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Todd Kelsey

BizTimes Staff
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Todd Kelsey

President and CEO
Plexus Corp.

Todd Kelsey is president and chief executive officer of Neenah-based Plexus Corp., a provider of electronics engineering, manufacturing and aftermarket services. The company serves customers in industries with complex products and regulatory requirements, including the health care, industrial and aerospace/defense markets. It has more than 20,000 employees. Kelsey joined Plexus in 1994 as a design engineer and went on to hold various leadership roles before becoming president and CEO in 2016. During his tenure as CEO, the company’s revenues have increased from $2.5 billion to $4.2 billion. Kelsey serves on the board of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.

Education: Bachelor’s and master’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison; MBA, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

Thing to learn this year: “I am currently re-taking up the game of golf after a two-decade gap. And, with three new grandbabies this summer, I am also re-learning how to change diapers.”

Playlist for commute/run: “On my commute, when I’m not on a call, I am often listening to business news or sports. I also enjoy a good Peloton workout with upbeat music.”

Traits you seek for new hires: “I always look for authentic people that you want to work with: people that are driven, intelligent, passionate and coachable.”

What would you do if you could choose another career: “While I wouldn’t have a chance from a talent standpoint, I’d trade in my CEO role for a spot on the PGA Champions Tour.”

Erik Iverson

BizTimes Staff
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Erik Iverson

CEO
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation  |  Madison

Erik Iverson leads the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the designated patenting and licensing organization for University of Wisconsin-Madison research. In his role, Iverson oversees the performance of technology transfer operations and WARF’s investment portfolio. WARF has invested directly in more than 50 startups with UW-Madison technology over the past two decades. WARF Ventures, a $110 million venture capital fund created by the foundation, is currently working with more than 30 portfolio companies.

WARF provides an annual base grant to UW-Madison to support research programs. In 2023, it gave a base grant of $67.8 million, and its total support for the university and affiliates amounted to $134.1 million.

Prior to joining WARF, Iverson was president, business and operations, of the Infectious Disease Research Institute, a nonprofit global health organization in Seattle, and served as the first attorney dedicated to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s global health and agricultural programs.

He was also a founder and board member of Afrigen Biologics & Vaccines, a biotech company based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Education: Bachelor’s, Gustavus Adolphus College; J.D., University of North Dakota School of Law; master’s, New York University School of Law

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Emerging Industries | Startups
CEO
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Madison

Erik Iverson provides the vision and overall leadership for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the designated patenting and licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s research. Previously, he held leadership positions with the Infectious Disease Research Institute in Seattle and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Health Program. He also was a founder and board member of Afrigen Biologics & Vaccines, a biotech company based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Education: Bachelor’s, Gustavus Adolphus College; J.D., University of North Dakota School of Law; master of laws in taxation, New York University School of Law

Career advice: “Bad customers drive away good. Whether you’re providing products or services, high-maintenance, difficult customers will consume an inordinate amount of time and energy, which will leave you with less time and energy to support and work with good customers.”

First car: “A red Caprice Classic Chevrolet station wagon, which my mother handed down to me in high school. I drove it for two years, putting a massive number of miles on it as a pizza delivery guy.”

Toughest business challenge you’ve ever faced: “Establishing Afrigen Biologics & Vaccines in South Africa, which was the first vaccine biotechnology startup company on the continent of Africa.”

First job: “I had a paper route for a few years starting when I was 10 years old. I learned to be responsible to get my job done, interact with each customer individually, and that my father would drive me on my route at 5 a.m. Sunday mornings only if it fell below 50.”

Jim Kacmarcik

BizTimes Staff
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Jim Kacmarcik

Chairman and CEO
Kacmarcik Enterprises | Grafton

Jim Kacmarcik leads Kacmarcik Enterprises, a Grafton-based holding company with nearly 700 employees across its nine Wisconsin facilities. Its portfolio includes Kapco Metal Stamping, a contract manufacturer of metal components, Advanced Coatings Inc. and Steel Blue Logistics. Its consumer brands include Iron District MKE, Milwaukee Pro Soccer, House of Harley Davidson, Forward Madison FC, Speedkore Performance Group and Given Entertainment. Kacmarcik’s philanthropic initiatives include Camp Hometown Heroes, Camp Reunite and Turning Rivers. Kacmarcik is also personally a minority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2022, the company opened the Kacmarcik Center for Human Performance, a training center and events space located on the Kapco campus. The center offers training and courses for employees on topics such as supply chain, welding, Lean Six, yoga, financial planning and cooking.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Favorite part of the workday: “I am known to be the last one out of the office on many days, but one thing I’ve realized that helps me is taking a break during the day when I can. A few of us have a tradition of playing a game of Sheepshead during lunch.”

