Login
Subscribe
Login
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 22

Ugo Nwagbaraocha

BizTimes Staff
-
0
Ugo Nwagbaraocha

President
Diamond Discs International | Milwaukee

Ugo Nwagbaraocha is president of Diamond Discs International, a Milwaukee-based supplier of construction tools, specializing in diamond-edged cutting blades, core bits and small power tool items. Diamond Discs is the largest, fully certified minority-owned wholesaler of construction tools in the Milwaukee area. Nwagbaraocha has served as president of the National Association of Minority Contractors’ Wisconsin chapter since 2019 and was elected in 2024 as vice president of the national board of directors for the NAMC. He has been an advocate for contractors of color, lobbying for the state to take a more active role in helping minority-owned firms compete for federally funded projects. In 2020, he was awarded the Small Business Administration’s Minority Small Business Champion Award.

He serves on the boards of Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, including as an officer since 2023, and of Children’s Wisconsin. In addition, he is a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, a board member of the Green Bay Packers’ Mentor Protege Program, a board member of the Better Business Bureau and a steering council member for Scale Up Milwaukee.

Under Nwagbaraocha’s leadership, Diamond Discs moved its corporate headquarters from West Allis to Milwaukee’s northwest side in 2018. He was previously director of sales before becoming president of Diamond Discs in 2007.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Real Estate and Development | Construction
President
Diamond Discs International | Milwaukee

Ugo Nwagbaraocha, president of Milwaukee-based construction tools wholesaler Diamond Discs International, has emerged as a leading advocate for contractors of color statewide, lobbying for the state to take a more active role in helping minority-owned firms better compete for federally funded projects. Nwagbaraocha has served as president of the National Association of Minority Contractors’ Wisconsin chapter since 2019, and this year he was elected to serve on the national board of directors for the NAMC. He has served on the board of directors for Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce since 2013, is chairman of MMAC’s Business Council, and is on Children’s Wisconsin’s board of directors.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

First job and what did you learn from it: “Summerfest security guard. Treat people with respect, and let your actions demand respect. And good music is good music!”

Career advice: “My dad’s advice to me, ‘Make your point, but don’t burn the bridge. You never know when you might want to go back over that bridge.’ I am very thankful that I have helped build many formidable bridges in my career, literally and figuratively.”

Book recommendation: “‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. True lesson in leadership and humility.”

What would make Wisconsin better: “More successful African American-owned businesses expanding and investing in the local communities.”

Tim Michels

BizTimes Staff
-
0
Tim Michels

Co-owner
Michels Corp. | Brownsville

Tim Michels is a co-owner of Michels Corp., a Brownsville-based energy and infrastructure construction firm. It is the largest construction company in Wisconsin, reporting $4.4 billion in revenue and employing more than 8,000 people. Established as a regional gas distribution company in 1959, the company has grown under the leadership of Tim Michels and his brothers to serve new markets, including energy, marine infrastructure, transportation, heavy civil and water and wastewater. Tim Michels has been heavily involved with the development of R1VER, a multi-use campus along the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee’s Harbor District that includes an eight-story office building, apartments, restaurant and cafe. Michels ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for governor of Wisconsin in 2022.

Education: Bachelor’s, St. Norbert College; MBA, University of Chicago

Highlights from the past 12 months: “Michels Corporation has taken our highly specialized energy infrastructure services overseas to Europe and Australia.”

First and most recent concert: “My first concert was the Marshall Tucker Band at Summerfest in the late 1970s. My wife, Barbara, and I saw Mt. Joy last month.”

Definition of success: “Barbara and I always taught our children to pursue the three Hs: Heaven, health and happiness.”

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Real Estate and Development | Construction
Co-owner
Michels Corp. | Brownsville

Tim Michels is co-owner of Michels Corp., the largest construction company in Wisconsin. The Brownsville-based heavy civil infrastructure construction firm has more than 8,000 employees and ranked No. 27 this year on Engineering News-Record’s list of the top 400 contractors nationally.

