Stories from our July 1 edition
Kraft completes plant expansion, creating 300 jobs
Little Chute facility has the largest and fastest multi-serve pizza line in the world
By Brian Roebke
Editor
In a time of economic gloom, there was a bright light Thursday in Little Chute as the Kraft Pizza Company officially opened its new 108,000 square foot wing.
Company President Tim Cofer said this week is a very special week in Kraft Pizza’s history, since he believes the facility is now the largest and fastest multi-serve pizza line in the world.
Of the 300 new jobs, 200 positions have already been filled, and the other hundred are expected to be hired by the end of the year.
Peter Borozan, senior director of operations-pizza, opened Thurs-day’s celebration by talking about the more than 90 people who were involved in the projects, and how none of the projects he’s worked with in the 20 years he’s been with the company have gone so smoothly. “It was executed incredibly well, ahead of schedule, and under budget,” he said.
He said with Plant Manager Mike Spence heading up the project, he had absolute confidence and total trust that the project would turn out well and it did.
“He brought all the Little Chute employees along with the project,” Borozan said. “It wasn’t just the initiative of the expansion team, it was the whole plant.”
Borozan said Spence was a terrific leader, inclusive of all employees, and a great example of someone who lives the Kraft value of leading with his head and his heart.
Borozan then said to him, “There’s a commercial with a punch line of ‘I love you man,’ and I do.”
After Spence told Borozan he loved him too, he noted that just 11 months ago, there was a pile of dirt standing where the new addition stands, and what now exists exceeded everyone’s expectations.
“It is just an extraordinary line built by extraordinary people and staffed by just an exceptional workforce,” Spence said.
President Tim Cofer didn’t think it was a good morning in Little Chute, but it was a great morning.
Cofer made several surprise visits to check on the status of the project, and each time he was very pleased with what he saw and pleased with the result.
“It has transformational capabilities,” Cofer said. “For the Kraft Pizza Company, and the passion and the expertise that was poured into this initiative is just simply amazing,” he added.
Cofer included three things in his remarks: congratulations to the Little Chute team, an update on the health of the company, and a surprise.
Cofer said the Little Chute facility has been the foundation of the business, and the consistent strong performance of team has been critical to their success.
“I think it’s clear, you made history,” Cofer said. “You made Kraft history, you made Little Chute history, and we are very proud.”
The new construction contains an exceptional bakery and an agile and flexible assembly line, Cofer noted.
Cofer said in a time of a worldwide recession, Kraft Pizza is growing. In Kraft’s most recently quarterly earnings release, the company CEO noted the pizza division completed its sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth.
“This business is humming along and delivering consistent revenue growth,” Cofer said. “Each of our brands: DiGiorno, Tombstone, Jack’s, and California Pizza Kitchen, are contributing to this strong performance.”
Cofer feels the high quality of frozen meals is spurring the revenue growth along with innovative new products and great value for consumers.
The surprise for the day was the announcement that during this difficult economic time in our country, Kraft Pizza is donating the first 10,000 pizzas off the new line to America’s Second Harvest and Feeding America food banks, both serving Wisconsin.
Michael Morgan of the Wisconsin Department of Administration congratulated Kraft for making a product that people want and enjoy as well as the employees who got the job done.
“I also want to congratulate the people of Little Chute,” Morgan said, noting that many of them work in the plant. “You are a committed, well-educated, dedicated workforce,” he said.
Deputy Secretary of Commerce Aaron Olver said Wisconsin recently passed Indiana to become No. 1 in the country in manufacturing, thanks to companies like Kraft.
Growing Kraft’s Little Chute plant with a 50 percent job growth is part of that.
State Senator Alan Lasee said one of his jobs is to work with the government to make sure they are part of the solution, not part of the problem. “I think the state government worked very well with Kraft,” Lasee said. “I say that knowing that I didn’t receive one call complaining about the DNR.”
State Representative Al Ott, another strong supporter of the dairy industry, extended his hand and thanked the employees of the plant for working hard, dedicating themselves, and showing the world they have what it takes.