Your sport if you could be an Olympian: “Is Pickleball an Olympic sport?”

What would you like to change about Wisconsin: “I think Wisconsin is highly underrated compared to more popular and populous states. I think Visit Milwaukee and Wisconsin hosting various large conventions has helped drive awareness, and I think we need to continue to shift mindsets.”

Thing to learn this year: “I’m interested in learning more about international business.”

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Manufacturing
Chairman and CEO
Kacmarcik Enterprises  | Grafton

Jim Kacmarcik joined the management team of Kapco Metal Stamping in 1985, assuming the second-generation of family leadership for the Grafton-based contract manufacturer of metal components. Today, the company has nearly 700 employees across its nine Wisconsin facilities. Kacmarcik is also chairman and chief executive officer of Kacmarcik Enterprises, an umbrella organization that includes Kapco, Advanced Coatings Inc., House of Harley Davidson, Forward Madison FC, Speedkore Performance Group, Given Entertainment, and several of Kacmarcik’s philanthropic initiatives. Kacmarcik is the owner of the new Milwaukee professional soccer team that will play at the Milwaukee Iron District – a project Kacmarcik has been working to bring to fruition for several years. Kacmarcik is also a minority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison

What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
“My first job out of college was at Kapco, working alongside family members, namely my dad, Tom Kacmarcik Sr., and my brother, T.J. Going into college I thought I wanted to be a lawyer, but my family really came from a simple, blue-collar background, so to continue my education I would need to work and save up. But after some time learning from my dad and seeing the reputation he had built in the manufacturing industry as a brilliant salesman, problem solver, and leader, I decided that Kapco was the right place for me. The biggest thing I learned from my dad was that you always take care of the people who take care of you. To me, that meant our customers, employees, partners, and the community, which for 50 years now has supported us. So as I move into the latter parts of my career, that’s where a lot of my time and energy is focused – making a lasting impact on the community.”

What has been the most important piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“From my dad. He said not to sweat small stuff and focus on the big picture.”

What are some of your favorite destinations/places to visit?
“I recently went to Iceland with my family, and it was absolutely beautiful. One of the most stunning places I’ve had the pleasure of traveling to.”

What’s your hobby/passion: “Spending time with my family, traveling and Milwaukee Bucks basketball.”

What was your first car?
“An American Motors Pacer.”

What is the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome?
“When my dad passed away. You’re never ready to lose the person who was the leader of a company and the person you learned the most from, but also your dad. I think going through that helped guide some of the things we’re doing now, 20-plus years later where we are really trying to do the best we can to take care of our employees both professionally and personally. At that time in my life, it was really a challenge, but as an employer of more than 700 people, you know there are people on the team that are going through difficult periods, so it’s important to me that we’re doing all we can to provide a supportive environment for all of my teammates.”

What advice would you give to a young professional?
“Follow your dreams. Set goals, and work to achieve them. Align yourself with people who will help you achieve them and believe in you. I think today’s culture of social media and instant gratification, we’ve lost the art of taking pleasure in the process. Nobody’s path is a straight upward trajectory, but if you set goals and chart a course to achieve those goals, then that potential is possible.”

What has been your/your company’s most significant success over the last 12 months?
“It would be difficult to limit it to just one thing! The biggest achievements for Kacmarcik Enterprises and our family of companies have been achieving 50 years in business for Kapco Metal Stamping, which manufactures metal components for some of the biggest OEMs and brands in the world, the launch of the Iron District MKE and Milwaukee Pro Soccer, which has been so well-received by the greater Milwaukee community, and unveiling the Kacmarcik Center for Human Performance, which we hope will serve as a hub of positive activity in southeastern Wisconsin. Also, our custom car and carbon fiber business, Speedkore Performance Group, built its most extreme car ever, a 1,000-horsepower 1968 Dodge Charger for Ralph Gilles, the automotive industry’s biggest name in global automobile design.”

