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Ray Graham

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President
American Packaging Corp. | Columbus

In late 2023, Columbus-based American Packaging Corp. announced Ray Graham was being promoted to president and that he will become the company’s next chief executive officer at the end of 2024. Graham was previously executive vice president and chief operating officer of American Packaging, a family-owned packaging converter. APC specializes in flexographic, rotogravure and digital printing, multi-ply extrusion, adhesive lamination of film, paper and foil, and pouch and bag fabrication. The company has more than 1,225 employees across its six manufacturing facilities. In 2023, the company established operations in Utah when it opened a new $100 million, 275,000-square-foot manufacturing facility.

Christopher Drees

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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

Liz Uihlein

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President
Uline | Pleasant Prairie

Dick and Liz Uihlein co-founded Uline 44 years ago and have grown the shipping and packaging distributor to 9,000 employees and roughly $7 billion in annual revenue.

The husband-and-wife duo started Uline in their basement, initially selling carton-sizers. Today, the company sells more than 42,000 products in its 850-plus page catalog. Dick serves as chief executive officer and Liz as president. Each having a net worth of $6 billion, Dick and Liz were listed at No. 216 on Forbes’ list of the 400 wealthiest Americans in 2024.

In 2010, the Uihleins, who are Illinois residents, relocated the company from Waukegan, Illinois, to Pleasant Prairie. In addition to its Pleasant Prairie headquarters and Kenosha facilities, the company has distribution centers in Minneapolis; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Los Angeles; Atlanta; Dallas; Seattle; Reno; and locations in Mexico and Canada.

Outside Uline, Dick and Liz are a powerful donor couple in the Republican Party. Their combined giving to federal candidates and causes over the past decade totals a reported $230 million. They were major supporters of former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and of Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns. Dick gave nearly $59 million in 2024 alone to a Trump-supporting super PAC.

Dick is president of the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation, a grantmaking institution that supports civic organizations and political groups and causes, including the Leadership Institute, the Media Research Center, and the National Right To Work Committee. Dick is the great grandson of August Uihlein, co-founder of Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. in Milwaukee.

In addition to Uline, the couple owns EAU Holdings, which operates restaurants, a salon and a spa in Manitowish Waters.

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

C-Suite
President
Uline | Pleasant Prairie

Dick Uihlein co-founded Uline with his wife, Liz Uihlein, in 1980, and, since then, the couple has grown the shipping and packaging distributor to an 8,500-employee operation with an estimated $6.1 billion in revenue.

In 2010, the Uihleins relocated the company from Waukegan, Illinois, to Pleasant Prairie. Dick, serves as company CEO and Liz as president.

The Uihleins started Uline in their basement. They initially launched the company selling carton-sizers, which reduce boxes to a desired size. From there, the Uihleins went on to grow the company to become the continent’s leading distributor of shipping, packaging and industrial supplies, with a catalog of products 800 pages long.

Uline recently ranked No. 5 among Deloitte’s list of the largest privately held companies in Wisconsin, based on sales revenue. In addition to its Pleasant Prairie headquarters and Kenosha facilities, the company has distribution centers in Minneapolis; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Los Angeles; Atlanta; Dallas; Seattle; Reno; and locations in Mexico and Canada.

In a 2020 BizTimes interview, Liz described herself as a “merchant” who is focused on Uline’s ever-growing catalog of products, while Dick focuses on the bigger picture and expanding into new markets.

Dick and Liz Uihlein each have a net worth of $3.8 billion, according to Forbes.

Over the years, the Uihleins’ profile has grown in the state and nationally for their contributions to conservative political causes, having reportedly given over $190 million to campaigns in the U.S and been among the top contributors to GOP candidates and causes nationwide for the past decade. They were major backers of former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and president Donald Trump. A 2018 story published in The New York Times billed the Uihleins as the “Most Powerful Conservative Couple You’ve Never Heard Of.” They gave a reported $38 million in the first 18 months of the 2022 election cycle, ranking No. 2 among federal campaign donors for Republicans and No. 2 among donors overall, second to George Soros, according to ProPublica.

