Wisconsin has a long history of hardworking people. Every day, our workforce is driven by tradespeople like welders, machinists, line operators, and truck drivers. There are endless unsung heroes who rise early, put themselves to the test, and do whatever needs to be done. And behind every job, there is a tireless business leader who thinks local, puts faith in the community, and takes risks in order to build something lasting. As such, Wisconsin has a growing list of business leaders that deserve our recognition and praise, and we are here to champion you.
Along with today’s business leaders like you, we also want to recognize those who came before us. Decades ago, Wisconsin’s economic strength was built by visionaries who took real risks, created jobs, supported local families, and kept communities strong during difficult times in our country. Their work shaped the foundation we all stand on today. Let’s look back at some of the business pioneers who brought jobs to Milwaukee, throughout Wisconsin, and far beyond, and who made a lasting impact.
Brewing & Food Production
Frederick Miller – Miller Brewing Company
Frederick Miller came from Germany in 1855. He started brewing beer in Milwaukee’s Miller Valley. His work built a brand that lasted for many generations. The brewery provided steady jobs for local families. It also supported Wisconsin farmers by creating a strong demand for grains.
Jacob Best Sr. & Frederick Pabst – Pabst Brewing Company
Jacob Best Sr. started brewing beer in 1844. Later, Frederick Pabst joined the company and helped it grow. Pabst Brewing became one of the biggest breweries in the country. The company offered steady jobs and real career paths. It played a major role in building the city of Milwaukee.
Joseph Schlitz – Schlitz Brewing Company
Joseph Schlitz took a small brewery and expanded it worldwide. Schlitz became known as “The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous.” His work created jobs in production, packaging, shipping, and rail operations. This growth supported workers and families across Wisconsin.
Fred Usinger – Usinger’s Famous Sausage
Fred Usinger started his sausage company in 1880. He helped make handcrafted foods a proud part of Milwaukee’s identity. Usinger’s supported skilled work in butchering, curing, and retail. The business stayed on Old World Third Street for over a century.
Industrial Innovation
Edward P. Allis – Allis-Chalmers
Edward Allis took a small metal shop and turned it into the biggest industrial employer in Milwaukee. His factories made engines, turbines, and equipment for mills. He believed in strong teams and steady support for workers. His company helped fuel the growth of big factories and power companies across the country.
Herman Falk – The Falk Corporation
Herman Falk’s legacy began with a family brewery. After a fire destroyed it, he made a bold change. He turned to heavy machine manufacturing. His company made huge gears that helped run U.S. Navy ships during World War II. The company also kept many people working during tough times like the Great Depression. Falk showed that reinvention can save jobs and build strength for the future.
John A. Kimberly – Kimberly-Clark
Founded in Neenah, Kimberly-Clark innovated constantly, from paper products to personal care, expanding into 14 mills within 25 years. That rapid growth brought opportunity to the entire Fox Valley region.
Arthur Oliver Smith – A. O. Smith
A.O. Smith’s patented steel automobile frame transformed modern manufacturing. The company later became a key defense supplier, with facilities employing thousands across Wisconsin.
What do these business leaders have in common? They all solved major challenges and created solutions that led to long-term jobs, creating economic stability and prosperity.
Community Development
Many founders didn’t stop at business success. They also built supportive resources for the community to strengthen their workforce and to grow the region. Here are a couple of their stories.
John Michael Kohler – Kohler Co.
Kohler introduced cast-iron enamel plumbing fixtures and later planned Kohler Village with quality housing and social facilities for workers. This community model improved stability and worker satisfaction long before “employee experience” was a business buzzword.
Samuel Curtis Johnson – SC Johnson
Samuel Johnson bought a small flooring company in 1886 and grew it into one of the most recognizable names in household goods. His company culture emphasized ethics, safety, and respect, helping generations of employees thrive.
Wisconsin’s greatest companies didn’t just employ people. They investedin the wellbeing of their workers, making sure that everyone had a hand in their success.
World-Famous Brands
There are a large number of brands that are household names that started right here, with humble beginnings. Here are three of them.
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson began in 1903 when William Harley and the Davidson brothers started building motorcycles in Milwaukee. Their work began in small workshops and backyards. Over time, the brand grew into a symbol of American motorcycling. The company trained skilled workers and supported many suppliers across the entire supply chain. Harley-Davidson still provides employment that keeps workers and families in Wisconsin, close to the facilities.
Bucyrus-Erie (now part of Caterpillar)
Bucyrus-Erie started during Milwaukee’s early industrial age. The company built large machines used for mining and construction. Bucyrus equipment helped dig the Panama Canal. The company made Wisconsin known around the world for heavy equipment manufacturing.
Oshkosh Corporation
Oshkosh Corporation formed in 1917. The company makes strong and reliable trucks. As Oshkosh continues to expand manufacturing jobs across Wisconsin, they also train workers and assist in their skill development.
The companies we’re highlighting shaped more than their industries. They created economic growth, supported local suppliers, and helped build strong communities throughout the state.
The Workforce: Wisconsin’s Greatest Strength
Wisconsin has gone through many changes. Factories have opened and closed. New technology has replaced old ways of working. The state has seen hard times and recovery. Through it all, the people of Wisconsin kept going. They learned new skills. They rebuilt their work and their communities. They moved forward, just like the early business leaders who helped shape the state’s economy.
Employers: Let’s Keep Wisconsin Working
For more than two decades, Staffing Partners has embodied the same values that built this state, and these are likely values we all share:
- Hard work
- Integrity
- Practical problem-solving
- Partnership over transactions
We don’t just fill positions.
We create solutions that keep your operation running.
Need 50 workers tomorrow?
Need transportation solved?
Need on-site support?
Need a long-term workforce plan?
We’ll figure it out.
We will show up.
We will treat your success like our own.
The pioneers built the foundation. Today, you are building the future.
Together, we will continue Wisconsin’s proud history of strong companies, thriving workers, and communities powered by great jobs.
Staffing Partners is proud to stand with Wisconsin’s employers and the workforce that keeps this state moving forward.
When you’re ready for workforce solutions that truly work
Let’s solve your staffing needs.