What would you change about Wisconsin to make it better?
“Mindset. Wisconsin really is a place of opportunity. If you have an idea or a vision, and the work ethic to bring it to life, it’s possible in this state. I think we naturally have kind of a little-brother mentality, where we’re constantly comparing ourselves to more populous states, but Wisconsin has everything you could ask for. I feel blessed to be able to do business in this state, to employ people from this state, and to give back to this state.”

Is there a nonprofit cause that has special meaning to you? Please tell us about it.
“Well, it’s not a nonprofit cause, but it’s delivering meaningful, sustainable change to the community through education, learning and removing self-imposed limitations on ourselves. This fall we launched the Kacmarcik Center for Human Performance, which endeavors to help individuals, teams and organizations reach their true potential through a variety of different personal and professional development initiatives. Every year, we work to positively impact the lives of 1 million people in southeastern Wisconsin, and for many years that was through our support of philanthropic organizations like Camp Hometown Heroes, Camp Reunite and Kids to Kids. While all of those initiatives are worthwhile, we believed we could do more, which is why we launched the Kacmarcik Center for Human Performance, which we think will first have an amazing impact on the personal and professional growth of our 700 plus teammates at Kacmarcik Enterprises, but also through organizations around the community. We are trying to achieve something different that hasn’t been done before and we want to share that energy and vision throughout our community, the state and the region.”

Craig Dickman

BizTimes Staff
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Craig Dickman

Managing director
TitletownTech  |  Green Bay

Craig Dickman was among the original architects of TitletownTech, a venture capital firm formed as a partnership between the Green Bay Packers and Microsoft. An inventor with multiple patents, Dickman founded energy information and supply chain management company Breakthrough Fuel, which he scaled to 47 countries and sold to U.S. Venture in 2019. He also served as CEO of Breakthrough Fuel, Paper Transport and Master Fleet and previously held executive positions at Schneider National and SHADE Information Systems. Dickman is chairman and principal owner of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, a minor league affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders, a summer collegiate team in the Northwoods League. He also serves on the board of the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Professional Baseball District.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; MBA, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Favorite movie: “Field of Dreams.”

Highlights of the past 12 months: “We have expanded our partnership with Microsoft with the launch of the new AI Co-Innovation Lab in Wisconsin for Manufacturing, located at UW-Milwaukee.”

Favorite Wisconsin destination: “I am biased, but it is Neuroscience Group Field, where the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers play! “

Thing to learn this year: “It’s all about new technology – AI, Quantum, Autonomy, etc. – and the possibilities of solving big problems.”

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Emerging Industries | Startups
Managing director
TitletownTech | Green Bay

Craig Dickman leads TitletownTech, an innovation fund formed out of a partnership between the Green Bay Packers and Microsoft that builds and funds early-stage high-growth startups. Through its first fund, TitletownTech has invested in 23 startups, three of which have relocated to Wisconsin. It aims to raise $80 million for its second fund. Prior to becoming managing director of TitletownTech, Dickman was chief executive of De Pere-based Paper Transport Inc. and Green Bay-based Breakthrough Fuel, which he founded in 2004, and served as vice president at Green Bay-based Schneider National. He also co-founded the De Pere-based venture capital and accelerator firm N.E.W. Venture Foundry in 2015. Dickman is chairman and owner of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, an owner of the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders and a director on the Packers’ board.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; MBA, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
“My first job was in retail – as an ice-cream scooper – at 14. I learned to work with a wide range of people and the value of showing up on time.”

What piece of advice has had the most significant impact on your career?
“When I graduated, I had someone tell me, ‘Never work for someone you don’t respect.’ It’s amazing how much I’ve thought about that advice over the years, and it led me to work for many people I have great respect for and from whom I learned much.”

If you could have dinner with any two business leaders, who would you choose and why?
“Elon Musk and Peter Thiel. They are both incredible entrepreneurs and creators in their own right, have history together as partners – sometimes uneasy partners – as they brought PayPal.com to market and each has had significant creative impact post-PayPal. What also intrigues me is that they appear, in many ways, to be polar opposites in every way except one…they are great entrepreneurs.”

