Business development
Reyes Retail, Sheboygan, increased production capacity by 50% with its Nov. 15 acquisition of A&B Embroidery. The purchase includes five specialty Tajima embroidery machines. The in-house equipment will streamline the business and increase capacity to 1,000 units per week.
Sheboygan County-based Johnsonville LLC announced it has acquired Salm Partners of Denmark, Wisconsin. Johnsonville will close its Meadowside facility in Sheboygan County later this year. In addition, the Milwaukee Brewers announced that Johnsonville owners Ralph and Shelly Stayer have purchased a minority stake in the franchise.
Representatives from AriensCo, Brillion, visited hundreds of dealers across the nation at a series of meetings. At each stop, the company shared business updates, introduced innovative new products, reviewed programs and launched Henry’s Parts and Equipment, a new will-fit aftermarket parts brand.
Legacy Hotel, a six-story all-suites boutique hotel, officially opened in January in Green Bay. The hotel includes 83 studio suites, 15 signature suites and three grand penthouse suites. Amenities include the Cardinal’s Crest Rooftop Bar & Grille, Press Coffee & Juice Bar, unCommon Lobby Bar, Heritage Restaurant, Fitness Studio and Glow Spa.
American Airlines announced it will begin direct flights from Appleton International Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport starting June 6.
Alliance Laundry Systems, Ripon, and REM Company, Inc. have entered into an exclusive agreement, subject to due diligence, by which Alliance will acquire the distribution assets of REM with a target closing of Feb. 1.
Sofidel has acquired a paper mill in Duluth, Minnesota from ST Paper. The plant has a production capacity of 65,000 metric tons per year and 80 employees. Sofidel owns a converting plant in Green Bay. ST Paper also owns a plant in Oconto Falls.
Awards
Faith Technologies Incorporated, Menasha, has been recognized as one of the 2023 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America, an award given to organizations that prioritize employee wellness and create a healthy work environment. In addition, the American Heart Association honored FTI with a Gold-level Workforce Well-being Scorecard.
Schneider National, Inc., Green Bay, has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a 2023 SmartWay High Performer. The SmartWay High Performer list honors carriers that excel in producing more efficient and sustainable supply chain solutions. Schnieder also received CargoNet’s Best in Cargo Security Award for its theft prevention efforts in 2022. The company has been awarded Grand Champion, Class 2 in the National Tank Truck Carriers’ 2022 Personnel Safety Contest. Additionally, Schneider has been named to TIME’s inaugural list of the World’s Best Companies.
Acuity Insurance, Sheboygan, announced that several of its communication projects have earned awards for creativity in national and international competition in 2023. Its videos earned a total of 11 platinum and gold awards from Hermes, AVA and MarCom as well as several honorable mentions. Its annual report received a platinum MarCom Award, a gold Hermes Award and a Gold Stevie Award.
Festival Foods is the inaugural recipient of the Top Disability-Friendly Employer Award presented by Disability:IN Wisconsin.
Manitowoc Company, Inc. announced that it was named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies for the second consecutive year by Newsweek.
Oshkosh Corporation, a leading innovator of purpose-built vehicles and equipment, has been recognized by Military Times as one of the 2023 Best for Vets Employers.
Red Shoes Inc., a Wisconsin-based full-service strategic communication firm, has been named a winner in PR Daily’s 2023 Media Relations Awards. The “exclusive content strategy” category in which it was honored recognizes the best in the public relations business for providing exclusive stories to media outlets through strategic outreach that resulted in national coverage.
Construction
IEI General Contractors, De Pere, completed a $1.28 million remodeling and upgrade project at Sugar Bush Elementary School for the New London School District. In addition, the company completed a $4.56 million school remodeling project for Notre Dame Academy that included an HVAC upgrade, new ceilings, lighting, penthouse and boiler room.
Bayland Buildings, Hobart, recently completed the following projects: a new 18,200-square-foot building for Hobart Fire Department; a new building for Crumbl Cookies in Oshkosh; and a new snow leopard enclosure at the N.E.W. Zoo in Green Bay. Bayland recently broke ground for a new 8,500-square-foot community center in the town of Riverview and a 1,700-square-foot building for the Humane Society of Waupaca County.
McMahon, Neenah, is providing site design/engineering and construction management services for the enhancements planned at Xavier High School’s Rocky Bleier Field. McMahon is also working with the Hilbert School District as the architect for the additions and renovations happening within the district. McMahon is providing architectural, structural, civil, plumbing and electrical services for the Nelson Family Pavilion in De Pere. Recently completed projects include the Gulfstream paint hangar at Appleton International Airport, the new Chilton Fire Department and the Excellerate manufacturing facility in Little Chute.
Fox Cities Builders, Oneida, announced the completion of a new commercial construction project for WEL Companies, Inc., a leading name in the refrigerated trucking industry. The newly completed truck facility houses a restored 1972 K100 Kenworth Cabover that represents the truck that was used to found the business.
Keller, Inc. has been chosen as the architect and general contractor/builder on an interior restaurant building project for MACS Macaroni and Cheese Shop located at 1650 Oshkosh Ave. in Oshkosh and on an interior dental build-out project for Romenesko Family Dentistry, located at 500 W 3rd St. in Kimberly. Keller, Inc. also has been chosen as the general contractor on an addition and remodel building project for Associated Bank, located at 2330 Westowne Ave. in Oshkosh.
Grants
VanWinkle Family Chiropractic, Peshtigo, was awarded a $25,000 grant through its partnership with The Stephenson National Bank & Trust on behalf of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and its Community First Accelerate Grants for Small Business.
Lawrence University is the recipient of a $10 million gift from an alumnus and spouse to support the construction of a building on the west edge of campus that will add more than 30,000 square feet of innovative academic space and provide flexibility for future enrollment growth. The 315 E. College Ave. development was unveiled in August in partnership with the Trout Museum of Art.
Community First Credit Union committed to a $250,000 naming sponsorship for Lakemen Field in Waupaca, pushing phase one of the redevelopment past the $475,000 fundraising goal. Work will begin next spring on the planned ballpark lighting system improvements at what will be known as Community First Lakemen Field. Other major donations to the project included $25,000 each from L & L Propane and Farmers State Bank, $10,000 from the Waupaca Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and $5,000 from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation awarded $180,500 in grants through the Stand Together Foundation’s annual grants cycle. Recipients are: Encompass Early Education, Oconto; Golden House; Kewaunee County Department of Health and Human Services; The Gateway Collective; Veterans 1st of NEW; and We all Rise: African American Resource Center.
Education
Lakeshore Technical College and Western Governors University announced a new agreement providing Lakeshore graduates and employees with a new, affordable pathway to earning bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Under terms of the agreement, students graduating with associate degrees from one of 10 Lakeshore programs can transfer their credits to WGU.
All the rest
Thanks to the efforts and support of Green Bay Packers players and fans during the holiday season, $42,095 was donated to the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign.
Think Hallmark Real Estate has been named a Pulse Champion of Young Professionals by the Fox Cities Chamber. This designation recognizes employers who pledge to provide support and a positive work environment for YPs within their companies.
