Contact: William Rubin/Nita Dusek, St. Croix EDC, 715-381-4383
St. Croix EDC Names Top Businesses and Individual for 2015
Chuck Jerrick, 2015-16 president of St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (EDC), announced the EDC’s selection of Sixty-Five Vines, LLC (Town of Kinnickinnic), St. Croix Castings, Inc. (Village of Woodville), and Phillips-Medisize Corporation (City of Hudson and City of New Richmond) as recipients of the 2015 Business of the Year awards in St. Croix County, Wisconsin. The EDC board of directors also named attorney Thomas R. Schumacher as the recipient of the 2015 EDC Directors Award.
The companies and Mr. Schumacher will be honored at a banquet on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Kilkarney Hills in River Falls.
“Our 2015 winners reflect the depth and breathe of St. Croix County’s diverse business base,” said EDC president Chuck Jerrick. “65 Vines joins past winners that have a strong foundation in agriculture. The company successfully merges two growing trends – agri-tourism with a small scale, boutique vineyard in a rural setting. St. Croix Castings is well-regarded as a foundry and aligns age old processes with modern, automated manufacturing. Phillips-Medisize has a global footprint, but is firmly grounded in two communities in St. Croix County and even more communities across the state. Throughout his career, Tom Schumacher has made a significant impact on economic development in many circles throughout the county and west central Wisconsin.”
About the 2015 Winners
Sixty-Five Vines is the 2015 Emerging Business of the Year (based in St. Croix County and in business for five or fewer years). In 2012, following four years of searching for land in west central Wisconsin, Julie and Scott Andrzejczak found their 33-acre dream property along Coulee Trail in the Town of Kinni and relocated from the western Twin Cities. The moved allowed Scott, originally from Franking, Wisconsin, to follow his dream of operating a vineyard and winery. He is a graduate of the UW-Madison College of Agriculture. Next came 10 months of meetings, introductions, and education involving town and county officials. With municipal approvals secured, 65 Vines became St. Croix County’s first bonded winery. The Andrzejczak’s, with the help of family and friends, planted their first acre of grapes in June 2013. Scott and Julie’s wines have whimsical names, including Up a Creek, Dry Fly, Tippy Canoe, Kinni River Red, Lilydipper, Shuttlebuns, and PFD (Personal Floatation Device). This past fall the winery received approval for extended hours (now August-November), additional parking spaces for vehicles, and removal of the “By Appointment Only” restriction. Julie is the proprietor and Scott is the winemaker and vineyard manager.
St. Croix Castings is the 2015 Small Business of the Year (29 or fewer employees). Milton and Robert Sell own and operate St. Croix Castings. As small business owners, the Sells wear multiple hats – Milt serves as the sales manager and Robert is the project manager. The company is a job shop that offers medium to small volume aluminum castings in sand and permanent mold. The business has expanded over the last 10 years with ongoing automation and modernization of the operations. The Sells anticipate future growth and automation to enable St. Croix Castings to continue providing new and better ways to meet customer’s needs. Commercial lighting, fire suppression equipment, bulk material handling and transfer, ag equipment, industrial and recreational vehicles, and industrial tools and equipment are reflective of the industries served by St. Croix Castings. The company is 9001:2008 ISO certified.
Phillips-Medisize Corporation is the 2015 Business of the Year (30 or more employees). Headquartered in Hudson, Wisconsin Phillips-Medisize Corporation is a global leader in outsource design, development and technology-driven manufacturing. Phillips-Medisize employs over 3,400 people in 14 locations throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico and China, totaling 1.7 million square feet. The company also has design centers in Wisconsin, California, The Netherlands, and China. Three of the company’s locations are in St. Croix County – corporate headquarters and a design center in Hudson and a medical manufacturing facility in New Richmond. Phillips-Medisize has become a dominant force in the medical device and diagnostics, drug delivery, primary pharmaceutical packaging, and commercial markets. The company features a list of blue chip medical device, pharmaceutical and commercial customers. Phillips-Medisize has annual sales of over $600 million with 80% of the total revenue coming from drug delivery, medical device and diagnostic products, such as disposable insulin pens, glucose meters, specialty inhalation drug delivery devices, single-use surgical devices and consumable diagnostic components. The company is led by Matt Jennings, Chairman and CEO.
About Tom Schumacher
Tom Schumacher has over 30 years of legal experience and is one of the three founders of the Bakke Norman law firm. He has served as the firm’s managing shareholder since 1999. He represents closely held businesses with all aspects of business planning, including choice of entity, capital formation, business transitions, mergers and acquisitions. One of Bakke Norman’s area of expertise is its municipal practice, including land use and development, ordinances and resolutions, public finance, and economic development, including tax incremental financing matters.
Tom has volunteered in various capacities with the State Bar of Wisconsin and area economic development boards, including St. Croix EDC from 2006-2013 and its president from 2010-2011. He also served on the Baldwin-Woodville Area School Board for 15 years.
Tom stays active as a basketball coach and referee, and also runs and plays golf.
He served as captain of the cross country and track & field teams and was recognized as the most valuable runner while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Tom earned NCAA All American honors in cross country in 1976 and is a member of the National W Club.
This is the 22nd annual business awards program for St. Croix EDC. The EDC was established in 1994 as a countywide business league that operates as the independent economic development arm of St. Croix County, Wisconsin. Reflective activities include marketing and communication, business retention, expansion recruitment, new incorporations, and legislative advocacy.
Banquet details will follow.
For more information, contact William Rubin or Nita Dusek at (715) 381-4383.
