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A Publication of the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce WWW.EASTTROY.ORG
MARCH 2016
VOLUME 27, EDITION 1
Best bets: East Troy’s spring calendar
‘I fly to work’ Semi-supercommuters Dan Silvers (right) and Austin Matsick, both developers for Milker IO in East Troy, arrive at East Troy Airport from Madison ready to start their work day. Silvers regularly flies his plane to East Troy for his job. BEN KEATING Good Neighbors
MARCH
This is the first in a series of stories highlighting East Troy Municipal Airport. By Vanessa Lenz ET CHAMBER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
o some, developer Dan Silvers’ schedule may sound like something from a movie. On a typical commuting day, Silvers wakes up in Madison and kisses his family goodbye before leaving the house and climbing into his four-seater airplane at 7 a.m. in order to fly to his office in East Troy by 8 a.m. At the end of the day, he packs up his laptop and leaves the office by
5 p.m. to head to the airport and get home via the sky by 6 p.m. For Silvers, flying his plane back and forth to his job is all in a day’s work and he’s already mastered the commute by air in the six months he’s had to get it down. Silvers, 30, and his wife Heidi live in Madison with their baby girl. Weather permitting, he flies to his job as developer for Milker IO, located above 2894 on Main on the East Troy Village Square, at least once a week. He works remotely from Madison for the rest of his week, cutting down
his commute times and giving him a better work-life balance. Silvers said the job at Milker IO was a perfect fit for his career at the time, so he had no problem jumping at the opportunity. Commuting by air became a reality once he learned how close his job site was to the East Troy Municipal Airport. Silvers has spent the last decade starting and helping various tech companies, getting his working-remote gig down to a science. He started his • See AIRPORT on page 5
Maple Fest at the Elegant Farmer The Elegant Farmer, 1545 Main St., Mukwonago, will host Maple Fest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, March 5 and 12. Taste and see how maple syrup is made from sap with demonstrations by the Covenant Harbor Nature staff. The Elegant Farmer will feature special pricing on all maple products throughout the month of March. For more information, visit www. elegantfarmer.com. Band O’Rama and Art Show The East Troy Community School District will host its annual Band O’Rama and Art Show at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 6 at East Troy High School, 3128 Graydon Ave. For more information, call (262) 642-6760.
• See CALENDAR on page 6
Wisconsin Oven’s memorable milestones A look at the past decade of success and innovation
Wisconsin Oven Corporation, one of East Troy’s most respected and largest businesses, has been manufacturing high quality industrial heat-treating equipment for over 40 years. Supporting the East Troy area community through giving has been a cornerstone of Wisconsin Oven’s business since the company was founded by Hank Kubicki in 1973.
2003
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2005
Employee buyout Dave Strand after becomes founder majority Hank owner Kubicki President & passed CEO of the away company and its 85 employees
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Revenue doubles and major $1 million expansion to Standard Plant. Wisconsin Oven Corporation now has 150 employees
Wisconsin Oven Corporation, the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce’s longest standing member of 43 years, has been a Chairman Level Corporate sponsor at $2,500 a year since the program’s inception eight years ago. Through the years, Wisconsin Oven continues a commitment to its customers, employees and the community.
2008 • 2009 The great recession hits, nearly 100 employees are laid off
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Major rebound in business, company is back to 140 employees
With record revenue, Wisconsin Oven needs expansion. Company sold to French firm, PLC Group, to raise capital and payoff old shareholder debt
Each year, the company gives over $30,000 back to the community, including a $5,000 scholarship for a graduating East Troy High School senior, which is matched by David and Andrea Strand to make it a $10,000 scholarship each year. Wisconsin Oven also offers its employees incentives to contribute to United Way of Walworth County via weekly payroll
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New 30,000-squarefoot expansion to Main Street facility
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deductions. Since 2012, employees have donated over $72,000 to the cause. In the past 10 years, Wisconsin Oven has made critical moves to become a leader in the industry, developing new technology, partnering with the nation’s top brands and spreading its team around the country. Here’s a glimpse of how it all happened.
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French owners sell Wisconsin Oven to Thermal Product Solutions after another record year
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Jeff Kent named Director of Sales & Applications for TPS oven products and is relocated to White Deer, Pa. facility
New owner Philippe Strand named President and CEO of Thermal Product Solutions- 500 Blandinieres from employees with facilities in Pa., Mich., France names Wisconsin Oven refurbs Calif. and Wis. building after David existing building for Strand for his 29 production and moves years of dedication Steve Kempowski, V.P. of Operations, production of the Blue named Director of Furnace and success in M product line from growing the company equipment, manages Pa. to Wisconsin to Lindberg Facility in create extra capacity Riverside, Mich. for growth in Pa. Hires 6 new employees and Strand releases book will continue to hire and “Building a Championship add shifts as business Culture showcasing expands Wisconsin Oven