Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

August 15, 2007, Front Page  

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

 

 

A welcoming affair

 

OEM’s Open House brings company and community together for a special occasion

 

By Mick Kuzjak

 

From the very start of OEM Fabricators’ Open House at Neillsville Industrial Park last Friday afternoon, the heat of the day gave way to the warmth of the moment.

 

Those in the shade of the large tent set up in front of the new, up-and-running 55,000-square foot manufacturing plant forgot about the 90-degree heat to remember the vision and the teamwork that has come to produce a workforce of 82 employees with the bright prospect of more growth to come in the months ahead.

 

Plant manager Craig Kronberger set the tone of achievement in OEM’s expansion to a state-of-the-art manufacturing operation in Neillsville’s industrial park and the combined sense of satisfaction and optimism that it has brought.  “I don’t think that there is another community in the country that wouldn’t give anything to have a facility like this and the opportunity that it brings,” he said.

 

Kronberger took the time to introduce a number of staff members and team leaders before turning the microphone over to company co-owner Mark Tyler.

 

In his remarks, Tyler recalled coming to Neillsville from OEM’s Woodville, Wis., plant and going on a tour of the Fleet-guard-Nelson muffler plant that was in the process of moving its operation to Georgia, leaving behind, and out of work, 200 sheet metal workers and welders.  The building itself wasn’t quite right for OEM’s needs, but the workers were exactly what OEM was looking for to meet the demand of OEM’s original equipment customers that included Agco and Caterpillar.  “Here they were, basically days away from losing their jobs, they were working hard, they were producing superior products and they were doing it with a great attitude,” Tyler said.

 

Tyler said he knew that OEM had to move fast so they wouldn’t lose all those workers.

 

Tyler recalled a wide-spread partnership in both the private and public sectors that soon launched an enterprise to build the facility and fund initial operating costs.  He remembered, in particular, Ann Raid, a planner with West Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.  She was not only the “architect” putting together a $9 million package of financing, but she also helped OEM navigate through complex issues that, Tyler admitted, manufacturing minds such as his usually have trouble comprehending.  Just last week, Tyler recalled, he called her regarding the closing documents, telling her that they had a problem.  “She said, ‘No you don’t have a problem, you just don’t understand,’” he remembered with a chuckle, setting off a wave of laughter that filled the tent.

 

On the local level, Tyler recalled other important contributors to the success of OEM in getting started in Neillsville, including the Listeman Foundation and Boon Construction, referring to their input as “fantastic.”

 

“It was incredible how many people were involved to make this happen,” he said, noting Neillsville Mayor Diane Murphy as one of the driving forces.  “She made it clear she was not going to let red tape and bureaucracy stand in the way,” he said.

 

Stepping to the speaker’s podium Murphy made the point she couldn’t, and didn’t, do it all alone, “We had a team effort in Neillsville, too,” she said, and proceeded to introduce members of the Common Council, and Economic Development and Planning commissions who, she said “stood behind” her all the way.

 

Calling OEM’s grand opening a “wonderful day,” Murphy said it was one in sharp contrast to the day Fleetguard-Nelson announced the muffler plant’s closing.  “The whole community went into mourning, especially the employees,” she said.

 

Then last year, just a few months after Tyler’s tour of the Nelson plant and preliminary discussions with city officials, there came cause for celebration.  “I have proof right here,” Murphy said, holding up a newspaper clipping dated July 4th, 2006 reporting OEM’s announcement that it was coming to Neillsville.

 

“It was the best 4th of July ever,” Murphy said to the applause from the audience.

 

“Thank you for making Neillsville and these employees part of your family,” Murphy said in closing.

 

“We will always be here for you.” Murphy then said as she presented Tyler and co-owner Jim Hauschild with a plaque from the city congratulating OEM on its official opening.

 

The last of the speakers stepping to the podium, Bryce Luchterhand, of the Northern office of Governor Jim Doyle, said that an expanding OEM was a most welcome presence in the state.  Governor Doyle asked him to pass along his congratulations to Tyler and Hauschild, Luchterhand said.  “But most of all, he told me to thank them for choosing Wisconsin.

 

They have proved to be resourceful and visionary in making communities grow, Luchterhand said of Tyler and Hauschild.  “They can see what can be done if we all work together,” he concluded to a standing ovation from the audience for the two.

 

State legislators Representative Scott Suder and Senator Pat Kreitlow were in attendance, presenting OEM with a flag that had flown over the state capitol in Madison as a gesture of appreciation for what OEM has brought to their districts.

 

A traditional ribbon-cutting at the front entrance to the OEM office complex followed and led to the welcome relief of the air-conditioned interior of the building where OEM employees gave guided tours of the plant, its product line and the machinery producing it.  Refreshments and music by Neillsville’s own Back Porch Swing Jazz ensemble brought the day’s featured events to a close.

 

But that was only for the invited officials at the initial ceremonies.  At 2 p.m. OEM opened its doors to tours for the general public, and especially the members of the Neillsville community, many of whom began arriving early for the Open House that continued until 4 p.m.

 

 

The OEM ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday was a testament to teamwork as Neillsville Mayor Diane Murphy and OEM co-owner Mark Tyler cut the ribbon using Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce scissors big enough to match the magnitude of the moment.  Tyler’s partner, Jim Hauschild (left), was also enjoying the moment as the two ends of the ribbon parted, symbolizing the official opening of OEM’s new plant in Neillsville.

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE