Made in Central Wisconsin by Gannett Wisconsin Media

WDH, September 23, PAGE

CYANMAGENTA YELLOWBLACK

Sustainable

TECHNOLOGIES THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN MEDIA

employee profile

Environmental consulting is company’s calling card

Midwest Renewable Energy Association

BY NICOLE STRITTMATER GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

AMHERST — An internationally recognized environmental science and engineering firm is headquartered in central Wisconsin’s own environment. Sand Creek Solar, which was founded in 1995, is based in both Amherst and Rhinelander but has offices across the country. Specializing in environmental consulting, services include site assessments, engineering and design, financial evaluations and construction oversight for the installation of solar panels and elimination of contaminants in soil and water. The company specializes in phyto technologies, which is the use of plants, specifically trees, to eliminate any contaminants in water and soil. It performs tests on a site to make suggestions on what needs to be done to clean the area. The company also does site cleanup. The company also provides solar site assessments by collecting data about energy use DOUG WOJCIK/GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN to see what size and kind of Pete Arntsen is a project manager and senior hydrologist with Sand Creek Consultants at Sand Creek solar panel is the best fit for Solar in Amherst. the job. It also can help a client install the panels. “We serve nationally and ABOUT SAND CREEK SOLAR have had interest as far away as Europe,” said Kristi Otto, Address: 151 Mill St., Amherst (five locasolar business management tions in the United States) associate. Founded: 1995 Though she said the client list is confidential, the company Owners: Chris Rog of Rhinelander and Mark works with several agriculture Dawson of Amherst facilities in central Wisconsin. Employees: Seven in Amherst President Chris Rog started Services: Sand Creek Solar is a division of the company in Rhinelander in Sand Creek Consultants Inc., an internation1995, and shortly after Mark ally recognized environmental science and Dawson joined in Amherst. engineering firm. Services include site assessments, engineering and design, financial evaluations and Other offices are in Idaho, construction oversight. New Mexico and Ohio. There are about seven employees in How the services are used: Specific clients are confidential, but the company works with agriculture Amherst. facilities in central Wisconsin. “It’s a very collaborative comContact information: Call 715-824-5169, e-mail sandcreek@sand-creek.com, pany. We try very hard to meet or visit www.sandcreeksolar.com. the needs of all our clients,” Otto said.

Tehri Parker Age: 46 Job: Executive director of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, which puts on one of the largest renewable energy fairs in the world. In addition to helping organize the fair, Parker manages the more than 40 instructors who teach over 200 workshops the association offers every year. When Parker started 15 years ago at the association, she was one of two employees. Now she has a staff of 18 and two offices, in Custer and in Milwaukee. Service: The association hosts more than 200 workshops on topics like solar electric, residential wind systems and alternative construction. The courses are divided, like college courses, into levels: From 100-level courses for beginners to 400-level ones for advanced learners. Instructors also offer unbiased advice on renewable energy systems. — B.C. Kowalski, Gannett Central Wisconsin

Major Industries sees the (day) light BY JOY MARQUARDT FOR GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

WAUSAU — A leader in the translucent daylighting industry, Major Industries Inc. of Wausau has a bright future ahead. Founded in 1980, Major Industries designs and manufactures commercial skylighting and curtainwall systems for all types of business and industry. Specializing in a translucent panel system, the company has grown to include more than 52,000 square feet of floor space after two major expansion projects in 1998 and 2001. In 2009, Major Industries received the Small Business of the Year Award in Manufacturing from the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce. “Last year was our best year ever, partially because of the demand for green building,” said marketing manager Mark Mitchell. “With the green building movement, architects want to get more skylighting into their buildings.” Distributing products both nationally and internationally, Major Industries has developed applications for both residential and commercial uses. “We do quite a bit of work with schools and municipal places as well as retail and government work,” Mitchell said. The majority of the orders placed with Major Industries come from outside the region. The company recently completed projects for the Volkswagen Training Center in Chattanooga, Tenn.; a NASA facility in Huntsville, Ala.; and the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Philadelphia.

“About 99 percent of our orders come from outside of Marathon County,” Mitchell said. “Which brings us the money back into the community.” Locally, Major Industries has completed translucent lighting projects for the Marathon County Historical Society, G.I. Associates, the Humane Society of Marathon County, Crystal Finishing, the Wausau Downtown Airport and Aspirus Wausau Hospital, among others. To construct natural lighting systems, Major Industries often teams with other local companies such as Linetec, Crystal Finishing, Schuette Metals and Becher-Hoppe Associates, which provide everything from materials to design. “They have an excellent product,” said Terry Kittson, vice president of Becher-Hoppe, a Wausau architectural and engineering firm that worked with Major Industries on projects for the Oneida County Airport, the Wausau Business Development Center and the Wausau Downtown Airport. “They have very good service XAI KHA/GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN and a good design department, and Major Industries employee Josh Hahn, 37, of Weston stuffs insulation material in a panel frame in order are very good to work with.” Major Industries stays on top of to get it ready for shipment. current trends in the natural daylighting industry by attending conventions and trade shows such as ABOUT MAJOR INDUSTRIES INC. the American Institute of Architects National Convention and the Address: 7120 Stewart Ave., Wausau Greenbuild International Conference Founded: 1980 and Expo held each year. “We strive to make our product betOwner and president: Wayne Toenjes ter than our competitors,” Mitchell Employees: 75 said. Services: Designs and manufactures commercial skylighting and translucent curtainwall systems. “For our size, we are small enough where we can react quickly to any Contact information: Call 715-842-4616, fax 715-848-3336 or visit www.majorskylights.com. changes in the industry.”

Advertiser index UMR. ........................................................... 2

Maratech International LTD .......................... 3 Peoples State Bank ...................................... 4 Cars.com .................................................... 4 Hsu Greenhouse & Landscape Supply ........ 5

Lee Ayers Jewelers .................................6, 7 Green Bay Packaging .................................. 8 Mid-State Technical College......................... 8 H.O. Wolding Inc........................................11

Wheelers of Marshfield Inc. ......................11 Hay Creek Pallet Co. ..................................11 Midwest Renewable Energy Fair ................11 Veolia Environmental Services ...................12

WDH, September 23, PAGE

CYANMAGENTA YELLOWBLACK

MADE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN

PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS PARK, STEVENS POINT ■ TRAVEL GUARD Address: 3300 Business Park Drive President and CEO: Dean Sivley Services: More than 12,000 travel companies through virtually every distribution channel in the travel industry sell Travel Guard insurance. Employees: About 630 at the Stevens Point headquarters Contact: 715-345-1041; e-mail: webmaster@travel guard.com; www.travelguard. com ■ RETTLER CORP. Address: 3317 Business Park Drive Owner: Rick Rettler Services: Rettler Corp. is a landscape architect firm that has developed projects across Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. Employees: About 20 Contact: 715-341-2633; e-mail: info@rettler.com; www.rettler.com ■ PORTESI ITALIAN FOODS INC. Address: 3201 Business Park Drive Owner: Joseph Mitch Services: Pizza that is sold throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota Employees: About 20 Contact: 715-344-7974; e-mail: portesi@portesi.net; www.portesi.net ■ ORTHO MOLECULAR PRODUCTS Address: 3017 Business Park Drive Owners: Gary Powers, CEO in Illinois; Aaron Bartz, president in Illinois; Dean Kramer, vice president of operations in Stevens Point Services: Produces nutritional solutions for use by healthcare providers nationwide, developing supplements intended to help patients get better faster. The operations facility is in Stevens Point, where product is made and shipped. The business started in a basement in Amherst, where the CEO, president and vice president are from. They are now looking to expand into Canada. Employees: 65 in Stevens Point Contact: 715-342-9881;

