas Dynamics in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Lindsay Corporation reciprocity. DEF 14A. Lindsay Corporation names Douglas Dynamics in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, The Shyft Group reciprocity. DEF 14A. The Shyft Group names Douglas Dynamics in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
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