Manufacturing Category
Performance Welding, Inc.
Carmen and Kurt Wollenberg

Two pieces of welding equipment, a 900 square-foot work space and a desire for quality fabricated custom metal products is how Performance Welding got its start in 1996. Kurt Wollenberg, company vice-president, had lost his full-time welding job, but was looking to continue his passion in welding. Kurt and his wife Carmen, company president, pulled together some finances and began working out of the family's garage. 

Starting out, Performance Welding positioned itself to offer a wide range of small custom metal fabrication and welding jobs.  Persistence and determination paid off in the form of an order from Miller Electric.  A strong working relationship continues with Miller Electric and their parent company, Illinois Tool Works. 

The last four years have seen three additional production companies added.  In 2004, Performance Products, LLC was formed to produce and distribute a line of snowmobile dollies and hoists for snowmobiles and ATV's, and a line of lightweight picnic tables and park benches.  Concrete Chutes LLC was purchased in 2006 and offers the Tufflight™ and Ultra-Tufflight™  patented custom light weight aluminum concrete chutes to concrete companies throughout the United States.  In 2007 the addition  of Performance Sheet Metal LLC allowed for expanded production capabilities in precision laser cutting and metal forming services. 

As with many small businesses, Performance Welding has a commitment to quality and skilled craftsmen.  All employees are involved in Lean manufacturing principles and Kaizen team techniques combined with safety and training.  The company currently employs more than 40 employees at three separate manufacturing facilities totaling 90,000 square feet – 11 years after starting out in the family garage.    

The company financially supports area schools and churches and donates metal for industrial arts programs.  The Wollenbergs volunteer their time in many school and church capacities and employees participate in a variety of community activities.     

Service Category
Radisson Paper Valley Hotel
Jay Schumerth, Senior General Manager

More than 25 years ago, the landscape of downtown Appleton began to change with a new development – a hotel with restaurants, a conference center and even a nightclub.  The Paper Valley Hotel was erected in June 1982 as a 196 room-hotel as a vision of John and Dick Bergstrom. 

In the coming years the hotel would add more than 194 rooms, significant meeting and conference space before changing change ownership and becoming affiliated with the Radisson franchise.  Such expansion placed the property as a player in the state convention market.  In more recent years, additional remodeling of the ballrooms, main wing of the guest rooms and other major areas of the hotel have been upgraded, including replacing Christie's, the longtime 4 diamond restaurant with Lombardi's Steak House.  Lombardi's sales are more than double the annual sales from when the location was Christie's. 

The Radisson Paper Valley is consistently recognized for outstanding facilities and customer service, received nominations for special events within the hospitality industry and received the Radisson's prestigious President's Award for 5 consecutive years.  

The hospitality industry often has high employee turnover, with national turnover rates averaging 100-150 percent.  The Radisson Paper Valley averages less than 30 percent with some employees being with the hotel for more than 20 years.  Management philosophy is to promote from within so as to develop the best possible staff to serve the customer.

As one of the largest full-service hotels in the Fox Cities / Green Bay market, the Radisson Paper Valley is very committed to the community.  Corporate and employee donations are given to United Way Fox Cities and in-kind donations to various organizations in the area.  All employees including senior management are involved in the community including the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau, Appleton Downtown Inc., Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Fox Valley Technical College and various rotary clubs.  Jay Schumerth, senior general manager, also serves on the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.     

Wholesale/Retail Category
The Learning Shop
Tom & Todd Merryfield

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, a Dustin Hoffman movie in 2007, is about the strangest, most fantastic, most wonderful toy store in the world.  As mystical as this may seem, bringing teaching toys to customers on a daily basis is a real business.  Brothers Tom and Todd Merryfield, co-owners of The Learning Shop, know all too well the reality of the toy business.

The Learning Shop was established in 1979.  The second-generation company focuses on educational toys, construction sets, children's games and board games.  The company has a wide variety of offerings for teachers and classroom supplies ranging from arts and crafts, children's books, language arts, multi-media, multilingual, math, science and resources for many age levels.  

A solid core of employees, outstanding customer service and "management by walking around" are keys to the success of the business.  The company encourages employees to be accountable for their actions, talk personally with all customers and to be experts on the products to be able to make age-specific recommendations to customers. The attention to product detail has been extremely helpful with the recent toy recalls.  The store's buying strategy is to not carry any violent or gimmicky toys and to avoid licensed products.  This philosophy has lead to better customer service and higher quality merchandise. 

Eleven years ago, the brothers acquired the assets of a similar company in Milwaukee and doubled their size to eight stores.  Initially this purchase strained the company in many ways, but forced them to make management and fiscal changes that have since strengthened the company.  Both co-owners take the time to personally deliver paychecks at various times and thank the employees for their hard work. 

The Learning Shop makes significant donations in the form of gift certificates to area schools, PTA's, PTO's and many children's organizations that deal with education.  The company is a  supporter of Lifest and hosts blood drives at their locations.  All employees are encouraged to volunteer for their children's school activities.  The company has sponsored a team for the American Cancer Society SoleBurner walk/run for more than 14 years.          

2008 Rising Star
Coalesce Marketing & Design, Inc.
Lisa Piikkila, Co-Owner and Michelle Richard, Co-Owner

"To grow, together" is a phrase that might be used in a company's mission statement and hung on a wall.  Two individuals so believed in this concept that they selected a name that means just that. And so Coalesce Marketing & Design, Inc. was aptly named by co-owners Lisa Piikkila and Michelle Richard. 

Coalesce Marketing & Design, Inc. was founded in March 2004 with one Mac laptop, one card table, two folding chairs and no clients.  Together the two entrepreneurs focused their combined talents to create a different sort of agency.  Both Piikkila and Richard brought significant industry experience with agencies and on the client side of the business into the new venture.  Piikkila's vision is in graphic design and overall approach as a creative director.  Richard's vision is in strategic planning, marketing communications, public relations, market research, government affairs and event planning.  A well-rounded combination for an up and coming marketing firm.  

Since opening their doors the company has seen steady growth in their client base (60 to date), adding employees (a team of 12), investing in topnotch technology and expanding their office space twice to accommodate their needs.  One of the clients the company has acquired is serving as being the agency of record for New North, Inc.   

The company places a high priority on employee growth and development to keep the entire staff up-to-date on the latest marketing tools and techniques.  Ongoing investment in the latest software to better serve their customers is also key.    

Growth and development is extended in the way of giving back to the community by being involved with area organizations such as Rebuilding Together Fox Valley, Pulse, Young Professionals Network, Big Brother/Big Sisters Fox Valley, Fox Cities Marathon and Habitat for Humanity.