51 39

STEVENS POINT

www.orthomolecular products.com ■ BOLDT CO. Address: 2901 Business Park Drive Area manager: Jay Wagner Services: The Boldt Co. offers construction solutions — general contracting and designing. There are 13 regional offices across the country. Employees: Six Contact: 715-295-3400; e-mail: jay.wagner@boldt. com; www.theboldtcompany. com ■ MADA CUSTOM APPAREL AND SPORTING GOODS LLC Address: 5533 Clem’s Way Owners: Joe and Karen Milanowski Services: A collection of custom apparel lines for business, casual and athletic

wear. Locations in Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids. Distributes nationally. Employees: About 10 in Stevens Point, 13 total, including Wisconsin Rapids Contact: 715-341-1773; e-mail: joe@madcustom. com or karen@ madacustom.com; www. madacustom.com ■ THE HOSTEL SHOPPE Address: 3201 John Joanis Drive Owners: Rolf and Barbara Garthus Services: A retail store that sells recumbent bikes, as well as other types, and does repairs. It also makes Volae recumbent bikes. Employees: About 20 Contact: 715-341-2453; e-mail: info@hostelshoppe. com; www.hostelshoppe. com

Your self-funded plan gives you control. We’ll help you keep it.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Bike shop owner sells gear, builds own product BY B.C. KOWALSKI GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

STEVENS POINT — Three companies make recumbent bicycles in the United States. One is in Florida. Another is in Kansas. And the third is in Stevens Point. Hostel Shoppe owner Rolf Garthus started Volae Recumbent Bicycles at his bike shop in 2003 after deciding the perfect recumbent just wasn’t out there. “I had sold basically every recumbent bike that was being built,” Garthus said. “I saw a lot of good ideas on different bikes, but not all of the ideas were on one bike. I took the good ideas from a bunch of different bikes and put them on one.” Most of the issues Garthus wanted to address with the Volae line were pretty technical, Garthus said — chain management, seat design, cockpit design, steering geometry — hard to see, but all contribute to the perfect recumbent, which is sold all over the U.S. as well as overseas. Recumbent bikes are different from regular bikes. Instead of sitting on top of a frame, the rider pedals while reclining, which can be easier for people who have physical limitations. When the company first started, its frames were built in Seattle and the bikes were assembled at the Hostel Shoppe. The frame building is done at Waterford Precision Cycles in Waterford, which used to be a Schwinn Paramount factory. Now, more than 50 percent of each bike is made in Wisconsin, including the frame and its paint. Volae recumbants are one of the few bikes with powder coating, which

DOUG WOJCIK/GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

Leon Anderson makes adjustments to a Volae recumbent bike being assembled at the Hostel Shoppe in Stevens Point.

ABOUT HOSTEL SHOPPE AND VOLAE Address: 3201 John Joanis Drive, Stevens Point Founded: Hostel Shoppe in 1974; Volae in 2003 Owner: Rolf Garthus Number of employees: 20 Products: Manufactures and assembles a line of recumbent bicycles. The store also stocks two-wheeled bicycles, bicycle accessories and some winter recreation products such as skis, snowboards, helmets and clothing. How and where products are used: Volae bikes are sold throughout the United States, Canada and, occasionally, overseas. Contact information: Call 715-341-2453, e-mail info@ hostelshoppe.com, or visit www.hostelshoppe.com.

Garthus said is more ecofriendly and durable than traditional paint.Jay Goska Painting and Powder Coating in Wisconsin Rapids impressed Garthus with its smooth finish, unusual for a process typically employed in farm implements. And in turn, Goska’s company uses the bikes on the front page of its website.

“It’s tougher than a wet coat, very environmentally friendly and there’s no excess waste,” Garthus said. The company draws most of its employees from the Hostel Shoppe — assembling bikes for Volae is one of the jobs assigned to its employees, either for a full shift or as a time filler when the shop is slow.

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WDH, September 23, PAGE

CYANMAGENTA YELLOWBLACK

MADE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Samuels builds for the future BY KEITH UHLIG GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