Over the years, the company has branched out and now does about 65% of its business on energy infrastructure projects (pipelines, transmission lines, electric substations, renewable energy projects), about 20% on transportation infrastructure (roads, bridges and tunnels) and additional business in communications infrastructure (including fiber optic lines).

The company is developing a $100 million campus in Milwaukee along the Kinnickinnic River in the city’s Harbor District. The campus includes an 8-story office building, with the upper floors occupied by Michels Corp.’s Milwaukee office, apartments and a restaurant. Future plans for the campus include a hotel and more office space.

Michels worked as vice president of the company before launching his bid for Wisconsin governor. Michels was defeated by incumbent Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in November’s 2022 elections.

Earlier this year, the Michels family and Michels Family Foundation donated $15 million to establish a rare cancers research lab at the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center. Tim Michels’ daughter, Sophie, was diagnosed at a young age with a rare brain cancer; today, she is in college and a cancer survivor.

Education: Bachelor’s, St. Norbert College; MBA, University of Chicago

Steve Lindley

BizTimes Staff
-
0
Steve Lindley

President
Hooper | DeForest

Steve Lindley is president of Hooper Corp., where he oversees external affairs and strategy for the DeForest-based electric power and mechanical contractor. Hooper employs about 1,300 office staff and tradespeople across its Madison-area headquarters and regional offices in Colorado, Florida and Ohio. Under Lindley’s leadership, in 2021, the firm opened a new corporate headquarters and fabrication facility on 50 acres in DeForest. That same year, Hooper merged with wholly owned subsidiary General Heating & Air Conditioning to become a unified company and brand.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Idaho – Moscow; CPA certification

If you could time travel: “It would be interesting to be in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, for the initial signing of the U.S. Constitution.”

What would you like to change about Wisconsin: “Place a higher priority on the state funding and support of education from K-12 through post-secondary. Strong support of education is so critical not only for our families, but also to support our business community.”

First and most recent concert: “First was the Doobie Brothers. The last was Dave Matthews.”

Advice for first-time leaders: “Develop the ability to listen to people attentively and sincerely to understand their perspective.”

John Hunzinger

BizTimes Staff
-
0
John Hunzinger

President and CEO
Hunzinger Construction Co. | Brookfield

John Hunzinger leads Hunzinger Construction Co., one of the region’s largest construction companies by revenue. The Brookfield-based firm has worked on high-profile projects including the Milwaukee Repertory Theater renovation, the new construction of Komatsu South Harbor Campus, Bayshore’s redevelopment, the renovation of American Family Amphitheater on the Summerfest grounds, the demolition of the Bradley Center and creation of the Deer District. Hunzinger supports several nonprofit arts groups, including the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Youth Art Center and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and is a longtime supporter of Make-A-Wish Wisconsin.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Colorado

Favorite Wisconsin destination: “Grouse hunting and fishing in Mercer.”

Traits you seek for new hires: “Intelligence, persistence, curiosity, sincerity and humility.”

Favorite movie: “‘True Grit,’ the John Wayne classic western.”

Your sport if you could be an Olympian: “Tennis.”

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Real Estate and Development | Construction
President and CEO
Hunzinger Construction Co. | Brookfield

John Hunzinger has been at the helm of Brookfield-based Hunzinger Construction Co. for the past 30 of his 40 years working for the company. One of the Milwaukee region’s largest construction companies by revenue, Hunzinger Construction has worked on many high-profile projects, including Bayshore’s redevelopment; recent renovations at the Summerfest grounds, including the American Family Insurance Amphitheater; the creation of the Deer District and demolition of the Bradley Center.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Colorado

First car: “A 1963 GMC Servomation Vending Company van. It was a $400 purchase by my brother and me. It served us well until a poor deer jumped in its path.”

Hobby/passion: “I enjoy hunting and fishing with family and friends and training our yellow Labrador retriever, Judge, to be the best hunter in the family.”

Biggest recent success: “The successful construction and delivery of the Komatsu Mining North American headquarters office and manufacturing campus in Milwaukee’s Harbor District on time, on budget. (It) exceeded all City of Milwaukee SBE and RPP goals and achieved LEED Gold Certification. The project sits on a 57-acre brownfield redevelopment site and includes a new 180,000-square-foot office and experience center, new 430,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and a 650-car parking structure.”

