Dale R. Carlsen founded The Sleep Train Mattress Center in 1985,[1] and has guided the company to become the largest retailer of mattresses on the West Coast, and one of the top three in the United States.[2] In 2002, Dale purchased 54 of Mattress Discounters' stores in California during that company's bankruptcy—more than doubling Sleep Train's size.[3] In August 2006, Dale purchased Sleep Country USA from Simmons Bedding in a move to re-enter the northwestern market.[4]
He is a 1984 graduate of Sacramento State University in the College of Business Administration and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. In 2013, Carlsen was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Sacramento State University "for his work and contributions on behalf of foster children" [5]
Awards edit
- "2013 Award for Economic Leadership" - Valley Vision [6]
- "Sacramentan of the Year" - Sacramento Metro Chamber, 2012.[7]
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Award [8]
- "Distinguished Alumni Award" - Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, 2007[9]
- Sacramento Metro Chamber Archived 2023-05-13 at the Wayback Machine Businessman of the Year, 2005[10]
- "Business Hall of Fame Honoree" - Junior Achievement of Sacramento, 2005[9]
- "Father of the Year" - Father's Day Council benefiting American Diabetes Association of Sacramento, 2005[9]
- "Alumnus of the Year" - California State University, Sacramento's College of Business Administration, 2001[9]
- "Volunteer of the Year" - Junior Achievement, 2000[9]
References edit
- ^ Jon Ortiz, Mattresses beneath his wings, Sacramento Bee, October 10, 2005, Page D1.
- ^ Nancy Butler, Sleep Train—Calculated risks, focus on people catapults California entrepreneur to the top Archived 2007-10-08 at the Wayback Machine, Sleep Savvy January/February 2007.
- ^ Kelly Johnson, Sleep Train agrees to buy 54 stores, Sacramento Business Journal, October 23, 2002.
- ^ David Perry, Simmons to sell Sleep Country USA stores to Sleep Train Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, Furniture Today, July 26, 2006.
- ^ Kelly Johnson, Dale Carlsen wins honor from Sac State, Sacramento Business Journal, May 24, 2013.
- ^ Valley Vision to honor business, community leaders, Sacramento Business Journal, May 14, 2013.
- ^ "Carlsen, others to be honored by chamber - Business - the Sacramento Bee". Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-03-15.Sacramento Bee. Published November 29, 2012.
- ^ Sleep Train CEO recognized as entrepreneur. Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Awards Archived 2012-10-30 at the Wayback Machine. Sleep Train website. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ^ Chancellor earns Sacramentan of the Year award, Dateline UC Davis, December 3, 2004