WAUSAU — Local construction firm The Samuels Group has been sailing through turbulent economic waters with remarkable stability. “We’re kind of beating the odds in terms of what’s going on around us,” said Sid Samuels, 39, the firm’s president. A big part of why lies in the fact that The Samuels CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Group is a great deal more than a construction firm. It The Samuels Group specializes in building interiors, as well offers a variety of services as working as a general contractor. from designing to furnishing commercial buildings, all of which can give the ABOUT THE SAMUELS GROUP LLC company a competitive edge. Address: Headquarters, 311 Financial Way, Suite 300, The Samuels Group got Wausau; Iowa office, 313 E. Fifth St., Waterloo, Iowa its start in 1993 in the ■ AIR COMMUNICATIONS Wausau area as an arm of a Founded: 2005 OF CENTRAL WISCONSIN different company, Adolfson Owner: Sid Samuels Address: 2430 Industrial & Peterson Construction, 34 St. Number of employees: 80 based in Minnesota’s Twin 73 Services: Sells and serCities. When Adolfson & Services: Development, design, general contracting, conPeterson decided to pull out vices por table two-way struction management, architectural services, sustainable of the area, one of its projIndustrial St. radios, mobile two-way design, interior design and furnishing. ect managers, Sid Samuels, radios, pagers, temperature 34 How and where services are used: The Samuels Group W. Grand Ave. decided to buy the branch monitoring systems and air 73 has built a variety of commercial buildings across the and start his own firm, and space gas monitors. WISCONSIN Midwest, including schools, health care buildings, corpoThe Samuels Group began Contact: 800-472-9551 or RAPIDS E. Grand Ave. 54 rate headquarters, retail stores, restaurants, government in 2005. 715-424-3050; fax 715Riv buildings, and industrial and manufacturing facilities. Since then, The Samuels 424-3052; e-mail: info erv Local customers include the D.C. Everest and Wausau iew Group has constructed sev@aircommcentral.com; school districts, Peoples State Bank, Cloverbelt Credit eral local buildings, includwww.aircommcentral.com. Union, Holiday Inn in Rothschild, Breast Center of Central Riverview Ex ing the Palladian in down■ BDT INC. 13 Wisconsin, the Palladian building and Jefferson Street town Wausau, Integrity Address: 600 25th Ave. N. parking ramp. First Bank in Wausau, Owners: Daniel Dix and and Peoples State Bank Contact information: Call 715-841-1906, e-mail info@ David Dix in Wausau. The company samuelsgroup.net, or visit www.samuelsgroup.net. Services: Manufactures also has completed or is in a full line of equipment the midst of building projing cer tification and semi- ■ TWEET/GAROT for cranberry growers, ects across the Midwest, nars; technical suppor t; oil MECHANICAL INC. from harvest to packagincluding schools, health ing, machining, welding, sampling programs; waste Address: 2810 Jefferson care buildings, restaurants, fabrication, engineering, handling and environmental St. government buildings and contract manufacturing, services; marine transfers. Manager: Greg Weinfur ter buildings for colleges. plasma cutting, hydraulic It started out following in Contact: 800-342-5766 Services: Offers the system designs, steel sales or 715-423-8767; www. the AP mode of commercial design, installation, and and odd jobs. construction, but quickly halron.com. servicing of process pipexpanded beyond being a Employees: 10 ■ HAESSLY & HAESSLY builder. ing, sheet metal and plate Contact: 715-421-0090 INC. “I think our basis (for or 800-448-6861; e-mail: fabrication, industrial venAddress: 1710 Nash Road tilation, HVAC, and plumb- growth) was focusing on sales@bdt-fab.com; the needs of our clients,” Services: Excavating, land- ing for the commercial, www.bdt-fab.com. Samuels said. ■ FEY PUBLISHING CO. scaping, trucking, ponds. industrial and institutional That meant learning that Address: 910 29th Ave. N. Contact: 715-424-3011 marketplace. clients wanted help before Owner: Donald Gasch ■ IN LOVING MEMORY the building phases startEmployees: Varies during Services: Offers digital PET FUNERAL PARLOR ed, with property developprojects and offset printing of broAddress: 2321 Industrial ment and building design. Contact: 715-421-0400; chures, saddle-stitched It also meant that clients Cour t fax 715-421-5442; e-mail: also wanted help furnishing books, bound books, foldServices: Pet funerals and ers and por tfolios, calentweet@tweet garot.com; and finishing the buildings’ cremation dars, doorknob hangers, www.tweet-garot.com interiors once construction Contact: 715-421-2663 specialty mailers, envewas complete. ■ UNIFIRST ■ NAP GLADU lopes, posters, letterhead So The Samuels Group Address: 2400 Industrial and business cards, annual Address: 3211 Industrial added a design departSt. repor ts, catalogs, and St. ment with three architects Services: Rents, leases magazines for commercial Manager: Pat Stoflet and two interior designers. and sells uniforms, protec- It added a development customers. Services: Offers manufacEmployees: 55 department that helps clituring and servicing of car- tive clothing, custom corContact: 715-422-4810; ents buy and develop land, porate workwear, floorcare and also provides help in fax 715-423-3818; e-mail: bide and diamond-cutting and other facility service tools for industrial-based finding financing. And it scott@feypub.com; products to businesses. customers opened a commercial furwww.feypub.com. Contact: 715-423-4640; nishing department that Employees: 24 (locally) ■ G&K SERVICES www.unifirst.com. allows customers to buy Contact: 888-221-8665; Address: 2111 Industrial office furniture to round out ■ WAREHOUSE St. fax 715-424-1920; www. the process. The company SPECIALISTS Services: Rents, leases napgladu.com also has opened an office and sells uniforms, protec- ■ OCEAN SPRAY Address: 2011 Brown St. in Waterloo, Iowa. Further tive clothing, custom corand 1940 Jefferson St. CRANBERRIES INC. afield, the company has porate workwear, floorcare Services: Warehousing and built government buildings Ownership: Corporation and other facility service distribution such as courthouses and Address: 2930 Industrial products to businesses. administrative buildings Contact: 715-423-2870; St. and 3130 Industrial St. Contact: 715-421-1137; across the state. fax 715-424-4386; www. Services: Manufacturing, e-mail: gkweb@ The idea is to put the wsinc.com. warehousing, and freshgkservices.com; entire building process fruit processing of cranber- ■ WELDING SERVICES www.gkservices.com. — from a building’s idea ■ HALRON LUBRICANTS ries; sweetened dried cran- PLUS INC. stage to the point at which Sid Samuels is the president of The Samuels Group. INC. berries and concentrates it is move-in ready — in “We have great services, Samuels Group will exceed Address: 2131 Industrial Address: 611 25th Ave. N. Contact: 715-423-5629; the hands of The Samuels great people, and we’re out that, with about $65 milSt. Services: Offers complete www.oceanspray.com Group, making the process there hunting.” lion in revenue. Owner: Brad Freund line of oil and air filters, seamless and efficient for And the company’s dockIt’s paying off, Samuels ■ PEPSI-COLA GENERAL Services: Custom steel automotive car wash and the client, Samuels said. et is full, with about $85 said. The company’s revBOTTLERS WISCONSIN fabrication, structural steel “And we’re aggressive (in enue target is $40 million million of projects planned detailing products, wiper Address: 2430 Jefferson fabrication, steel finishing marketing),” Samuels said. per year. But this year The into the future. blades, automotive lighting, serpentine belts to the Services: Bottling and dis- and welding repair sertribution of beverages. automotive industry; disvices. Contact: 715-423-8427. tributes passenger vehicle Employees: Three lubricants to well-known ■ PGL PACKAGING LLC Contact: 715-424-4050; car manufacturers; a com- Address: 2110 Industrial e-mail: info@welding plete line of commercial St. Channeled Resource Group/MaraTech servicesplus.com; www. vehicle lubricants for both Manager: Greg Gitter weldingservicesplus.com. the on-road and off-road Services: Cranberry pack- ■ WOW LOGISTICS, commercial markets; a aging. complete line of indusWISCONSIN RAPIDS Employees: 20 trial lubricants and fluids; COOLER industrial hygiene supplies Contact: Wisconsin Address: 2321 Engel Road Cranberry Cooperative at and chemicals; sales and Manager: Tom Behr installation of hoists, tanks, 715-424-4593; e-mail: Services: Refrigerated The Channeled Resources Group is a worldwide monitors and gauges, wiscrancoop@hotmail. warehousing and distribuleader in the fi field eld of reprocessed specialty paper and pumps, hose reels, and com; or www.wiscranbertion meters for bulk lubrication. rycoop.com. film. fi lm. Channeled Resources Group/MaraTech was Contact: 800-354-1641; Also offers: Packaged and ■ THIELE KAOLIN OF awarded L.I.F.E (Label Initiative for the Environment) bulk lubricant delivery; a fax 715-423-3003; 920Certificated. Certifi cated. L.I.F.E. promotes environmental full range of recycling ser- WISCONSIN INC. 475-5648; e-mail: ricksc@ Address: 2111 17th Ave. vices – collection of used responsibilities throughout the labeling industry wowlogistics.com; www. N. oil, used oil filters, used wowlogistics.com. Channeled Resources Group/MaraTech would like to congratulate all of its employees antifreeze, used absorbent Manager: Jim Captain ■ WOW LOGISTICS, at maintaining a high level of environmental responsibility by: Products: Offers clay items including pads, pilWISCONSIN RAPIDS DRY lows, socks; preventative slurry, titanium slurry and ❍ Decreasing water usage by 9% Address: 1941 Engel Road maintenance programs for talc slurry used in paper ❍ Decreasing KWH usage by 13% lubrication systems and Manager: Lyle Ott manufacturing. ❍ Decreasing Therms usage by 16% hoists; custom tank and Services: Dry warehousing Employees: Six (locally) ❍ Decreasing the amount of material stand fabrication; oil puriand distribution Contact: For sales, 715going to landfill by 44% fication services; waste oil Contact: 800-330-9718; system designs and instal- 421-3340; parent company Our employees have been able to maintain this fax 715-423-2909; 920lations; oil dehydration and phone, 1-877-544-3322; high level of environmental responsibility while 475-5640; e-mail: dan. e-mail: Customer.Service@ our company has increased sales by 10% filtration; equipment and allen@wowlogistics.com; ThieleKaolin.com; plant surveys; lubrication Thank you Channeled Resources Group/MaraTech Employees for your commitment. engineering services; train- www.thielekaolin.com. www.wowlogistics.com.