What are some of your favorite destinations/places to visit?
“Key West, Florida, and several places across Alaska. Obviously, for very different reasons.”

What is one book you think everyone should read (or podcast everyone should listen to) and why?
“‘The Innovators,’ by Walter Isaacson. As someone who grew up as the digital age emerged – and whose first computer was a Tandy TRS-80 – the exploration of the people behind the creation of the computer, internet and digital revolution was fascinating.”

What’s your hobby/passion?
“Baseball. I played it when I was young, coached it as my kids were growing up and love visiting ballparks around the country. It led me to acquire two baseball teams – the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the class High-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders. My passion has evolved from a love of the game to sports as a business.”

What is your favorite Wisconsin restaurant and what do you order there?
“Jake’s Pizza in Green Bay, WI. It’s a single-location, family-owned business that I first found when I was going to college and where I took my wife on our first date. The pizza is always great, and the beer is always cold.”

What would people be surprised to learn about you (fun fact)?
“I spent about three years working as a contractor in the space industry and was able to watch a rocket launch live on a lunar mission, see the first images coming down in real-time from the first Mars rover, Sojourner, and see the first images of the asteroid Mathilde while a spacecraft flew by the asteroid.”

What was your first car? How long did you drive it for?
“My first car was a burgundy 1974 Camaro with a black interior. I kept it for as long as I could afford the maintenance bills, which was, unfortunately, shorter than I wished.”

If you could take a one-year sabbatical, what would you do?
“Write. I would love to take a break and capture what I have learned – and the inspiring people I have learned with – and get it on paper. I always saw romance in the written word.”

What’s the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome?
“Disrupting an industry that didn’t want to be disrupted. I had learned about intense competition, but I never really conceptualized how different it is to face intense opposition. I had to learn this new concept in real time and then determine how to manage in an unfamiliar environment. I also learned not to fight the distractors but rather to stay focused on the value we were creating.”

What advice would you give to a young professional?
“Two things. The same advice I was given, ‘Never work for someone you don’t respect,’ and ‘Embrace opportunities and take risks that align with your passions.’

What has been your/your company’s most significant success over the last 12 months?
“Showing that we can be a beacon for innovation and entrepreneurship in Wisconsin and earning the opportunity from our partners, the Green Bay Packers and Microsoft, to launch a second fund to continue building.”

What is one thing you would change about Wisconsin to make it even better?
“Make it easier for new arrivals in to feel at home. Sometimes our greatest strength is our greatest weakness. We are family- and friend-oriented, but that can make it hard for newcomers to break in and feel they belong.”

As you enter your office, what would you choose to be your walk-up or theme song and why?
“‘Growing Older But Not Up,’ by Jimmy Buffett. First, Jimmy (not Warren) Buffett is my favorite artist, and the song begins with baseball and reminds me to think young.”

Is there a nonprofit cause that has special meaning to you?
“My family and I have been active in supporting innovation in education and have helped build and design six studios in educational settings: one while I was still at Breakthrough, a ‘Breakthrough Studio’ at UW-Green Bay, four ‘Solutionist Studios’ in each elementary school and one ‘Solutionist Studio’ in the middle school in our hometown school district. The studios are designed to be places to use creativity and technology to solve problems.”

What is the biggest risk you have ever taken?
“While jumping out of an airplane is a close second, choosing to be a partner, president and CEO of a company, Paper Transport, Inc., on September 18, 2001. There was so much uncertainty in the world right after 9/11, and it felt like so much was out of our control. It was a difficult time to make a major professional change, but it was 100% worth it!”

What’s at the top of your bucket list?
“Visiting Australia. While I have been fortunate to travel to many countries and amazing places, Australia is the one place I have always wanted to visit but have not yet.”

What has you most excited about the future?
“The power of creative minds and technology to solve the world’s biggest problems.”

Helen Johnson-Leipold

BizTimes Staff
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Helen Johnson-Leipold

Chairman and CEO
Johnson Outdoors | Racine

Helen Johnson-Leipold is chairman and chief executive officer of Racine-based Johnson Outdoors and chairman of Racine-based Johnson Financial Group.