Nonprofit cause that has special meaning to you: “Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, The Milwaukee Rep.”

Randy Homel

BizTimes Staff
-
0
Randy Homel

CEO and chairman
The Foth Companies | De Pere

Randy Homel has worked his way up over 45 years at The Foth Companies, from joining as a mechanical engineering intern in 1979 to being named CEO and chairman of the board in 2013. As leader of the engineering firm, Homel is credited with driving more than 60% growth while maintaining a member retention rate of more than 92%. Headquartered in De Pere, Foth has 650 employees across 29 locations. Homel serves on the Mechanical Engineering Industry Advisory Board at UW-Madison, his alma mater.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison

The future of your industry: “The future of our industry is very strong for three reasons. First, the need for engineers and scientists continues to increase. Second, the United States is experiencing a persistent shortage of these professionals, a pattern that is expected to continue. Third, a growing number of our clients are streamlining their in-house engineering teams, opting instead to collaborate with reliable external partners who offer greater capacity and broader experience.“

Favorite Wisconsin destination: “Elkhart Lake – for the area and the racing at Road America.”

Favorite part of the workday: “My favorite time of the workday is late afternoon or evening, which is when I am most efficient. I guess I have always been a night owl.”

Your secret talent: “This is not a secret to people around me, but a secret to my success is relationship building. In fact, that is one of the secrets to Foth’s success: We are very much a people and solutions business, rather than a sales-oriented business.”

Diane Hendricks

BizTimes Staff
-
0
Diane Hendricks

Chairman, owner and co-founder, ABC Supply
Owner, Hendricks Holding Co.  |  Beloit

Diane Hendricks is the co-founder and chairman of Beloit-based ABC Supply, the country’s largest wholesale distributor of roofing, windows, siding and gutter materials. ABC Supply reported $20.4 billion in 2023 revenue, employs more than 20,000 people and has over 970 locations across the U.S. and Canada. In 2023, the company ranked No. 21 among America’s largest private companies.

Hendricks founded ABC Supply with her late husband, Ken, in 1982, and she has served as chair since his death in 2007. She is responsible for its two biggest acquisitions, Bradco in 2010 and L&W Supply in 2016.

Hendricks is No. 1 on Forbes’ list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women and No. 38 on its list of America’s richest people, with a reported net worth of $21.9 billion. A 2022 Forbes article called Hendricks the “most successful female entrepreneur in American history.”

Outside of ABC Supply, Hendricks manages and develops real estate. She has transformed Beloit through her philanthropic and real estate investment. She developed the Phoenix building, a mixed-use commercial and apartment building, and the Ironworks Hotel; helped found the Beloit International Film Festival; opened a career center for middle and high schoolers; created a startup hub in a former industrial foundry; and funded a performing arts center in a former library building, among other projects. She has also invested heavily in Delafield and, through Hendricks Commercial Properties, recently completed a $25 million mixed-use development in its downtown.

Hendricks is a major contributor to the campaigns of Republican politicians, including former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and President-Elect Donald Trump.

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Real Estate and Development | Construction
Chairman, owner and co-founder
ABC Supply
Owner,
Hendricks Holding Co. | Beloit

Diane Hendricks co-founded ABC Supply with her late husband, Ken, in 1982. Hendricks has led the Beloit-based construction materials company since Ken’s death in 2007 and is responsible for steering ABC through its two biggest acquisitions (Bradco and L&W Supply). Today, it is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing, windows, siding and gutter materials, reporting $15 billion in revenues last year and employing 15,000. It’s also the second largest privately held company in the state, trailing only Northwestern Mutual, according to Deloitte. For five consecutive years, Hendricks has topped Forbes’ list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women, with a reported net worth of $12.2 billion.

She is also a real estate manager and developer; that work is funneled through Hendricks Holding Co. She invested multiple millions of dollars to buy and fix up properties in downtown Beloit, redeveloping entire blocks of the city. Hendricks Commercial Properties has also invested heavily in Delafield; it owns about 20 properties and is currently building a $25 million mass timber office development in its downtown.