WEST SIDE INDUSTRIAL PARK, WISCONSIN RAPIDS

5001171115

W ISC ON SIN

RIV ER

17th Ave.

29th Ave.

WDH, September 23, PAGE

CYANMAGENTA YELLOWBLACK

MADE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN WESTON BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY PARK

Callon Avenue SchoďŹ e ld

FROM BEERS TO CHEESE WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE BEEN HELPING COMPANIES GROW SINCE 1962

Avenue

WESTON

Zinser St.

â&#x2013; J&D TUBE BENDERS Address: 8951 Enterprise Way Co-owners: Tom and Janet Felch, co-owners Service: Manufacture hydraulic tube lines, primarily for off-road construction equipment Employees: 65 Contact: 715-359-2073, www.jdtube.com â&#x2013; MELRON CORP. Address: 8110 Technology Drive Owner: Debbie Flood, owner Service: Sand cast bronze architectural hardware; pour molten metal in sand molds to create architectural hardware Employees: 18 Contact: 715-359-7001; dflood@melroncorp.com; www.melroncorp.com, â&#x2013; NORTH AMERICAN HYDRO Address: 8310 Technology Drive Owner/local operator: Daniel Purzycki Service: Engineering and manufacturing for control panels of hydroelectric dams Employees: 26 Contact: 715-359-0209; www.nahydro.com â&#x2013; WAUSAU SUPPLY Address: 7102 Commerce Drive Owners: Employee stock ownership program (employee owned) Service: Wholesale building materials Employees: 125 Contact: 715-359-2524; www.wausausupply.com â&#x2013; K-TECH Address: 7710 Technology Drive Owners/local operators: Craig Kersemeier, Lauri Nooyen, Alan Brodjieski Service: Full service janitorial and restoration cleaning company Employees: 60 Contact: 715-355-1369; www.k-techkleening.com â&#x2013; BAERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEVERAGE INC. Address: 7205 Zinser St. Owner: Gerald Baer Service: Commercial beverage distribution Employees: 45 Contact: 715-359-0448; www.baersbeverageinc.com â&#x2013; MIDLAND PLASTICS Address: 7208-A Synergy Court Branch manager: Lynn Gliniecki Service: Distributor of plastic parts Employees: Five Contact: 715-359-8663; www.midlandplastics.com â&#x2013; BRASS OAK CO. Information unavailable â&#x2013; K&A MANUFACTURING Address: 6703 Zinser St. Owner/local operator: Bill Knighton Service: Ergonomic office furniture, primarily commercial, sold through furniture dealers Employees: 22 Contact: 715-355-0222; www.raServices.com â&#x2013; CLEMMENT CABINETRY Address: 8311 Technology Drive Owner: Mike Clemment Service: Manufacture and installation of cabinets, coun-

29 Weston Avenue

tertops for commercial and residential Employees: Eight Contact: 715-355-7100; e-mail: sales@clemment cabinetry.com; www.clement cabinetry.com â&#x2013; CENFLEX Address: 8510 Enterprise Way Owner: Scott Sauer, owner Service: Fabricating distributor of flexible metal hose services for industrial machinery, water treatment Employees: 25 Contact: 715-355-4344; www.cenflexinc.com â&#x2013; APPLIED LASER TECHNOLOGIES Address: 8404 Venture Circle Owner/local operator: Chris Osswald Service: Contract metal fabrication Employees: 92 Contact: 715-359-3002; 888359-3002; www.aplaser.com â&#x2013; ABSOLUTE WATER SYSTEMS Information unavailable â&#x2013; FUTURE SERVICES Address: 8410 Technology Drive Owner/local operator: Craig Mortensen Service: Manufacture ventilating fans, plastic molding Employees: Four Contact: 715-241-6600; www.futureServicescorp.net â&#x2013; DUNHAM EXPRESS Information unavailable â&#x2013; MIDWEST INDUSTRIAL SEWING CORP. Address: 6702 Venture Circle Owner: Andrew J. Smith Service: Manufacture truck tarps and tie-down hardware for trucking industry, equipment covers Employees: 12 Contact: 715-241-7676 or 800-748-3211 â&#x2013; LAURIK ENTERPRISES Information unavailable â&#x2013; WESTON WAREHOUSING AND LEASING Address: 7005 Rickyval St. Owner/local operator: Mark Peter Service: Commercial warehousing operation Employees: One Contact: 715-359-4200; mrmp573@yahoo.com â&#x2013; WORLDWIDE PACKAGING Address: 7102 Zinser St. Owner/local operator: Craig Emenecker and J.R. Berendsen Service: Packaging materials for industrial and food service companies Employees: Six

Contact: 715-355-0980; e-mail: sales@wwpackaging. com â&#x2013; K-EQUIPMENT Address: 7815 Commerce Drive Co-owner: Jim Kocher and Jim Kocher Jr. Service: Maintenance and repairs of heavy construction equipment Employees: Three Contact: 715-355-8303 or 715-571-4842 â&#x2013; WEIMER BEARING Information unavailable â&#x2013; CRYSTAL FINISHING (See Page 6D) â&#x2013; CTECH TRAILER CABINETS Address: 7501 Commerce Drive Owner: Jim Greenheck Service: Manufactures aluminum cabinets and mobile carts for racing and other industries. Employees: 40 Contact: 715-355-8842; www.ctechmanufacturing. com; www.racecabinet.com â&#x2013; FARRELL EQUIPMENT Address: 7405 Commerce Drive Acting manager: Roger Slowiak Service: Construction tools supply Employees: Two, still hiring Contact: 715-355-8300; www.farrellequipment.com â&#x2013; CUSTOM GLASS SERVICES Address: 7515 Venture Circle Owner/local operator: Eric Reeder Service: Manufactures glass for commercial buildings and homes. Employees: 100 Contact: 715-359-2252; www.customglassServiceswi. com â&#x2013; SCHOFIELD ENTERPRISES Address: 8405 Enterprise Way Owner: Rich Feirn Service: Electrical wire harnesses Employees: 85 Contact: 715-359-2497; www.schofieldenterprises. com â&#x2013; FROM THE FOREST LLC Address: 9004 Progress Way Local operators: Susan Lang, vice president and general manager; Tryggvi Magnusson, president Service: Manufactures private-label cork and wood flooring Employees: 14 Contact: 715-359-2627; www.fromtheforest.com

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Always see the Potential

WDH, September 23, PAGE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

CYANMAGENTA YELLOWBLACK

MADE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN

PDM Solar heats up in green economy BY JAKE MILLER GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

