Manufacturing | Energy & Utilities
President and CEO
U.S. Venture | Appleton
John Schmidt has led Appleton-based U.S. Venture as its president and chief executive officer since 2007. The firm includes a family of brands focused on the distribution of traditional and renewable energy products, lubricants, tires and parts. Previously, Schmidt was president of CMD Corp. from 1991 to 2007, leading its growth from a startup to an established capital equipment manufacturer.
Last year, U.S. Venture bought naming rights to the new seven-story office tower on the west end of the Titletown District in Green Bay, now known as the U.S. Venture Center. This year, Breakthrough, a division of U.S. Venture, relocated its new headquarters to the building’s fourth and fifth floors.
U.S. Venture also recently partnered with gener8tor to launch an investment accelerator program focused on sustainability and mobility in Appleton. Startups and small businesses chosen for the accelerator program will each receive $100,000 investments from the company, through gener8tor’s venture fund.
Schmidt is board chair of Riverview Gardens Inc., an Appleton-based social enterprise that uses urban farming as a vehicle for job training, and is past board chair of COTS Inc., a transitional shelter helping individuals experiencing homelessness in the Fox Cities. He served as a co-chair of YMCA of the Fox Cities’ $9.2 million capital campaign to build two new YMCA facilities.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire