Waupaca Foundry CEO to Chair State Business Group

Source: Waupaca Foundry announcement

WAUPACA, Wisc. — President, COO & CEO of Waupaca Foundry, Mike Nikolai, is the new chairman of the board of directors for Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC).

The organization is the largest and most influential business association in the state, representing more than 3,700 employers of every size and from every sector of the economy. Nikolai will serve a two-year term for the organization.

In his role for WMC, Nikolai announced his goal to promote pro-business policies in local and state government.

“Providing a unified voice across regulatory agencies will help business statewide,” Nikolai said. “Being the 49^th chair is an honor and if we can continue to grow business in an election year, it will be a feather in our cap.”

“Mike’s strong leadership and innovative ideas have helped forge the expansion and success of Waupaca Foundry and the surrounding community,” said WMC President & CEO Kurt R. Bauer. “We can’t wait to see how he will lead the business community in 2022.”

At the company, Nikolai leads nine foundry and machining facilities nationwide that employ 4,400 employees. He has worked for the company for 28 years and succeeded former President & CEO, Gary Gigante who also served on the WMC Board of Directors.

About Waupaca Foundry, Inc.

Waupaca Foundry, Inc., North America’s leading supplier of iron castings to the automotive, commercial vehicle, agriculture, construction, and industrial markets, produces gray iron castings, ductile iron castings, HNM™ series high-strength ductile iron, and austempered ductile iron castings using state of-the-art processes and technology.