WAUSAU — PDM Solar is just months away from marketing its revolutionary system that uses the sun to make things cool. Founded in 2006 by David Baker, the company has spent four years buried in research and development, trying to create the technology to use solarthermal energy to cool and heat homes and businesses, and to provide electricity. It’s a system PDM plans to sell worldwide. PDM is starting simple, using its technology to harness the sun’s energy to cool milk. Ultimately, it hopes to develop the system to allow rural homeowners to live without paying for energy. “Our goal is that if you put in our system, you’ll never have to pay another (electric) bill,” said Howard Manske, PDM’s chief financial officer. Although many parts of the system remain a secret, the technology, including some components commonly used in the renewable energy industry, works like this: ◆ The sun’s rays heat solar panels that have water running through them. ◆ The water, heated while in the panels, returns to a collection bin. ◆ Steam produced by the hot water generates energy in a “thermal transformer” (that part is the secret), creating electricity and producing heat, or cooling a refrigerant, similar to that found in a car’s air conditioning system. Howard Manske, PDM’s chief financial officer, said the first goal is to market the cooling technology. Dairy farming is an industry the company hopes will take interest, because the system could save a farmer thousands of dollars in util-

ABOUT PDM SOLAR Address: 100 N. 72nd Ave., Wausau Founded: 2006 Owner: David Baker, president Number of employees: Six Products: Solar thermal-powered cooling and electricitygenerating systems. How and where products are used: The product still is in the research and development stage, but PDM Solar executives said they expect to begin piloting the product in central Wisconsin this fall. PDM plans to market the solarthermal system worldwide. Contact information: Call 715-573-2805, e-mail Howard. Manske@pdmsolar.com, or visit www.pdmsolar.com. ity bills by cooling milk. This fall, PDM will place its systems on several area dairy farms as part of its pilot project, Manske said. PDM then will focus on consistently harnessing electricity from the system. The system’s solar panels typically consume about a quarter acre, making them more suitable for a rural setting or commercial buildings with open space on the roofs than for homeowners, at least for now. Initially, PDM planned to market the technology only in dry, arid areas such as the Southwest, but

Manske said the company now believes it’s a feasible electricity alternative for almost any climate because PDM can harness enough solarthermal energy, including in Wisconsin, to power the system. Manske said if a person builds a new home and includes PDM’s system, the mortgage will cost less than a traditional home’s combined mortgage and utility bills. “The benefit is you can take energy needs and supply them yourself,” Manske PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY PDM SOLAR said. “You’re not attached to PDM Solar founder David Baker stands in front of a thermal transformer at the company’s the grid.” Wausau facility. The company hopes its systems can eliminate energy bills.

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MADE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN

CYAN_PAGE MAGENTA_PAGE YELLOW_PAGE BLACK_PAGE• PAPER • DATE • AD NUMBER

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Plover woman spins companies from wind BY NICOLE STRITTMATER

5001165460

MADE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN

Golden Eagle builds on its reputation BY DEB CLEWORTH

GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

PLOVER — Laura West, 35, of Plover grew up on a windy farm in Edgar. Thus began a lifelong interest in wind that put her on the path to owning two small environmental businesses in Plover. We s t o w n s We s t Wi n d s Renewable Resources LLC, a consulting business, and The Green Co., which sells green products for daily use. Growing up, she didn’t know what to do with her interest in wind. She earned a degree in psychology and biology from Ripon College, always thinking she would work in health care. “Nothing related to wind or natural resources. (Wind) was just always something in the back of my mind,” West said. She decided to switch careers in 2007 — she previously worked for an accounting firm — after learning that the Midwest Renewable Energy Association in Custer offered courses in wind energy. She enrolled and shortly thereafter started her consulting business. Today, West helps residential, commercial and government clients set renewable energy goals and decide whether their sites are Laura West operates West Winds Renewable Resources LLC from her Green Co. store in Plover. suitable for construction of wind turbines, which can help cut energy costs. Turbines have been a tough sell lately. ABOUT WEST WINDS RENEWABLE “With the downturn of the economy, it does affect wind turbine RESOURCES LLC installations because they’re very AND THE GREEN CO. costly,” she said. West also makes recommendaAddress: 2611 Post Road, Plover tions for less costly energy-saving Founded: West Winds, 2007; The Green Co., December steps such as switching to different 2009 lightbulbs or appliances. “If they have a new appliance it’s Owner: Laura West, 35, Plover much more efficient. If it’s 10 years Employees: West is the sole employee. or older, it’s probably time for them to upgrade and they’ll actually save Products and services: West Winds is a wind assessment consulting business that does data analysis of a site to quite a bit of money,” West said. determine if it’s a good location for a wind turbine. She offers West started The Green Co. in assessments for residential and non-residential clients throughDecember 2009 in response to cliout Wisconsin. The Green Co. is a retail store that sells green ent requests for information about products for everyday use. little things they could do to save energy. The Green Co., a division of How and where products and services are used: Central West Winds, offers a wide selection Wisconsin clients are primarily farmers. A cattle and horse of green products, such as housefarm in Bancroft put up two wind turbines, and she has done wares, cleaning supplies, health assessments for cranberry farmers in Wisconsin Rapids and and beauty items and clothing. Port Edwards. “We have at least doubled our Contact information: 715-498-7225, e-mail laura@ inventory from the first day we thegreencostore.com, or visit www.thegreencostore.com. opened,” she said. “That’s pretty amazing.”

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

PHOTOS BY DOUG WOJCIK/GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — There might be no better recommendation than when a customer decides to work for the company. Joe Rodriguez, a custom homebuilder in the Atlanta area for almost 20 years, has a Golden Eagle home in Lake Hartwell, Ga., and now he’s a dealer for the company. The 44-year-old business began as Golden Eagle Building Center. In 1986, 11 years before Wally and Marlace Parmeter retired and their sons, Jay and Tod, took over, the business officially became Golden Eagle Log Homes. The name wasn’t the only change. “The Internet really gave us access to the outside world,” said Tod Parmeter, 47. “It was our plan to operate the lumberyard only for five years and funnel all that revenue into the log homes.” For a while, the brothers ran the lumberyard by day and developed the log home business by night. Soon, orders started coming in from surrounding states, and by 2000, Golden Eagle Log Homes were spreading throughout the country and the world. The company now produces more than 130 homes a year. “In 2001, we closed the lumberyard, and everyone who was working for us in the lumberyard, then worked for Golden Eagle,” Parmeter said. “Nobody lost their job.” In 2005, the company received its first order from Canada, and, just last year, its first European order in Denmark. Rodriguez appreciated the fact Golden Eagle homes include everything — even the kitchen sink. “A lot of companies

TOM LOUCKS/GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

Tim Pavloski keeps a close eye on a machine that cuts the logs in halves at Golden Eagle Log Homes. just sell you logs or a shell, and you have to look for everything else,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez had another compliment for the company: “My college degree is architecture,” he said. “That is another thing that appealed to me was the precision of their work, their craftsmanship.” While the company remains anchored in central Wisconsin, the Parmeters plan to keep the business expanding by adding to its 35 independent dealers. “We want to grow it to 100 dealers in the next five years,” Parmeter said.

ABOUT GOLDEN EAGLE LOG HOMES Address: 4421 Plover Road, Wisconsin Rapids Founded: 1966 by Walter and Marlace Parmeter Owners: Jay and Tod Parmeter, sons of founders Employees: 39 in south Wood County Products and services: Log home design and construction How and where products are used: The company has 35 independent dealers in the United States, Canada and Europe. Contact information: Call 800-2705025; e-mail info@goldeneagle loghomes.com; or visit www. goldeneagleloghomes.com.