He said it wasn’t easy to get the plant of this quality since competition for jobs is fierce. He said everyone should appreciate how fortunate the area is to have this Kraft plant in Little Chute.
Spence said Village Administrator Chuck Kell worked well with Kraft to make sure the plant was something the village would be proud of.
“I think as we move forward we are going to look back and this will be a historic day in the lives of everyone and in the lives of this village,” Kell said. “It isn’t very often that you see a corporation make a commitment and an investment in a community like the Kraft Pizza Company has done here in Little Chute.”
Kell noted Kraft is the village’s largest employer and largest taxpayer and their investment has helped Little Chute buck the economic development trend in the valley and increase the number of jobs over the past 18 months.
Spence thought that growth was a testament to the leadership in the company, the product development team, and the consumers who recognize the quality product and are voting with their hard-earned dollars.
“You can’t get any better than having folks want to buy your products, and our growth shows that folks do prefer our products,” Spence said.
Kell said the working relationship between Kraft and the village has solidified a relationship that will encourage the company to maximize its potential here in the future.
When decisions came regarding the expansion, Kell said the village board “took the high road,” and made the decisions that needed to be made to make sure the company was able to expand on the site.
Kell finished his presentation by giving a street sign to Cofer, “Innovation Avenue.”
The driveway entering the plant was formerly Vandenbroek Road, and vacated years ago to accommodate plant expansion.
Kell said the village decided they would let Kraft name the street, and he presented Cofer a sign of the winning entry.
Spence said the company had an internal contest to name the street. Keith Fleming, who works as a mechanic in the plant, provided the idea and he read what Fleming said about the street name.
His remarks included that years ago, the road went nowhere but to a swamp hole. “I grew up just down the street from here and I think it’s amazing the progress that has taken place at this site,” he noted.
Fleming said as he looked at the improvements that were being made, he saw the “wow” factor.
“I don’t look at this as the end of a road anymore, but more as a beginning of the future of the pizza industry here in Little Chute,” he said.
Spence said the company was in the sixth week of an eight-week commissioning process in getting the new line running.
“One of the things that has made the Kraft Pizza Company successful is the ability to provide different products to our consumers,” he said.
The new line will give them the equipment to quickly switch from one product to another in a very short period of time with a high level of efficiency.
Because Kraft strives to have fresh product available for the consumer, Spence said the plant will change over multiple times a day to maintain their inventory level to be as fresh as possible.
“It gives you that fresh product that folks expect,” he said. “What we built into this line is the ability to manage that downtime to make sure that when we’re running the line, we’re running the line and not cleaning the line.”
From a small family-owned company, Jack’s Pizza, being run out of a Little Chute home, pizza making in Little Chute has now grown into the most impressive pizza production facility in the world.
“It’s a wonderful heritage that’s made up many the brands that our Kraft Pizza Company,” Spence said. “You look at Jack’s … Tombstone, our sister plant in Medford, started as part of the Tombstone Bar. All of our brands have had that foundation and have that platform for the growth which makes it exciting.”
Sentiment growing in Little Chute to close Pine Street access to Main Street
By Tom Collins
For the Times-Villager
If the tenor of discussion is any indication, Little Chute residents will have at least one less street in their downtown area soon.
Trustees and village personnel picked up a previously recited mantra regarding the closure of the narrow Pine Street in the heart of the village. It intersects with Main Street by King’s Variety at its north end and Canal Street on the south end, near St. John Church.
“If someone is turning left on Pine at a busy time of the afternoon, traffic waits,” said village President Chuck Fischer. “I personally feel Pine Street should be closed.”
“When we re-did Main Street and didn’t close it, we made a mistake,” noted Trustee John Elrick. He said he had himself to blame as a former member of the village planning commission.
“I think it’s time that it needs to be closed,” Elrick added.
“I like the idea,” added Trustee Steve Ransbottom. “Turn it into a mall.”