Dick is also president of the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation, a grantmaking institution that supports civic organizations and political groups and causes, including the Leadership Institute, the Media Research Center, and the National Right To Work Committee. Dick is the great grandson of August Uihlein, co-founder of Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. in Milwaukee.

In addition to Uline, the couple owns EAU Holdings, which operates restaurants, a salon and a spa in Manitowish Waters.

John Burke

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President
Trek Bicycle Corp. | Waterloo

John Burke has led Trek Bicycle Corp., one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of high-end bicycles in the world, as president since 1997. Founded in a Waterloo barn in 1976 by his father, Dick Burke, Trek has since grown to become a global business, producing millions of bicycles annually and employing about 7,000 worldwide. Today, more than 60% of Trek’s revenue comes from outside the U.S.

In the fall of 2024, Trek sold its bike-share unit, BCycle, to Philadelphia-based Bicycle Transit Systems. Trek founded BCycle in Madison in 2011 with 35 stations and 350 bicycles and grew the operation to include some 30 other cities.

Trek was named to Fortune Magazine’s list of Top 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2023, based on employee surveys and feedback. The company offers employee perks including private mountain bike trails, an on-site CrossFit gym, on-site and virtual mental health services and an Employee Stock Ownership Program. It was also named among TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies in 2022.

Trek has enjoyed a high profile in the industry for decades, thanks to the cyclists who ride Trek bikes, including Lance Armstrong in the late 1990s.

Burke has authored four books, “Presidential Playbook 2020,” “12 Simple Solutions to Save America,” “One Last Great Thing,” a memoir about Dick Burke, and, most recently, “A Bold Plan for America: 14 Nonpartisan Solutions Based on the Facts.” He served as chairman of President George W. Bush’s President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. He is also a founding board member of the Bikes Belong Coalition.

Education: Bachelor’s, Boston University

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Manufacturing
President
Trek Bicycle Corp.  |  Waterloo

In 1984, John Burke began working at Trek Bicycle Corp., the Waterloo-based bicycle manufacturer and distributor that his father, Dick, founded almost a decade earlier. He took the helm of the company in 1997 as its president.

During his tenure, Trek has become the largest bicycle company in the country, selling about 1 million bikes annually and employing about 3,500.

The brand’s profile has grown over the years thanks to the famous cyclists who ride its bikes. In 1999, Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France riding a Trek 5500.

TIME magazine named Trek among its 100 Most Influential Companies list in 2022 for its recently released sustainability report that quantified the environmental impact of producing and shipping its bikes. The company is now working to reduce its reliance on air freight.

Burke has authored three books, “Presidential Playbook,” “12 Simple Solutions to Save America,” and “One Last Great Thing,” a memoir about Dick Burke. He has said he has considered running for president as an independent candidate. His sister, Mary Burke, ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2014 against Scott Walker.

Burke served as chairman of President George W. Bush’s President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. He is also a founding board member of the Bikes Belong Coalition.

Education: Bachelor’s, Boston University

Hobby/passion: Burke is an avid cyclist and runner. He’s finished the Ironman Wisconsin and Boston and New York’s marathons.

Dick Uihlein

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CEO
Uline | Pleasant Prairie

Dick and Liz Uihlein co-founded Uline 44 years ago and have grown the shipping and packaging distributor to 9,000 employees and roughly $7 billion in annual revenue.

The husband-and-wife duo started Uline in their basement, initially selling carton-sizers. Today, the company sells more than 42,000 products in its 850-plus page catalog. Dick serves as chief executive officer and Liz as president. Each having a net worth of $6 billion, Dick and Liz were listed at No. 216 on Forbes’ list of the 400 wealthiest Americans in 2024.

In 2010, the Uihleins, who are Illinois residents, relocated the company from Waukegan, Illinois, to Pleasant Prairie. In addition to its Pleasant Prairie headquarters and Kenosha facilities, the company has distribution centers in Minneapolis; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Los Angeles; Atlanta; Dallas; Seattle; Reno; and locations in Mexico and Canada.

Outside Uline, Dick and Liz are a powerful donor couple in the Republican Party. Their combined giving to federal candidates and causes over the past decade totals a reported $230 million. They were major supporters of former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and of Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns. Dick gave nearly $59 million in 2024 alone to a Trump-supporting super PAC.