WDH, September 23, PAGE

CYANMAGENTA YELLOWBLACK

MADE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

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Distributor meets needs of food manufacturers GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

MARSHFIELD — With tens of thousands of products made readily available in any of the NelsonJameson warehouses, the company has become a leading distributor of anything and everything a food manufacturer would need. “We’re like a general store for people who manufacture food,” said John Nelson, owner and chairman of the board of directors for Marshfield-based Nelson-Jameson. “If you need a hair net, a pump or some kind of container to put things in, whatever, we’ll have it.” The company’s president, John Lippert, calls NelsonJameson a “one-stop shop” for both large and small food manufactures.

“Food manufactures can buy most of the supplies they need from one supplier,” said Lippert. “Instead of having hundreds of suppliers, which is cost prohibitive.” Nelson-Jameson’s Marshfield warehouse keeps over 10,000 items in stock — from hand trucks and waste containers to cheese salt and dry milk — with an additional 30,000 items that can be ordered by request. The company sells to all 50 states and in this fiscal year sent products to 37 different countries, said Lippert. Each day it sends out up to 400 packages. For the most part, Nelson-Jameson remains a family business. Nelson’s grandfather started the company in 1947 with Herb Jameson. Eventually it moved to Marshfield where

Nelson’s father entered into a partnership with his grandfather. In 1975, Nelson entered the family business and became president in 1982. His son, Adam, currently manages the company’s information technology department. Although there are other Nelson-Jameson sites across the country — Idaho, California and Pennsylvania — the company works to retain its roots by remaining near high dairy industry populations, said Nelson. “We’ve grown throughout the country,” said Nelson. “We started as a supplier to cheese makers, but we’ve grown in terms of our mission and who we see as customers. So now anyone who manufactures food is a potential customer of ours.”

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WDH, September 23, PAGE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010 employee profile

Stevens Point Brewery John Zappa Age: 60 Job: Brewmaster for Stevens Point Brewery. Zappa has worked at the brewery for 33 years, serving as brewmaster the entire time. Before coming to Point he worked at breweries in Minnesota. Products: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The small breweries have their similar styles, but their own flavor profiles,â&#x20AC;? Zappa said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People are interested in craft beers.â&#x20AC;? One of the interesting things about the Point Brewery, Zappa said, is that after years of small breweries struggling, the resurgence of small breweries has allowed Point to expand its distribution outside the Midwest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an opportunity to get our beers out there,â&#x20AC;? Zappa said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every company needs growth.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Nick Paulson, Gannett Central Wisconsin

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MADE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN

ERCO makes long-term investment BY KAREN MADDEN GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

P O R T E D WA R D S â&#x20AC;&#x201D; When ERCO Worldwide announced in 2007 that it would modernize its Port Edwards plant, it was making a commitment to the environment and the area. In the last few years, other businesses left the area, but ERCO went on with improving its local facility, said Ed Saylor, Port Edwards village president. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It meant a lot to have ERCO come in and commit themselves to us and their company by putting the money in there,â&#x20AC;? Saylor said. The $138 million investment transformed the chloralkali facility from using a mercury-based technology to an energy-efficient membrane cell technology, said Geoff Bertin, plant manager. The change permanently eliminated the use of mercury for the production of the chlor-alkali chemicals at the facility. In addition, the conversion reduced energy consumption per ton of product by 30 percent and increased production by 25 percent. It extended the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life by 25 to 35 years, Bertin said. The Port Edwards mill

produces chlorine, caustic soda, caustic potash and hydrochloric acid. A significant amount of the chlorine the plant manufactures is used for water treatment or, in the form of bleach, as a powerful disinfectant. About 20 percent of the products made at the facility are sold and shipped in the state of Wisconsin. More than 50 percent of the caustic soda is sold to companies in Wisconsinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forestry industry. The facility also supplies products to numerous Wisconsin ethanol plants. The Port Edwards plant is the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third-largest manufacturer of caustic potash, a reactive alkali used to make food ingredients, de-icing chemicals, fertilizers, batteries, water treatment chemicals and environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals, Bertin said. About 94 Port Edwardsarea residents are employed at the ERCO plant; the village is happy to have the company located in Port Edwards, Saylor said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re great friends, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very thankful that they went on with the expansion here,â&#x20AC;? Saylor said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to work together for many, many more years.â&#x20AC;?

TOM LOUCKS/GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

Dave Colby, an auxiliary operator, checks the ion exchange process, which removes impurities such as calcium, magnesium and iron, at ERCO Worldwide in Port Edwards.

ABOUT ERCO WORLDWIDE Mailing address: 101 Highway 73 S., Nekoosa Founded: The present owners acquired the plant in 2005. The plant began operations in 1967. Owner: Superior Plus LP Number of employees: The Port Edwards facility has 94 employees, and ERCO Worldwide has about 500 employees. Products: The Port Edwards facility produces chlorine, caustic soda, caustic potash and hydrochloric acid. How and where products are used: The company supplies environmentally preferred chlorine dioxide technology to the pulp and paper industry, and chlor-alkali products to industries such as water treatment, food processing, pulp and paper, fertilizers, agricultural and oil and gas. Contact information: Call Geoff R. Bertin, plant manager, 715-887-4565; e-mail gbertin@ercoworldwide.com; or visit www.ercoworldwide.com.

EAST INDUSTRIAL PARK, MARSHFIELD East Industrial Park

& % ! "

â&#x2013; WISCO COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION Address: 401 S. Hume Ave. Owner/Manager: John Hackman Service: Auto and truck dealers buying group Employees: 12 full time, two part time Contact: 715-387-3418; fax 715-387-0357; www.wisco. com â&#x2013; AMERICAN MINI STORAGE LLC Address: 2205 E. Fifth St. President/owner: Ken Schenenauer Service: Public storage facility Employee: One Contact: 715-384-3334 â&#x2013; A1 SELF STORAGE Address: 1700 S. Anton Ave. Service: Public storage facility Owner: Ken Schenenauer Employee: One Contact: 715-384-3334 â&#x2013; WEILER TRANSPORTATION Address: 2211 E. Fifth St. Owner: Wayne Weiler Service: Delivery of home heating oil, gasoline, diesel fuels to farm and construction. Employees: Two full time, one part time Contact: 715-384-4752 â&#x2013; WEILER CONVENIENCE STORES Address: 2401 E. Fifth St. Owner: Wayne Weiler Service: Food and gas and diesel fuel; deli, subs and salads Employees: 10 full time, 25 part time Contact: 715-384-8822 â&#x2013; LJ PRINTING Address: 2501 E. Fifth St. Owner/Manager: Rich Hohl Service: Custom signs, decal and apparel Employees: Two Contact: 715-384-4720; fax 715-389-2099; www. ljscreenprinting.com â&#x2013; DRAXLER TRANSPORT Address: 10592 Highway A Owner/Manager: Marty Draxler and Karl Draxler Service: Trucking Employees: 37 full time, one part time Contact: 715-591-2222; fax 715-591-6983 â&#x2013; VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES TRANSFER STATION Address: 501 S. Hume Ave. Area manager: Kelly Rooney Service: Solid waste disposal and recycling Employees: 35 Contact: 715-387-3101; fax 715-384-3445; www.veoliaes.com â&#x2013; NELSON-JAMESON INC. Address: 2400 E. Fifth St. Owner: John Nelson Service: Distributors of equipment and supplies to dairy and food processing plants Employees: 78 Contact: 715-387-1151; fax 715-387-8746; www. nelsonjameson.com â&#x2013; PREMIER PRINTING INC. Address: 2500 E. Fifth St. Service: Commercial printer specializing in offset and