With a background in advertising, Johnson-Leipold joined the family-owned cleaning products company SC Johnson in 1985 and worked her way up to become vice president of worldwide consumer products in 1997. She was named chairman of Johnson Outdoors, an outdoor recreational equipment and clothing manufacturer and marketer, in 1999 and chairman of both Johnson Financial Group and The Johnson Foundation in 2004, succeeding her father in all three roles.

Johnson Outdoors operates 18 facilities worldwide and has about 1,400 employees. The company reported revenue of $664 million last year.

An heir to SC Johnson, Johnson-Leipold has a net worth of $4.8 billion. She ranked No. 278 on Forbes’ 2024 list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, the fourth highest among Wisconsin billionaires. She’s served as chair of the board of The Prairie School, an independent private day-school founded by her mother, Imogene Powers Johnson.

Her husband, Craig Leipold, is owner the Minnesota Wild and founder of Ameritel, a Neenah-based business-to-business telemarketing firm.

Education: Bachelor’s, Cornell University

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Manufacturing
Chairman and CEO
Johnson Outdoors  |  Racine

Helen Johnson-Leipold has led Johnson Outdoors as chairman and chief executive officer since 1999. The Racine-based company, which manufactures and markets outdoor recreational equipment and clothing, operates 24 locations and has about 1,400 employees. The company reported record revenue of $751.7 million last year.

After starting her career in advertising, Johnson-Leipold went on to join family business S.C. Johnson, working her way to become vice president of worldwide consumer products in 1997.

She was named chairman of Johnson Outdoors in 1999, chairman of both Johnson Financial Group and The Johnson Foundation in 2004, succeeding her father in all three roles.

She is among eight billionaires living in Wisconsin, with a net worth of $3.3 billion, according to Forbes.

She’s served on the board of The Prairie School, an independent private day-school founded by her mother, Imogene Powers Johnson. In 2017, she and her siblings pledged $150 million to Cornell University to fund the SC Johnson College of Business.

Education: Bachelor’s, Cornell University

Kevin Conroy

BizTimes Staff
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Kevin Conroy

Chairman and CEO
Exact Sciences  |  Madison

As an entrepreneur, Kevin Conroy is chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences, a Madison-based company known for its innovative cancer screening and diagnostic tests. Under Conroy’s leadership, the company has seen significant growth and expanded its impact on early cancer detection. Conroy joined Exact Sciences in 2009 and has since overseen the company’s development and commercialization of the Cologuard test, a non-invasive screening option for colorectal cancer, among other screening tests.

Education: Bachelor’s, Michigan State University; J.D., University of Michigan Law School

Highlights from the past 12 months: “Exact Sciences celebrated two huge milestones. We just celebrated the 10th anniversary of the approval of Cologuard. People have now used Cologuard more than 16 million times. We also recognized the 20th anniversary of Oncotype DX, a test to help cancer patients and their doctors understand what treatment options are right for them.”

Favorite Wisconsin destination: “The lakes here in Madison.”

First and most recent concert: “First concert: The Romantics in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Most recent: Hozier at Breese Stevens Field.”

Traits you seek for new hires: “Curiosity. Someone who is naturally curious tends to be eager to learn, adaptable, and driven to explore new ideas or solutions. This mindset not only helps them grow personally, it also brings fresh perspectives and innovation to the team.”

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Emerging Industries | Startups
Chairman and CEO
Exact Sciences  |  Madison

Kevin Conroy joined Exact Sciences at a turning point for the then-Boston-based cancer diagnostics company. After securing a licensing agreement with the Mayo Clinic in 2009, Exact Sciences appointed Conroy as chief executive officer and president and relocated its headquarters to Madison. Conroy has led the company as it has gained FDA premarket approval for its flagship product, Cologuard (a colon cancer screening product), built a massive lab and warehouse facility and closed on several major mergers and acquisitions. Earlier this year, the company announced a $350 million plan to expand its Madison campuses to accommodate its rapid growth. But in November the company said it would lay off 350 employees, including 250 in Wisconsin. Exact has more than 6,500 employees, about 3,500 of them are based in Madison.

