Page 15 - CMA PROfiles Fall 2017

Brad Wilinski Paul Wilinski Joey Wilinski

Wilco’s specialties include high-end how much he loved manufacturing, and
finishes; curved products, including they decided he would take over the
curved wall panels; moldings; Corian What is it like for Paul manufacturing operation.
fabrications; and distressing and other and Joey to be married Joey Wilinksi joined the company soon
unique services.
and work together after marrying Paul, and all three have
THE SECOND CHAPTER every day? been involved in every aspect of the
Keeping a company strong and success- business for decades.
ful over nearly six decades is an extra- “We don’t know any When it comes to client relationships,
ordinary accomplishment under any other way!” Wilco’s philosophy is that there should
circumstances, but in this day and age, be consistency from start to finish. The
doing that as a family is even more company’s staff of 10 designers “meets
remarkable. It’s not a given, after all, that with clients, measures at the job site,
the younger generations will want to take the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire; puts the job into production and follows
over when the time comes, and quite a Paul is President, Production; and Joey up after installation,” says Joey Wilinski.
few family businesses are ultimately sold is VP, Sales, Marketing and HR. Paul and “Clients have one point of contact; we’re
or shut down. Joey are graduates of the University of not passing the project off at any point.
Wisconsin at River Falls. This works well for us.”
But when Walter and Mary Ann Wilinski
retired 19 years ago, three family mem- Brad and Paul have been part of Wilco Brad, Paul and Joey place a strong
bers from the second generation were since they were kids, sweeping floors and emphasis on continuing education.
ready and willing to take over. Their sanding at the shop from an early age. Wilco has four Certified Kitchen
sons, Brad and Paul, and Paul’s wife, “We grew up working in the shop, learn- Designers (CKD) on staff, and Paul and
Joey, now run the 21st-century version ing the different departments,” Paul says. Joey are also Wisconsin Registered
of Wilco, which includes a staff of 70 and “I went to college to be a vet and then Interior Designers. This ensures that
showroom locations in Green Bay and came back to the business. My brother Wilco offers their clients professionalism
Sturgeon Bay. The three Wilinskis work went to college and came back, too, going and the most current designs and
together to lead the company in new into the design sales side of the business.” products for their homes.
directions, including implementing LEAN Paul was more involved with sales initially, And what is it like for Paul and Joey to be
manufacturing practices in recent years. too, but when one of Wilco’s foremen married and work together every day?
Brad is President, Sales, and attended opened his own shop, he told his dad “We don’t know any other way!”

CABINET MAKERS ASSOCIATION 13