The portion of Pine likely to be closed would extend from Main Street south to tiny Church Street, not all the way to Canal Street. The area of Pine Street used for parking near St. John Church would remain.
“We’re not going to vacate the street — just as a thoroughfare,” suggested Community Develop-ment Director Jim Moes.
Trustees voted unanimously to let the process begin with the planning commission at their July meeting. Eventually, a public hearing will be held about the question of closing the street.
When questioned about properties along the street, Moes noted two residences have access via Vanden Broek Street, a short block to the east.
Trustees also walked on the slippery tightrope of considering extensions for residents who have appealed mandated sewer lateral replacements.
While just eight of the 180 residents affected have called or sent letters so far, village officials and trustees were aware that more people could appeal.
They looked at three options as suggested in a memo to the village board. One was a firm extension denial and implementation of a $50 a month non-compliance fine, per village ordinances.
The second option would grant an extension and postpone the monthly fine. If the residence still did not comply by the extension deadline, the fines would be applied retroactively.
The third option would bind homeowners with the village. The work would be contracted and paid up front by the village. Property owners would then be assessed for the charges over three to five years at 9 percent interest. In effect, the village would loan money to get the work done.
“I know we have policy and it’s difficult to stray from policy — that we’ll get a deluge of requests,” Fischer said. “I don’t think that will happen here. I don’t think people write to the board unless they have legitimate needs. I think people have a lot of pride.”
“A little bit of leniency or different ways of accomplishing the goal is what we need here,” said Elrick.
“We have hundreds of these to go yet,” reminded Village Administrator Chuck Kell. “If the board makes a decision to make extensions or to fund them, we don’t want people coming to us like a bank or credit union. We might have 200 applications.”
Trustee Jason Leicht suggested those requesting extensions and who needed money for the replacements get a letter from a financial institution.
“We really need to use this as a means of last resort,” said Elrick referring to the loans. “I don’t like the word ‘dissuade’ but that’s what we’re trying to do.”
“I do agree with a letter requesting the assistance and that a bank has denied them,” added Ransbottom.
“If we only have a handful of requests, why don’t we grant an extension for another year. After a year, then do the loan program,” suggested Trustee Janet Verstegen as a fourth option. “These people are struggling. I don’t see imposing a $50 per month fine retroactively.”
“For every lateral that is not done, we face fines from the DNR and the Heart of the Valley Metro Sewer District if we don’t meet the 40 percent standard,” said Assistant Director of Public Works Jeff Elrick.
“We need to take the whole village into consideration and not prolong the inevitable with extensions,” added Elrick. “I firmly support option three. We can decide on an interest rate.”
“I think we have to take circumstances under consideration,” Fischer added. “If the French government had fined Jean Valjean for stealing a loaf of bread, what good would that have done?”
Two residents voiced their need for extensions but not loans. Kim Schultz of 1204 Cypress St. wanted to time so she could share lateral installation with two other neighbors. Bob Wolf of 707 Coolidge St. wasn’t sure his lateral needed to be replaced and wanted more time to investigate.
Trustees will consider the proper action to take at an upcoming meeting. They agreed to give the matter more thought.
In other business, the board unanimously approved a site plan for Performance Machine Co. at 1701 East Elm Dr. They took no action on a request for roof repairs on a Main Street building. That matter was resolved with village officials.
And the village board reviewed contract changes approved by the water commission for management of Little Chute’s water system. The contract calls for increases based on the federal cost of living standards and has a separate scale for health insurance increases. It will be considered at the July 1 village board meeting.
Kell discussed two matters. He has been informed that the Washington Street upgrade may qualify for federal stimulus funding. In combination with the money already approved from the TEA grant and Kraft funding for a portion of the project, the village may not have to apply any of its own funds.
Kell also surfaced requests by several parties to salvage materials from village-owned homes.
“I’m concerned about liability and damage. I’ve said no up to this point,” said Kell.
Trustees agreed and said that if anything could be salvaged the village might consider donating useable items to the local Habitat for Humanity resale outlet, not to private concerns.