Hendricks is a major contributor to the campaigns of Republican politicians in the state, serving as former Gov. Scott Walker’s biggest donor the year he faced a recall. She also reportedly gave over $5 million in 2016 to a super PAC that opposed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and supported Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson.

Tom Boldt

BizTimes Staff
-
0
Tom Boldt

Chairman of the Board
The Boldt Co. | Appleton

Tom Boldt recently became chairman of the board of The Boldt Co. after serving as CEO of the Appleton-based construction firm since 1998. The company operates 18 offices across the U.S. and serves the health care, power, industrial, education, automotive and commercial markets. Tom Boldt represents the fourth generation of family leadership at the firm. He serves on the board of The Nature Conservancy – Wisconsin Chapter, Ascendium Education Group, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, WMC Foundation, among other civic organizations.

Education: Bachelor’s, St. Olaf College

Highlights from the past 12 months: “On a project level, our most significant success this past year was the completion of a substantial industrial project for a major paper and tissue manufacturing company. We exceeded all project benchmarks, including safety, time, cost and quality.”

Advice for first-time leaders: “Leadership can be lonely, so don’t be afraid to seek the advice of others – peers and employees alike – before making decisions. Within that, encourage others to be candid with you and not to simply say what they think you want to hear.”

Favorite Wisconsin destination: “There are many places we’ve gotten to know and love in Wisconsin, but if I must choose one, it would be northern Door County.”

Playlist for commute/run: “I’ve gotten into podcasts, including a French daily news broadcast, three World War I podcasts and several golf podcasts.”

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Real Estate and Development | Construction
CEO
The Boldt Co. | Appleton

Tom Boldt has been CEO of The Boldt Co. since 1998, representing the fourth generation of family leadership at the Appleton-based firm. The Boldt Co. is one of the largest in the state and has 17 offices nationwide. Among its prominent recent projects, Boldt provided construction management on the Craig Yabuki Tower on Children’s Wisconsin’s Wauwatosa hospital campus, Advocate Aurora’s new health center in Pleasant Prairie, and Ascendium Education Group’s new corporate headquarters in Madison. Last year, The Boldt Co. launched a peer suicide prevention program to combat high suicide rates among construction workers. Credited as an early supporter of green construction in the state, Boldt serves on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative, among other organizations.

Education: Bachelor’s, St. Olaf College

First job: “Picking strawberries. I was terrible at it. I learned I didn’t want to pick strawberries.”

Biggest recent success: “Completing the ESOP transition.”

What has you most excited for the future: “Working with committed, smart people to continue to grow the business.”

Career advice: “The encouragement from my dad to be myself and listen and learn.”

Kurt Bechthold

BizTimes Staff
-
0
Kurt Bechthold

Chairman and CEO
Walbec Group  |  Pewaukee

Kurt Bechthold is chairman and chief executive officer of the Walbec Group, a family of six construction companies with 2,000 employees and a footprint across the Midwest. Bechthold represents the third generation of family leadership for the Pewaukee-based company. Bechthold serves on the boards of Froedtert ThedaCare Health, Sunrock Group, Siebert Lutheran Foundation, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Lake Express and the National Asphalt Pavement Association. He is also a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison; MBA, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management

The future of your industry: “The infrastructure and transportation industry will keep evolving alongside technological advancements. If self-driving cars become more prevalent, we’ll see a significant shift in road designs to accommodate and optimize this new reality.”

Favorite part of the workday: “Collaborating with team members across our family of companies to explore new ideas and continuously enhance the way we serve our customers.”

Buzzword you never want to hear again: “Deck, as in the slideshow deck. I remember when a physical set of slides used to be in the projector’s carousel.”

Favorite movie: “I’m a fan of comedies, as we all need a good laugh. My favorites include ‘Fletch,’ ‘Happy Gilmore’ and ‘Caddyshack.’”

