President and CEO
Menasha Corp. | Neenah
Chris Drees became president and chief executive officer of Menasha Corp. and was elected a director of the company in 2023. Menasha Corp. is a corrugated and plastic packaging manufacturer that specializes in retail merchandising packaging and displays, plastic reusable containers and pallets, protective packaging interiors and packaging supply chain and fulfillment services.
Headquartered in Neenah, the company has 8,000 employees in 105 facilities in North America and Europe. Previously, Drees was president of Fond du Lac-based Mercury Marine. Drees is board chair of the Wisconsin Manufacturers in Commerce and Keller Builders Inc. He has also served on various other boards in the marine and banking industries.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; MBA, Marquette University
Highlights from the past 12 months: “Menasha Corp. was honored to be awarded the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award, making our 175th anniversary that much more special. It was a great testament to our shareholders and employees for all the years of success.”
Advice for first-time leaders: “Be authentic, keep things simple, don’t be afraid to challenge the experts.”
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Manufacturing
President
Mercury Marine | Fond du Lac
Chris Drees joined Mercury Marine in 1998 and went on to hold various positions with the company before being named president in 2019. The Fond du Lac-based marine engine division of Illinois-based Brunswick Corp. has more than 7,000 employees globally. A 2017 report by the Fond du Lac Economic Development Corp. found Mercury has an annual impact of more than $4 billion on the Fond du Lac economy, with more than 80% of contracted work at its facility awarded to Wisconsin-based companies.
The company’s main consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines, Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages, and Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics.
Prior to becoming president of the company, Drees was president of marine parts and accessories.
Mercury Marine has been awarded three times the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year award in its largest category. It has invested more than $1 billion in expansion and research and development over the past decade.
The company recently opened a new distribution center near Indianapolis for its parts and accessories business. With the transition, it is repurposing and expanding its Fond du Lac plant for manufacturing. The company is adding 100,000 square feet to support production of its propulsion systems.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; MBA, Marquette University