Education: Bachelor’s, Michigan State University; J.D., University of Michigan Law School

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?”
“I was a swim instructor at the YWCA in Flint, Michigan. I taught senior members of our community how to overcome their fears by helping them get comfortable in the water and eventually swim on their own.”

What are some of your favorite destinations/places to visit?
“My wife and I did a cycling trip in Croatia several months ago. The scenery was breathtaking, and we enjoyed taking it in, along with the local culture, as we rode along the coastline.”

What is your favorite Wisconsin restaurant and what do you order there?
“My favorite restaurant is Sardine in Madison. I love the Sardine burger.”

What was your first car? How long did you drive it for?
“My first car was a Chevy Chevette. I drove it for two years before it was passed down to another one of my siblings.”

If you could take a one-year sabbatical, what would you do?
“I’d work for the government in health care policy with the goal of making improvements to our health care system.”

What advice would you give to a young professionals?
“I tell our interns at Exact Sciences not to overlook the benefits of being a good writer. By that, I mean writing both clearly and concisely. I learned the importance of that early in my law career when writing briefs, and it’s stuck with me ever since.”

What’s at the top of your bucket list?
“Travel to Africa and the Middle East.”

What has you most excited about the future?
“The role of diagnostics in the earlier detection of cancer. At Exact Sciences, we’re developing a blood-based test that will detect multiple forms of cancer, many of which today have no routine screening. In line with President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot, we are working to end cancer as we know it.”

Fisk Johnson

BizTimes Staff
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Fisk Johnson

Chairman and CEO
SC Johnson | Racine

Fisk Johnson has led S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. as chief executive officer since 2004, representing the fifth generation of family leadership at the multinational household cleaning supplies manufacturer. The Racine-based company’s family of brands includes Windex, Pledge, Glade, Shout, Saran, Ziploc, Kiwi, Scrubbing Bubbles and Raid. SC Johnson has about 13,000 employees and reported revenue of $11.3 billion in 2023, placing it no. 43 on Forbes’ America’s Largest Private Companies list.

Johnson and his three siblings are shareholders, and together they own a majority of the company. His net worth is estimated at $4.7 billion, according to Forbes.

He joined the business in 1987 as a marketing associate and was appointed chairman in 2000 and CEO in 2004.

Johnson is a member of the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. He also serves on the U.S. Trade Representatives Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiation and the Consumer Goods Forum board of directors.

Through scuba diving, Johnson became motivated to address ocean plastic waste, and in 2018 he signed The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.

Education: Bachelor’s, master’s in engineering, master’s in physics, MBA, doctorate in physics, all from Cornell University

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Manufacturing
Chairman and CEO
S.C. Johnson   |  Racine

Fisk Johnson represents the fifth generation of family leadership for multinational household cleaning supplies manufacturer S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. Johnson is chairman and chief executive officer of the Racine-based company, which is owned by the Johnson family.

S.C. Johnson has about 13,000 employees and reported revenue of $10.5 billion. Its well-known brands include Windex, Pledge, Glade, Shout, Ziploc, Scrubbing Bubbles and Raid.

Johnson joined the family business in 1987 as a marketing associate; he was appointed chairman in 2000 and CEO in 2004. His net worth is estimated at $3.3 billion, according to Forbes.

Among his public policy work, Johnson served as a member of the President’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiation, a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and a director on the board of Conservation International.

A lifelong scuba diver, Johnson became motivated to address ocean plastic waste. In 2018, he signed The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, which is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with UN Environment and establishes a vision for companies to help create a circular economy for plastics.

In 2017, he and his family donated $150 million to Cornell University to establish the S.C. Johnson College of Business.

Education: Bachelor’s, Master’s in engineering, Master’s in physics, MBA, doctorate in physics, all from Cornell University

Jay Williams

BizTimes Staff
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Jay Williams

Chairman
Church Mutual  |  Merrill
Associated Bank  |  Green Bay

Jay Williams joined the Church Mutual Insurance Co. board of directors in 2008 and the Associated Banc-Corp. Inc. board of directors in 2011. Today, he is chairman of both institutions.