Dick is president of the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation, a grantmaking institution that supports civic organizations and political groups and causes, including the Leadership Institute, the Media Research Center, and the National Right To Work Committee. Dick is the great grandson of August Uihlein, co-founder of Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. in Milwaukee.

In addition to Uline, the couple owns EAU Holdings, which operates restaurants, a salon and a spa in Manitowish Waters.

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

C-Suite
CEO
Uline | Pleasant Prairie

Dick Uihlein co-founded Uline with his wife, Liz Uihlein, in 1980, and, since then, the couple has grown the shipping and packaging distributor to an 8,500-employee operation with an estimated $6.1 billion in revenue.

In 2010, the Uihleins relocated the company from Waukegan, Illinois, to Pleasant Prairie. Dick, serves as company CEO and Liz as president.

The Uihleins started Uline in their basement. They initially launched the company selling carton-sizers, which reduce boxes to a desired size. From there, the Uihleins went on to grow the company to become the continent’s leading distributor of shipping, packaging and industrial supplies, with a catalog of products 800 pages long.

Uline recently ranked No. 5 among Deloitte’s list of the largest privately held companies in Wisconsin, based on sales revenue. In addition to its Pleasant Prairie headquarters and Kenosha facilities, the company has distribution centers in Minneapolis; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Los Angeles; Atlanta; Dallas; Seattle; Reno; and locations in Mexico and Canada.

In a 2020 BizTimes interview, Liz described herself as a “merchant” who is focused on Uline’s ever-growing catalog of products, while Dick focuses on the bigger picture and expanding into new markets.

Dick and Liz Uihlein each have a net worth of $3.8 billion, according to Forbes.

Over the years, the Uihleins’ profile has grown in the state and nationally for their contributions to conservative political causes, having reportedly given over $190 million to campaigns in the U.S and been among the top contributors to GOP candidates and causes nationwide for the past decade. They were major backers of former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and president Donald Trump. A 2018 story published in The New York Times billed the Uihleins as the “Most Powerful Conservative Couple You’ve Never Heard Of.” They gave a reported $38 million in the first 18 months of the 2022 election cycle, ranking No. 2 among federal campaign donors for Republicans and No. 2 among donors overall, second to George Soros, according to ProPublica.

Dick is also president of the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation, a grantmaking institution that supports civic organizations and political groups and causes, including the Leadership Institute, the Media Research Center, and the National Right To Work Committee. Dick is the great grandson of August Uihlein, co-founder of Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. in Milwaukee.

In addition to Uline, the couple owns EAU Holdings, which operates restaurants, a salon and a spa in Manitowish Waters.

John Buelow

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President
Mercury Marine | Fond du Lac

John Buelow became president of Mercury Marine, the Fond du Lac-based marine engine division of Brunswick Corp., in 2023.

Mercury Marine has more than 4,200 employees at its Fond du Lac headquarters. A 2023 study by Envision Greater Fond du Lac showed Mercury Marine had a $5.4 billion annual economic impact on the Fond du Lac community. The study also found Mercury has a total job impact of more than 10,500 jobs in the Fond du Lac community, meaning that each of its jobs supports an additional 2.5 full-time positions in the county. Mercury also generates more than $333 million in retail sales in the region, according to the study.

Since 2008, Mercury has invested more than $2 billion in R&D and expansion to its global headquarters. More than 80% of that work was done with Wisconsin-based companies.

Brunswick’s propulsion division, which includes Mercury Marine, reported $2.82 billion in revenue for 2022.

Over his nearly 20 years with the company, Buelow has been vice president of business development, VP and general manager of Mercury Castings, VP for category management and strategic planning and VP of global operations. Prior to that, he held several finance roles.

During his time as head of global operations, Buelow was influential in planning and executing expansions of Mercury’s manufacturing and distribution facilities and in the launch of key products.

