City's Business Retention and Expansion Program visits two well-established companies
In the month of November, Kusel Equipment Co. and Konecranes invited representatives from the City and Chamber of Commerce to get a first-hand view of the work they do.
The program's team, which includes Mayor Emily McFarland, Development Coordinator Alex Allon, and Chamber of Commerce Director Bonnie Hertel, was first hosted by Kusel Equipment Co.'s President and CEO, Dave Smith. The group toured the facility and learned about the custom fabrication projects they take on.
"Seeing expert welders in action gives an appreciation of the craftsmanship that goes into each custom piece they put out," said Hertel. "It's clear from our conversations on the floor, that the team at Kusel is one big family. Everyone we talked to is engaged in meaningful work and is constantly developing their talent and skills."
That family work environment includes competitive salary, 401k benefits, family health insurance and a number of cross-training opportunities. The custom builds at Kusel Equipment Co. mean that workers always have something new to focus on as they manufacture some of the highest quality stainless-steel cheese making equipment and drainage products in the world.
"We are honored to have called Watertown home throughout our 173-year history," said Smith. "The community has taken good care of us and we try to pay it back with how we treat our family of workers."
At Konecranes, Director of Operations Brian Pierce and his team talked with the group about the history of the company's growth in Watertown. "Having a company in our community that is a worldwide, industry leader like this is pretty special," said Allon. Walking through the facility, the group met senior members of Konecranes with decades of experience and heard stories about how every day at work is different than the one before.
"We focus on continuous improvement and empower our people to grow within the company," said Pierce. "Everyone can choose the skills they want to learn, and we train them. As they progress, we make sure we're taking care of them with competitive wages and market leading benefits."
"Each time we meet with a member of our business community, I come back to City Hall wanting to share their stories with the world," said Mayor McFarland. "Watertown really does have a group of industries that can't be found anywhere else. And the support that Kusel Equipment Co. and Konecranes give their employees is a testament to why people want to work in our community."
For more information on the BRE program, the local business environment and featured monthly business videos, please visit the Business page on the City's website. To request a business visit from the BRE program, please contact Development Coordinator, Alex Allon at aallon@cityofwatertown.org.
Kusel Equipment Co. and Konecranes are looking for ideal candidates to join their teams.
For more information on openings with Kusel Equipment Co. please visit https://www.kuselequipment.com/our-company/careers. For more information on openings at Konecranes, please visit https://careers.konecranes.com/Konecranes/search/?q=&q2=&alertId=&locationsearch=&title=&facility=&location=watertown%2C+WI%2C+US&shifttype=&date=