His board service follows a 37-year career in banking, which included nearly 30 years at U.S. Bank and its predecessors and culminated in his role as founder and chairman of The PrivateBank N.A. (now CIBC).

In 2010, Williams was recruited to serve as president of the Milwaukee Public Museum. During his three-year tenure at MPM, he helped negotiate deals to pay off most of the $13.5 million debt owed by the museum at the time and brokered an agreement that provided $3 million to pay down the museum’s pension debt. After stepping down as president, he remained on as chairman of the museum board.

In addition to Associated and Church Mutual, he currently serves on the board of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company Inc.

His past board service is extensive. He’s served as a director of the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District, YMCA of Metro Milwaukee and Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, among others.

In 2023, he was named one of the most influential leaders in corporate governance by the National Association of Corporate Directors.

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

Aaron Jagdfeld

BizTimes Staff
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Aaron Jagdfeld

Chairman, president and CEO
Generac | Town of Genesee

Aaron Jagdfeld is chairman, president and CEO of Generac and is credited with leading the Town of Genesee-based company’s transformation from a manufacturer of backup generators and engine-powered products into a global energy technology company.

Jagdfeld became president in 2007, was appointed CEO in 2008 and was named chairman in 2016. Known for its home standby generator, Generac has grown under Jagdfeld’s leadership to a $4 billion company with a diversified portfolio of energy products and solutions. Generac had 8,600 employees as of 2023.

Jagdfeld has been influential in expanding the company into a global designer and manufacturer of energy technology solutions and other power products, including clean energy, connected devices and industrial solutions. In 2024, Generac acquired Ageto Energy, a Colorado-based company that makes microgrid controllers that optimize and manage conventional energy resources, renewable energy resources and electrical vehicle chargers.

Jagdfeld started at the company in 1994 in the finance department and was appointed chief financial officer in 2002. Before joining Generac, Jagdfeld worked in the audit practice of the Milwaukee office of Deloitte & Touche.

Jagdfeld is a member of the board of directors at Summerfest producer Milwaukee World Festival Inc.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Manufacturing
President and CEO
Generac  |  town of Genesee

Aaron Jagdfeld was named president and chief executive officer of Generac in 2008 and has since led it to become one of the fastest-growing manufacturers in the state. The Town of Genesee-based maker of generators has roughly 9,600 employees company-wide, a little over a third of whom are based locally. Thanks to strong demand for its residential home standby generators in recent years, Generac is on target to do more than $5 billion in net sales this year.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?
“My first job was working for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel at their branch office in Hartland ‘subbing’ papers, which is the process of putting together the different sections of the Sunday morning edition – from the comics to the classified ads, etc. We would receive deliveries beginning Friday and through the weekend culminating in the final assembly process beginning at 1 a.m. on Sunday mornings. It was my first real exposure to business and really helped me to understand the importance of working hard and finding ways to be efficient – particularly as we were paid on a piece rate basis. The more papers you could put together, the more you could earn. Really a great ‘first’ job that I have fond memories of to this day.”

What are some of your favorite destinations/places to visit?
“Pelican Lake, Wisconsin. My wife’s family has had a place on the lake for nearly 70 years and it’s just a great place to unwind, disconnect and de-stress.”

What’s your hobby/passion?
“I don’t really have many with one exception – I’m a nerdy AFOL which stands for Adult Fan of Lego. I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s putting together Lego sets and building just about anything I could think of. I spent an enormous amount of time as a kid building and the creativity that it sparked was amazing. Today I still enjoy building – I use it more as a way to relax now, but I still really enjoy taking an idea and trying to make it come to life with those magical little bits of plastic.”

What is your favorite Wisconsin restaurant and what do you order there?
“Ristorante Bartolotta in Tosa. My wife and I are big fans of all things Italian – the food, the wine and the atmosphere there make us feel like we are in Italy!”

What was your first car? How long did you drive it for?
“A 1981 Mercury Capri with T-tops. I bought it used when I turned 16 and drove it all the way through college, putting more than 200,000 miles on it.”

If you could take a one-year sabbatical, what would you do?
“I would spend it learning photography and trying my hand at creating some great pictures!”