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

Dick Titus

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President and CEO
ETC  |  Middleton

Dick Titus has led Middleton-based theatrical and architectural technology company ETC since 2019. Founded in 1975, the company manufactures lighting, rigging, networking and control products for venues around the world. It has expanded over the years from a small, theatrical lighting company to a full-system provider for museums, stadiums, television studios, hotels, hospitals, schools and theaters. Locally, ETC’s architectural controls systems are featured in Milwaukee’s Baird Center expansion.

Titus joined ETC in 1990 as director of manufacturing and became president in 2002. In 2019, he was named president and chief executive officer. The company has more than 1,200 employees in 15 corporate worldwide offices. In 2024, ETC transitioned from a partial Employee Stock Option Plan, established in 2015, to 100% employee ownership.

Early in his career, Titus served in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, becoming decorated for his service in Vietnam.

Education: Bachelor’s, Carroll University

Fabio Bordignon

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General manager
Fincantieri Marine Group | Marinette

Fabio Bordignon in 2021 was named general manager of Italian shipmaker Fincantieri’s subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group, a leading U.S. shipbuilder in the naval and commercial sector. Bordignon’s oversight includes the finance, HR, legal, compliance and environmental, health and safety departments for Fincantieri Marinette Marine, a shipyard located along the Menominee River that produces highly technologically advanced vessels. FMM Marine employs more than 1,500 people in Wisconsin and has more than 700,000 square feet of manufacturing, warehouse and receiving space.

In 2020, the company received an initial U.S. Navy contract for the lead vessel of the Constellation-class guided-missile frigate, the USS Constellation FFG 62, which remains under construction. The shipyard completed a $300 million fabrication facility and panel line in 2022 for the production of the Navy’s newest class of ships.

The Navy has since exercised contract options for additional ships. In early 2024, FMM was awarded a contract by the Navy for the fifth and sixth Constellation-class frigates. The work is valued at a total of $5.5 billion.

Outside of Fincantieri, Bordignon serves on the board of New North, the economic development organization focused on northeast Wisconsin.

Education: MBA, Università Ca’​ Foscari Venezia

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Manufacturing
General manager
Fincantieri Marine Group
Marinette

Fabio Bordignon in 2021 was named general manager of Italian shipmaker Fincantieri’s subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group. Bordignon’s oversight includes the finance, HR, legal, compliance, and environmental, health and safety departments for Fincantieri Marinette Marine, the shipyard located along the Menominee River in Marinette that focuses on government work. Fincantieri Marinette Marine builds highly technologically advanced vessels, including the U.S. Navy’s Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship.

Earlier this year, Fincantieri Marinette Marine completed a $300 million fabrication facility and panel line for the production of the U.S. Navy’s newest class of ships, and the company began construction on the Constellation-class guided missile frigate in August. That work is part of a contract with the Navy, potentially valued at $5.5 billion, and is expected to create as many as 400 new jobs. Outside of Fincantieri, Bordignon serves on the board of New North, the economic development organization focused on northeast Wisconsin.

Education: MBA, Università Ca’​ Foscari Venezia

Career advice: “Be a life-long learner. ‘There’s a big difference between 20 years of experience and one year repeated 19 times.’”

Fun fact: “I was raised on a farm outside of Venice, driving tractors, riding horses and milking cows.”

Ken Schinner

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CEO
RJ Schinner  |  Menomonee Falls

Ken Schinner became chief executive officer of RJ Schinner in 2019 after nearly three decades with the family-owned and -operated company. One of the largest independent redistributors in the U.S., R.J. Schinner is a wholesale distributor servicing the food service, lodging, grocery, janitorial supply and office supply markets, with 20 locations across the U.S.

Schinner held a variety of sales, marketing and business leadership development positions within the company before being named president and later CEO. The company has 650 employees, including more than 75 sales professionals, and 2024 projected sales of $711 million. It ranked 46th on Deloitte’s Wisconsin 75 list of the largest private companies, based on revenue.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Katie Poehling Seymour

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CEO and president
First Supply  |  Madison

Katie Poehling Seymour represents the fifth generation of Poehling family leadership at First Supply. Headquartered in La Crosse and Madison, First Supply operates 53 facilities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Michigan. The company broke ground earlier this year for a new distribution facility in West Salem, which is expected to add 100 employees in the La Crosse area. Poehling Seymour has served as an industry leader, including as the 2023 president of the American Supply Association and as its current chairwoman.