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Real Estate and Development | Construction
Chairman and CEO
Walbec Group | Pewaukee

Kurt Bechthold leads Walbec Group, representing the third generation of family leadership for the Pewaukee-based company. Founded by his grandfather, Walter Bechthold, and later led by his father, Ned Bechthold, Walbec today includes construction firms Payne and Dolan, Northeast Asphalt, Zenith Tech, Parisi, Premier Concrete and Construction Resources Management. The group has about 1,500 employees across the Midwest.

The company frequently works on projects for the federal, state and municipal governments, such as the East-West Bus Rapid Transit project in Milwaukee County and the city of Beloit’s 450-foot pedestrian bridge over the Rock River. Its commercial projects have included work for the  developer of the 7Seventy7 apartment tower in downtown Milwaukee, Erin Hills golf course and a go-kart track project at Road America.

Earlier this year, Walbec acquired Verona-based public works and transportation infrastructure contractor Parisi Construction for an undisclosed amount. Last year, the growing company expanded its headquarters campus by acquiring a neighboring building previously occupied by AT&T.

Bechthold has served on the boards of Froedtert Health, Siebert Lutheran Foundation, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Lake Express, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, and the National Asphalt Pavement Association. He is also a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison; MBA, Northwestern University

Tripp Ahern

BizTimes Staff
-
0
Tripp Ahern

Chairman and CEO
J. F. Ahern Co. | Fond du Lac

Tripp Ahern represents the fifth generation of family leadership of J. F. Ahern Co., a mechanical and fire protection contractor with operations across Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. Ahern has led the Fond du Lac-based firm through a period of significant growth, including reaching a record-high 1,800 employees. Tripp has been active in industry associations, including the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, the Mechanical Contractors Association of Wisconsin and the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin. He previously served on the board of directors of the Wisconsin chapter of the Associated General Contractors and as president of AGC’s Subcontractor Division Board of Directors. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Fond du Lac Area Foundation and Fond du Lac Rotary.

Education: Bachelor’s, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Definition of success: “Applying your abilities to make a difference for your family, company and community.”

Historical figure you look up to: “My great, great grandfather. He immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland with nothing, learned a trade and started a business.”

First and most recent concert: “1978: AC/DC and Cheap Trick. 2024: The Struts.”

Traits you seek for new hires: “Intelligence, character, ambition and work ethic.”

Alan Ogilvie

BizTimes Staff
-
0
Alan Ogilvie

President and CEO
Church Mutual  |  Merrill

Alan Ogilvie became president of Merrill-based Church Mutual Insurance Co. in January 2023 and assumed the role of CEO in January of this year. An “entrepreneur at heart,” he founded Church Mutual subsidiary CM Vantage Specialty Insurance Co. with colleagues in 2016. He was promoted to president of Church Mutual subsidiaries in February 2020 with responsibility for CM Vantage, CM Regent, CM Select and Wausau MedMal Management Services. He was promoted to executive vice president and president – subsidiaries in 2021. Recognized as the largest insurer of religious organizations in the country, Church Mutual has 1,150 employees.

Education: Bachelor’s and J.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison

The future of your industry: “The property and casualty insurance industry is going through a very challenging period with the rise in catastrophic weather events, social inflation and inflation in general, all of which significantly impact the cost of claims and the industry’s overall cost of doing business.”

Favorite Wisconsin destination: “Camp Randall on a crisp fall day with the Wisconsin Badgers playing any Big Ten opponent.”

Playlist for commute/run: “My ring tone is Led Zeppelin, which gives you a hint at my fondness for classic rock. But I also love Neil Diamond, Pearl Jam and U2. So, let’s just say my musical taste is eclectic.”

Buzzword you never want to hear again: “‘Synergy,’ ‘right-sized,’ ‘iterate’ and ‘think outside the box’ can all go away.”

Scott Zietlow

BizTimes Staff
-
0
Scott Zietlow

President and CEO
Kwik Trip Inc. | La Crosse

Former Mayo Clinic trauma surgeon and professor Scott Zietlow became president and chief executive officer of Kwik Trip in early 2023, ushering in the second generation of family ownership and leadership at the La Crosse-based convenience store chain. Zietlow succeeded his father, Don Zietlow, who retired after 52 years with the company. Scott Zietlow had worked at the Rochester, Minnesota-based health system since the early 1990s, serving as a professor of surgery in the Trauma, Critical Care and General Surgery Division. Zietlow is also the chair of Kwik Trip’s board of directors.