What’s the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome?
“The transition from a founder-owned and led company to a private equity-owned and operated company. Our founder, Bob Kern, sold the company to a New York private equity firm in late 2006 and it took our team and me personally some time to adapt to a completely different approach to business. It was a difficult transition, but in the end, I believe it was the catalyst for the company we have become today.”

What advice would you give to a young professional?
“Understand that success is earned in almost every situation/company. Working hard is only part of it – learning the business you are working in is absolutely critical to your ability to make an impact. Learn everything you can about the company’s products, its customers, its markets, its suppliers, its operations, etc. and it will give you the knowledge you need to truly make a difference.”

What is one thing you would change about Wisconsin to make it even better?
“Make the winters milder and shorter!”

As you enter your office, what would you choose to be your walk-up or theme song?
“AC/DC’s Thunderstruck – I can’t think of a better song to help get me energized about the day ahead!”

Craig Wiedemeier

BizTimes Staff
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Craig Wiedemeier

President
Werner Electric Supply | Appleton

Craig Wiedemeier joined Werner Electric Supply in 2012 as its vice president of operations, was named chief operating officer in 2019 and became president of the company in 2020. Over the years, Werner Electric Supply has grown from its roots as a Neenah-based appliance store and electrical contractor shop into a multimillion-dollar Appleton-based distribution operation. The company provides automation, electrical and data communication products and services to a range of industrial, commercial and construction customers. Werner employs more than 400 people in 13 locations throughout Wisconsin, North Dakota and Upper Michigan.

Wiedemeier was influential in the company’s decision to secure a vacant property and build a new 250,000-square-foot regional distribution center and company headquarters in 2016, which tripled its operational capacity. More recently, the company has implemented a smart system for picking inventory from its warehouse, which has helped expedite order fulfillment.

Earlier in his career, Wiedemeier worked for GE Healthcare and GE Oil & Gas. He serves on the boards of the Winneconne Area Community Foundation and New North Inc.

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

Kevin Honkamp

BizTimes Staff
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Kevin Honkamp

President
Hydrite Chemical Co. | Brookfield

Kevin Honkamp is the president of Brookfield-based Hydrite Chemical Co., one of the largest independent manufacturers of chemicals and related services in the United States. He has served as president since early 2017 and prior to that was vice president of sales and procurement.

Hydrite was founded in Milwaukee in 1929 as a supplier to the tanning industry. In 1935, Wayne Thompson and Richard Honkamp left their jobs and purchased a majority share in the business, which remains family-owned.

A new 45,000-square-foot headquarters facility for the company was completed in 2021. Hydrite also has plants in Milwaukee, Oshkosh, La Crosse and Cottage Grove, plus facilities in Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Texas, California and Colorado. The company has 1,000 employees.

The company is ranked on the Deloitte 75 list of largest privately-held businesses in Wisconsin.

In April, Hydrite announced that it acquired Missouri-based Fife Water Services and Colorado-based Precision Polymer Corp. Fife is a supplier of water treatment and water processing products and automation. Precision Polymer formulates and distributes wastewater treatment chemicals.

Education: Bachelor’s, Santa Clara University

Mike Veum

BizTimes Staff
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Mike Veum

President and CEO
IEWC  | New Berlin

Mike Veum leads New Berlin-based IEWC, a global distributor of electric wire, cable and wire management products for industrial automation, commercial vehicles, telecom and renewable energies. Veum joined the company as president of the OEM North American division in 2016, was named corporate president in 2017 and became CEO in 2018. He is also a member of the board of directors and serves as a trustee. IEWC operates out of 22 locations in 11 countries, employs over 660 people and has more than 12,000 customers across 77 countries.

Education: Bachelor’s, Marquette University

Favorite Wisconsin destination: “Whistling Straits stands out as a top destination.”

Traits you seek for new hires: “I look for candidates with drive, determination and integrity. These qualities show me they’re committed, resilient in the face of challenges and, most importantly, that they can be trusted to uphold our values.”

Advice for first-time leaders: “Know your strengths, and perhaps even more importantly, your weaknesses. Being self-aware lets you surround yourself with people who complement those gaps, making the team as a whole much stronger. Great leadership is about bringing together people whose diverse skills and perspectives elevate the entire company.”

Cocktail of choice: “I enjoy a real nice bourbon.”

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