Favorite destination in Wisconsin: “Kohler will always stand out to me. Kohler is not only a giant engine of our state’s economy, but it is also a beautiful representation of what Wisconsin’s natural beauty has to offer.”

Thing to learn this year: “As my family continues to evolve our most responsible shareholder practices, I would like to take this opportunity to learn from others and gain perspective from those who have shown success in family governance.”

Advice for first-time leaders: “When entering a leadership position for the first time, my biggest piece of advice is to never stop learning.”

What would you like to change about Wisconsin: “Bigger ski hills near Milwaukee. I grew up skiing with my parents and siblings, learning in the bluffs of La Crosse. I am excited to teach my own girls and wish there were hills that compared to those.”

Ken Bockhorst

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Chairman, president and CEO
Badger Meter | Brown Deer

Ken Bockhorst has led Brown Deer-based Badger Meter as president since 2019 and as CEO since 2020. He joined the company as chief operating officer in 2017. Under his leadership, Badger Meter, which produces water meters and other flow instrumentation products, reported net sales of $703.6 million in 2023, a revenue record for company. That same year, the company acquired U.K.-based water monitoring solutions company Syrinix for about $18.1 million. Prior to joining Badger Meter, Bockhorst was an executive vice president with Actuant Corp. and held prior leadership roles at IDEX Corp. and Eaton Corp.

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

Highlights from the past 12 months: “What I’m most proud of this past year is how our employees have been able to continue to deliver outstanding results, year after year. We have more than doubled our revenues over the past five years, but our team continues to operate with a drive to exceed customer expectations, and a culture of excellence that outperforms our competitors time and again.”

Playlist for commute/run: “Audiobooks. I am listening to biographies of U.S. presidents in chronological order while in the car. I’m currently on no. 10, John Tyler.”

What would you do if you could choose another career: “Sports reporter.”

Cocktail of choice: “Buffalo Trace Manhattan.”

2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile

Manufacturing
Chairman, president and CEO
Badger Meter  |  Brown Deer

Ken Bockhorst joined Badger Meter in 2017 as its chief operating officer and was promoted to president, chief executive officer and chairman each successive year after. The Brown Deer-based manufacturer of flow measurement and control products has 1,900 employees company-wide and ranks among the 50 largest public Wisconsin companies by revenue. Badger Meter has managed to grow its top line amid supply chain challenges in recent years. Previously, Bockhorst was an executive vice president with Actuant Corp., and held prior leadership roles at IDEX Corp. and Eaton Corp.

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

Favorite Wisconsin restaurant: “Too many great choices to pick one restaurant, but the Lobster Pot Pie at Third Coast Provisions in Milwaukee is amazing.”

As you enter your office, What would you choose to be your walk-up or theme song: “‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem. Making sure that you do everything within your power to succeed. You never know how many opportunities you will get, don’t let it pass you by.”

First car: “1977 Chevy Nova. Rescued it from the junk yard at 16, and drove it for four years.”

Biggest recent success: “Our Badger Meter team has pulled together to overcome many of the significant challenges posed by the supply chain crisis. To do this on the back of successfully navigating a global pandemic has been like hitting grand slams in back-to-back innings. I couldn’t be more proud of the results achieved during these times by all of our employees across the world.”

Randy Benz

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Chief executive officer
American Orthodontics | Sheboygan

Randy Benz is chief executive officer of Sheboygan-based braces manufacturer American Orthodontics. The company is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of orthodontic treatment supplies. Founded in 1968, the company has manufactured orthodontic products for customers in more than 110 countries.

More than 98% of its products are manufactured at its Sheboygan headquarters, a 280,000-square-foot manufacturing and office facility, which the company moved into in 2013.

Earlier this year, the company completed construction of a new $20 million, 129,000-square-foot facility in Saukville. The company planned to hire 100 employees at the facility initially, and eventually 300. The facility is the anchor of the Northern Gateway development in Saukville by Ansay Development and Three Leaf Partners.

American Orthodontics has more than 700 global employees, with offices throughout Europe, Asia and Oceania.

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