Kwik Trip has more than 860 stores across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and South Dakota, including more than 500 in Wisconsin. It employs more than 36,000 people and is the nation’s 11th largest convenience store chain, according to CSP Daily News.

In late 2023, the company said it would invest more than $151 million to expand its operations in Wisconsin, creating more than 500 jobs by 2027. The plans called for an expansion of its dairy, commissary and bakery facilities in La Crosse, the purchase and renovation of an office building in Onalaska and construction of a new satellite distribution center.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse; M.D., UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Todd Wanek

BizTimes Staff
-
0
Todd Wanek

President and CEO
Ashley Furniture | Arcadia

Todd Wanek is president and chief executive officer of Ashley Furniture, the world’s largest manufacturer of home furnishings. The Arcadia-based company has more than 35,000 employees across the globe, with more than 30 million square feet of manufacturing and distribution space. Its retail footprint includes more than 1,100 Ashley HomeStores in 67 countries, and it sells furniture in 20,000 storefronts across 155 countries. The company had about $12.3 billion in revenue in 2023, according to Forbes.

In recent years, the company has expanded its manufacturing capacity by opening a new upholstery furniture production site in a 127,000-square-foot facility in Chippewa Falls.

Earlier in his career with Ashley, Wanek was general manager of Ashley Furniture Industries Taiwan, working in Asia from 1989 to 1993. He returned to the U.S. in the mid-‘90s and was promoted to chief operations officer in 1996, assuming responsibility of Ashley’s worldwide operations. He’s been president and CEO since 2002.

The company was founded by Wanek’s father, current chairman Ronald Wanek.

Todd Wanek’s net worth is estimated at $3.7 billion, placing him among Forbes’ list of the 359 wealthiest Americans in 2024. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, according to Forbes.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Stout

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Other Leading Industries | Retail
President and CEO
Ashley Furniture   |  Arcadia

Todd Wanek has led Ashley Furniture Industries, the largest home furniture manufacturer and retailer in the U.S., for the past 20 years. The Arcadia-based company was founded by Wanek’s father, current chairman Ronald Wanek.

Wanek got his start in the family business as general manager of Ashley Furniture Industries Taiwan, working in Asia from 1989 to 1993. He returned to the U.S. in the mid- ‘90s and was promoted to chief operations officer in 1996, assuming responsibility of Ashley’s worldwide operations.

Today, Ashley has over 30 million square feet of manufacturing and distribution facilities across California, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. Its retail footprint includes more than 1,000 Ashley HomeStores and it sells furniture in 20,000 stores across 155 countries. It has more than 35,000 employees worldwide, including 17,000 in the U.S. The company also owns the industry’s largest transportation fleet, which includes 1,225 tractors and 4,000 trailers. Locally, the company opened a new unholstered furniture manufacturing plant last year in Chippewa Falls, which was expected to create about 200 jobs. The company has about $6.6 billion in annual revenue, according to Forbes.

Wanek and his wife, Karen Wanek (president of Superior Fresh), have donated large gifts to City of Hope in Duarte, California, for its Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute; High Point University, where their son attended college; and political candidates including former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

Todd Wanek’s net worth is estimated at $2.8 billion, placing him among Forbes’ list of the 400 wealthiest Americans in 2022.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Stout

1...212223...5,910Page 22 of 5,910

Up-to-the-minute business news, thoughtful analysis and valuable strategic insights for Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin business leaders.

Copyright © 2025 BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News. All Rights Reserved.

Stay up-to-date with our free email newsletter

Keep up with the issues, companies and people that matter most to business in the Milwaukee metro area.

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy.

No, thank you.
BizTimes Milwaukee

Holiday flash sale!

Limited time offer. New subscribers only.

Subscribe to BizTimes Milwaukee and save 40%

Holiday flash sale! Subscribe to BizTimes and save 40%!

Limited time offer. New subscribers only.