Map area

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STEVE SITKO/GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

digital printing, banners, signs and vectored art. Also textile printing, screen printing, graphic and web design. Owner/Manager: Branden Bodendorfer Employees: 10 full time, two part time Contact: 715-486-0603; fax 888-518-1430; www.premierprintinginc.com â&#x2013; MARSHFIELD BUS SERVICE Address: 1507 S. Anton Ave. Owner/Manager: Verlyn Randt Service: School busing for Marshfield School District, event shuttles Employees: Four full time, 71 part time Contact: 715-387-0101 â&#x2013; QUALITY ROOFING INC. Address: 1507 Laemle Ave. Owner/Manager: Mark and Pat Begotka Service: Commercial roofing Employees: 30 Contact: 715-384-8881; fax 715-384-7771; www.qroof. com â&#x2013; CENTRAL MANUFACTURING CORP. Address: 1611 S. Anton Ave. Owner/Manager: Mark Bump and Paul Brand Service: Complete machine shop, CNC turning, CNC milling, fabricating and welding, punching, repair and manufacturing Employees: Nine full time, one part time Contact: 715-384-5380; fax 715-387-8717; www. central-mfg.com â&#x2013; WOW LOGISTICS Address: 1700 S. Laemle Ave. Owner/Manager: Tom Oswald Service: Distribution/warehousing Employees: Six Contact: 800-361-9982; fax 715-387-3118; www. wowlogistics.com â&#x2013; GUARDIAN BUILDING PRODUCTS Address: 1601 S. Laemle Ave. Owner/Manager: Paula Brey Service: Laminator and distributor of metal building

insulation Employees: Nine full time, two part time Contact: 715-387-1281; fax 715-387-1284; www. silvercote.com â&#x2013; STAAB CONSTRUCTION CORP. Address: 1800 Laemle Ave. Owner/Manager: Aaron Staab Service: General contractors specializing in wastewater & water treatment systems & water control structures Employees: 77 Contact: 715-387-8429; fax 715-384-4846; www. staabco.com â&#x2013; M&R AMUSEMENTS AND VENDING Address: 1807 Laemle Ave. Owner/Manager: Rick Kitchner and Joe Stolarczyk Service: Vending machine operators Employees: 12 full time Contact: 715-387-4954; fax 715-387-8850 â&#x2013; INNOVATIVE MACHINE SPECIALISTS INC. Address: 1907 Laemle Ave. Owner/Manager: Andy Martin Service: Complete machine shop specializing in stainless steel and plastic repair parts for food grade applications Employees: 46 full time, one part time Contact: 715-389-1511; fax 715-384-2811; www. innmacspe.com â&#x2013; DAKOTA ELECTRIC Address: 2801 E. 21st St. Owner/Manager: Randy Peterson Service: Electrical contractors Employees: 30 full time, three part time Contact: 715-384-8300; fax 715-384-8331 â&#x2013; G&D WOOD PRODUCTS INC. Address: 2401 E. 21st St. Owner/Manager: Glen Carolfi Service: Manufacturer, hardwood moldings and wood louvers Employees: Five Contact: 715-389-1567; fax 715-389-2689; www. gdwoodproducts.com

â&#x2013; FRONTIER FS COOPERATIVE Address: 2501 E. 21st St. Owner/Manager: Clint Nieman Service: Retail feed, seed, fertilizer, agri-chemicals, custom services, nutrient management, GPS, soil sampling, ag liming, petroleum, home heating fuel, LP gas, farm supplies Employees: Seven Contact: 715-387-1211; fax 715-387-0201; www.frontier fscoop.com â&#x2013; McMILLAN ELECTRIC Address: 2106 S. Hume Ave. Owner/Manager: John Nikolai Service: Electrical contractor; industrial, commercial, residential, voice communications, computer networking Employees: 20 Contact: 715-384-4131; fax 715-384-8160 â&#x2013; PRIORITY BUSINESS SYSTEMS LLC Address: 2108 S. Hume Ave. Owner/Manager: Chuck Hagman Service: Network consultants Employees: Five Contact: 715-384-0069; www.prioritybiz.net â&#x2013; AMERIGAS Address: 2204 S. Hume Ave. Owner/Manager: Mikel Saunby Service: Propane service for residential, commercial and motor fuel. Employees: Two Contact: 715-435-4400; fax 715-435-4401 â&#x2013; MARSHFIELD GLASS LLC Address: 2300 S. Hume Ave. Owner/Manager: Darrell Cordes Service: Residential and commercial glass and structural racking installation Employees: 17 full time, three part time Contact: 715-384-4022; fax 715-384-5811 â&#x2013; OPPORTUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTERS INC. Address: 2406 E. 21st St. President: Pam Ross Service: Nonprofit vocational

service agency for adults with disabilities or other barriers to employment; wood processing, contract assembly, packaging, electronics recycling and mailing services Employees: 70 full time, 30 part time Contact: 715-387-1161; fax 715-389-1443; www.odcinc. com â&#x2013; MARSHFIELD SCRAP CO. Address: 2304 S. Galvin Ave. Owner/Manager: Christopher Burt Service: Scrap metal hauling and recycling Employees: Six Contact: 715-389-1915; www.marshfieldscrap.com â&#x2013; HUGHES TRANSPORTATION INC. Address: 2402 S. Galvin Ave. Owner/Manager: Dan Hughes Service: Common carrier and Hughes Warehouse support Employees: 25 Contact: 715-389-8787 â&#x2013; HUGHES WAREHOUSE INC. Address: 2402 S. Galvin Ave. Owner/Manager: Dan Hughes Service: Serves housing industry throughout North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin Employees: 25 Contact: 715-389-8787 â&#x2013; H&S MANUFACTURING CO. INC. Address: 2608 S. Hume Ave. Owner/Manager: Chris Heikenen Service: Manufacturer of farm equipment, including forage boxes, manure spreaders and bale throw racks, wheel rakes, farm wagons and trailers Employees: 126 full time, nine part time Contact: 715-387-3414; fax 715-384-5463; www. hsmfgco.com â&#x2013; MONROE TRUCK EQUIPMENT INC. Address: 1601 E. 29th St. Service: Parts and trucking equipment sales

Owner/Manager: John Barkby Employees: 13 full time, four part time Contact: 715-387-8445; www.monroetruck.com â&#x2013; FABRAL METAL WALL AND ROOF SYSTEMS Address: 1820 E. 26th St. Owner/Manager: Jim Fern Service: Metal roofing and siding for the post frame industry Employees: 12 Contact: 715-389-1328; fax 715-387-2424; www.fabral. com â&#x2013; FIGIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INC. DISTRIBUTION Address: 2525 S. Central Ave. Owner/Manager: Jim Krueger Service: Catalog gifts, including cheese, chocolate and sausage Employees: 250 full time, 250 part time, about 3,000 seasonal Contact: 715-384-1303; fax 715-384-1523; www.figis. com â&#x2013; CUSTOM FABRICATING AND REPAIR Address: 1932 E. 26th St. Owner/Manager: Steve Isenberg Service: Stainless steel fabricators Contact: 715-387-6598; fax 715-384-3768 â&#x2013; BUFFETS INC. Address: 1915 E. 29th St. Owner/Manager: Mike Miller Service: Cabinetry, millwork, construction, facilities management and design Employees: 45 Contact: 715-384-4418; fax 715-384-5072; www.buffet. com â&#x2013; COUNTER-FORM CORP. LLC Address: 2001 E. 29th St. Service: Kitchen counter tops â&#x20AC;&#x201D; laminate tri-cover. Owner/Manager: Mark Giannunzio Employees: 50 Contact: 715-384-2131; fax 715-387-3941; www. counter-form.com â&#x2013; PROBUILD Address: 2600 S. Galvin Ave. Service: Building material supplier Owner/Manager: Steve Leopold Employees: Seven full time, two part time Contact: 715-387-1744; fax 715-387-3566; www.probuild.com â&#x2013; MARSHFIELD CLINIC PRINTING No information available