And trustees received invitations to the official ceremony installing Fox Valley Metro police chief Erik Misselt. The new chief will be sworn in on Monday, July 6 at 10 a.m. at police headquarters in Little Chute.
Kaukauna alumni association awards scholarships to KHS grads
By Brian Roebke
Editor
While the past year has been a dreadful one for many in the financial world, it was a good one for the Kaukauna Alumni Foundation’s grant fund.
At the June 20 alumni rally at Van Abel’s Supper Club in Hollandtown, board member Steve Nytes announced that six scholarships were given to graduates of the KHS Class of 2009 that totaled $18,500.
Nytes said the majority of the grant fund was maintained in certificates of deposit over the past year, so while they didn’t generate a great deal of income, they didn’t experience the losses that funds in the stock market did.
Nytes added that in these general economic times, the general donations received over the past year were the highest ever.
The foundation also received a large bequest into the fund which allowed them to increase the scholarship money distributed.
“The foundation is looking to significantly grow its endowment in order to provide more and larger grants and provide financial assistance for other community-based programs,” Nytes said, reminding people to remember the foundation when making charitable donations and estate planning.
Nytes introduced three of the scholarship winners who were present at the rally.
Lindsay Werth received a $1,500 technical college grant. The daughter of Steven and Lora Werth is currently working at St. Paul Elder Services and will be attending Fox Valley Technical College this fall for nursing.
Werth thanked the foundation for the grant. “If it wasn’t for this grant, I wouldn’t be going to school for another year or two,” she said.
Craig Schmitt, the son of Victor and Patricia Schmitt, received a $3,000 college/university grant, and will be attending UW-Madison.
He was a member of the National Honor Society, drama club, link crew, and wrestling team.
Schmitt said he was proud that the foundation believed in him by awarding the scholarship. “I greatly value the education that this gracious donation will allow me to attain,” he said. “My desire to learn developed at a young age and I have my family and the Kaukauna school system to thank for this.”
He told how he vividly remembers reading a book about the planet Mars with his mother and while a part of him hated reading, he thinks a larger part of him wanted to learn. “My mom was able to see that through all of my whining and complaining,” he said.
He also thanked one of his inspirational teachers, Jim Serwe. “I could probably sit up here all night and compliment the man because he is such a great person, but that would take quite a while.”
He said his desires were met at the high school and he’s never been afraid to invest in his education, no matter what challenges were involved.
“I believe that the Kaukauna school system has prepared me to face the rigors of whatever my college endeavors bring,” he added.
Katie Zillmer, the daughter of James and Jean Zillmer, received a $5,000 college/university grant.
She has an extensive resume which includes being an academic all-star, National Honor Society president, co-valedictorian, and Lang Trophy winner. She also volunteered for numerous organizations.
With plans to attend St. Thomas University this fall, Zillmer thanked the board for selecting her as a scholarship recipient.
“More than that, I would like to thank the generous individuals who have contributed to the grant fund,” she said. “I hope that I can live up to your expectations and one day return the generosity that you have given to me.”
Three of the scholarship winners were unable to attend the rally.
Madeline Haven, the daughter of Charles and Carrie Haven, received a $3,000 college/university grant and will attend Carroll University.
She was involved in vocal, band, and musical productions and had many volunteer experiences while in high school. She plans to pursue a career as a nurse or nurse practitioner.
Haven sent an e-mail, saying she was on a mission trip on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma and couldn’t attend the rally but thanked them for the award.
Mollie Nackers, who received a $3,000 college/university grant, is the daughter of Jeffry and Lori Nackers.
She was a member of the National Honor Society, several sports, and other school groups in addition to a long list of volunteer experiences. She plans to attend Carroll University for nursing.
The final $3,000 college/university grant winner was Corey Macrander, who will attend UW-Madison.
The son of Steve and Lee Macrander was a National Honor Society member as well as being in several sports. He plans to enter the health or science field.
