WCMP Announces New Board Chair and Members
The Board elected Ed Paradowski, president of Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation in Beaver Dam, to chair the WCMP board of directors, succeeding Tom Jacobson, vice president of operations at Bruno Independent Living Aids in Oconomowoc. Jacobson served as board chair for three years, leading the organization through a recent change in its operating structure.
“Tom Jacobson did a great job guiding the WCMP and its board of directors through a period of significant change,” said Buckley Brinkman, executive director and CEO of the WCMP. “His leadership ensures that the organization maintains its level of high-quality service to Wisconsin’s small and medium-sized manufacturers through partnerships with the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center.
“We look forward to Ed Paradowski continuing the organization’s long tradition of strong board chairs,” Brinkman added. “Ed demonstrates his dedication to Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry through his numerous efforts to advance and advocate for the industry, and the WCMP will benefit from his ongoing commitment.”
Paradowski has been president of Apache Stainless Equipment since 2010 and participates in Wisconsin Career Readiness Initiative, Madison Region Economic Partnership’s Business Education Collaborative, the Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), and presents at the WMC’s Wisconsin Business World program. Apache Stainless, a 100% employee-owned company, manufactures capital equipment from stainless steel, aluminum, and other higher alloy materials. Apache has four product groups: stainless tanks, small portable stainless vessels, contract manufacturing, and food processing equipment, sold under the Mepaco brand.
Additionally, the board re-elected Greg Gomez to a second term and Rick Steinke to the WCMP board of directors at its June meeting, and Cory Dorn to the board of directors at its February meeting.
Greg Gomez serves as vice president of flow instrumentation at Badger Meter in Milwaukee and begins a second three-year term. Gomez held a number of positions at Badger Meter since 1984, most recently serving as vice president of business development prior to moving to his current role in 2014. Badger Meter makes products that are used to measure and control the flow of liquids, including water, oil and chemicals. The company serves the global flow measurement market with products for water utilities and industrial and commercial markets.
Rick Steinke, vice president of operations, Sentry Equipment Corporation in Oconomowoc, fills a three-year term as a new board director. In his role, Steinke is responsible for materials management, purchasing, inventory, production planning, manufacturing and product engineering, and all factory operations at Sentry Equipment’s Oconomowoc and Houston facilities. Sentry Equipment is an employee-owned company that provides sampling and analysis products and services for a variety of industries around the world.
Cory Dorn works as the Director of U.S. operations and Enterprise Project Management for Schreiber Foods. Schreiber Foods, an employee-owned, global company headquartered in Green Bay, produces and distributes cheese, yogurt, and cream cheese to the retail and food service industry. With Schreiber Foods since 2000, Dorn held positions including plant operations leader, corporate engineering team leader, plant manager, and enterprise project management program director prior to moving into his current role in 2014.
“Greg Gomez brings valuable insights and experiences to the WCMP board of directors, and I am pleased that he will continue on as a director,” Brinkman commented. “We also look forward to the perspectives and expertise Rick Steinke and Cory Dorn will bring to our board of directors.”
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The Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity (WCMP) is a private-public partnership supporting the Wisconsin manufacturing ecosystem and the people making it a vibrant part of the state’s economy. The WCMP is a key strategic partner of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and a member of the NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership network, connecting manufacturers with the resources necessary to thrive in the world economy. For more information visit: www.WiCMP.org.