WDH, September 23, PAGE

10G

CYANMAGENTA YELLOWBLACK

MADE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Wisconsin pride behind Rudy Rack success BY B.C. KOWALSKI GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

STEVENS POINT — If you’ve been to a bike shop recently, or played a round of disc golf, you’ve probably seen its products and not thought twice about it. Plover-based Rudy Rack, founded by Richard “Rudy” Reudebusch in 1992, makes bike racks for bike shops primarily throughout the United States and Canada, and its racks can be found worldwide in countries such as Spain, Iceland, Norway and Japan. “(Reudebusch) was a pilot, and when he was traveling around, he would look at bike shops because that was something he was interested in,” Rudy Rack president Tracie Hobson said. “He noticed there was a need to have a product to put bikes on display.” Reudebusch started the business in his garage in Plover. Since then, it has grown to fill two buildings, with 12 fulltime employees and one part-timer. The company creates racks for bigname customers such as Wisconsin-based Trek, Giant, Sports Authority and Dunham’s Sports and for local stores such as the Hostel Shoppe. Bike shops account for most of Rudy Rack’s business, though occasionally people who own a lot of bikes want them, too. “They build a good, quality product,” said Rolf

DOUG WOJCIK/GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

Trevor Dickey, left, and Matt Claflin make components for bike racks being built at Rudy Rack, 1400 Contractors Blvd., Plover. Garthus, owner of Ploverbased Hostel Shoppe. “They’re close by and easy to work with. There’s some unique needs for recumbent bikes, trikes and so forth. They’ve been great to work with.” Hobson said there are only two other rack manufacturers in the country and that Rudy Rack’s product stands apart

because of its quality — and because it’s made and backed up by people in central Wisconsin. “One of the things people don’t know is a lot of our customers think our company is very large,” Dobson said. A small, dedicated staff of people who work from their cell phones in their off hours makes the company seem

larger than it is, she said. “We like being the size we are. We’re more customerdriven and able to do what we need to fit their needs in a short time frame.” That Wisconsin pride extends to the companies with which Rudy Rack does business. The company works with H and K Tools in Stevens Point, Wausau Steel,

CWS Powder Coatings of Wausau and O and A Manufacturing of Verona, which makes some of the smaller parts of the racks. “We try to keep things as local as possible,” Hobson said. Since Reudebusch’s death five years ago, the company has been owned by five people: Hobson, Don Rasmussen,

Kelli Rasmussen, Jeff Rasmussen and Staci Galloway. Hobson said the company hopes to continue to grow into a larger building and do more of its manufacturing in-house, creating more jobs in Stevens Point. It also hopes to continue its newest division, Disc King, which manufactures disc golf baskets.

Matt Miller adds rack pieces to the inventory for use in making bike racks. Below left: Tracie Hobson, left, and Staci Galloway are president and vice president of Rudy Rack.

ABOUT RUDY RACK Address: 1400 and 1410 Contractors Blvd., Plover Founded: 1992 President: Tracie Hobson Number of employees: 12 full time, one part time. Product: In-store bicycle display fixtures to showcase the bikes How and where products are used: Rudy Rack’s products are used in bike shops throughout the U.S. and Canada, and can be found in stores in Spain, Iceland, Norway and Japan. Business customers: Hostel Shoppe in Stevens Point, Trek Shops in Wausau, Sprocketz in Weston. Racks are shipped in the U.S. and all over the world. Contact Information: Call 715-344-6442, e-mail tracie@rudyrack.com or visit www.rudyrack.com Disc King, which produces disc golf baskets, is Rudy Rack’s newest division

WDH, September 23, PAGE

CYANMAGENTA YELLOWBLACK

MADE IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

11G

Friends, family in lather over soap company BY DAN RICHTER FOR GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN

WAUSAU — Family businesses are common in central Wisconsin, but what about businesses involving not only family, but also friends and neighbors? That’s the case for Blackberry Creek Soaps, which owners Jim and Nancy Young started in 1995. The Youngs employ seven part-time workers and receive additional help from their five children and various friends, extended family members and neighbors. “We are located in a great neighborhood; we know all our neighbors, and many of them help out the business in some way. We’re so lucky to live here,” said Nancy Young. Along with handmade soaps, the Blackberry Creek line also contains an array of other all-natural products such as balms, lotions, bug sprays, facial creams and potpourri. The products are made out of the Young’s Wausau home and are sold locally at Honeycomb Gifts & Antiques and at the Center for the Visual Arts gift shop. “All of our products are all-natural, meaning we make them from scratch,”

said Young, “They’re great gift items and great alternatives to products on the market that contain a lot of harsh chemicals.” Blackberry Creek products also are sold at approximately 20 other shops around the nation in states as far away as Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well as online, which Young said drastically changed the business. “Sometimes we’re in awe and just can’t believe how the business has taken off,” said Young. “Because of the reach we have with the Internet, it’s overwhelming to think about where the products go.” Through their website, the Youngs have sent orders all over the world — most commonly to Canada, but also to countries as far off as Australia and the Czech Republic. Being based in Wausau has been essential to the business not only because of the support system of friends and relatives, but also because of the hard-working reputation Wisconsinites have, Young said. “This truly is a neighborhood business and that shows through in the final product,” Young said. “I think a lot of people associate Wisconsin with PHOTOS BY COREY SCHJOTH/GANNETT CENTRAL WISCONSIN a strong work ethic and I Nancy Young, owner of Blackberry Creek Soaps in Wausau, makes a new batch of soap in the kitchen of her home. couldn’t agree more.”

ABOUT BLACKBERRY CREEK SOAPS

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Address: 2206 Elmwood Blvd., Wausau Founded: 1995 Owners and operators: Jim and Nancy Young Number of employees: Seven, with additional help from friends and family Products: Makes a variety of all-natural, handmade personal products including soap, balms, creams and potpourri. How and where products are used: Bought by consumers across the United States and the world as gifts, or for personal use. Contact information: Call 888-205-3317, e-mail customer service@handmadenatural-soap.net, or visit www.handmadenatural-soap.net.

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Open Tours October 2

2010 WISCONSIN SOLAR TOUR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2 Visit homes and businesses with: • Solar water heating • Green building • Energy efﬁciency

Homes & businesses around Wisconsin are opening their doors! Come learn about renewable energy, green building techniques and sustainable living ideas. Bus tours in Green Bay & Milwaukee. Go to www.the-mrea.org for details.

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Complete listings, driving directions, and guided bus tour tickets at www.the-mrea.org or 715-592-6595.

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WDH, September 23, PAGE

CYANMAGENTA YELLOWBLACK

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