Endres
Mfg. Co. finds itself in a rare field, a family business,
entering its fourth generation. Statistics show that only about
3% of family businesses ever reach that level. This is a look
back at how Endres Mfg. got to this point.
Lawrence M. Endres Sr.
was born in 1884 and raised in Martinsville, Wisconsin. After
beginning his entrepreneurial career with several patents and a
small business with his brothers, he branched out on his own and
founded L.M. Endres Manufacturing Company in 1926 at 305 West
Street. He found early success with his many inventions, including
sixteen patents. Some of his more popular inventions were his
folding drawbar and his disc sharpener. In 1930 the business was
incorporated and the name changed to Endres Mfg. Co.
Larry
Jr. was born in 1924 and started his tenure at Endres Mfg. when
he was only six. In 1938 Larry bought the company’s first Sears
& Roebuck welder for $96. Larry invented his own variation of
the folding drawbar in 1940 and attempted to patent it, but was
too young. Due to World War II Larry enlisted in the service in
1943 and was forced to close the doors of the company. When he
returned, though, he got right back to work. He bought a truck
and started fabricating steel beams for the increase in
home-building. This was the beginning of the structural steel
business which makes up over 95 percent of sales. He also began
the pier business when a friend requested that Larry build one
for him. Larry saw it as a great opportunity to keep the
employees busy in the winter months. Though the pier business is
only about 2 percent of sales today, it provides a majority of
the exposure to the non-construction community.
Larry
married Leona A. Wallin in June 1950 after Lee had completed
nursing school. The two of them moved in with Larry’s parents
and stayed there until 1953 when their first child, Diane, was
born, followed shortly after that by the death of Lawrence Sr.
Lee was brought into the business in 1957 as the first full-time
bookkeeper. In the same year their second and last child,
Ronald, was born.
One of Endres Mfg. Co.’s biggest
jobs during this time was for Madison Gas & Electric. Endres
employees welded most of the original natural gas lines for
Waunakee and many of the neighboring communities. In 1966, after
several additions to the original location, they finally grew
too big and Larry bought an agricultural lot in Westport, on
Century Avenue, just on the edge of Waunakee. Here he built a
shop 4 times the size of the original facility. This location
was originally used for storage, but then in 1968 the old
location was sold and the entire business was moved to the new
location. When he moved to the new location he had made a
promise to not let the new business become an eyesore to those
entering the village. So, Larry took it upon himself to give the
shop a Bavarian theme to reflect his German heritage. He also
added a park on the south side called, “Kappel Park” after the
chapel in the back corner. The chapel was a replica of the
chapel his great-grandfather, John Endres, had built in the town
of Berry, WI.
In
1965, Ken Ballweg started working part-time at the shop while
attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison. After
graduation he served a term in the Army Reserve and then came
back and started working for the Company full time. While
working at Endres he met Diane and they were married in January
1974.
The job that Endres regards as being
a defining factor in their history was the new Madison Post
Office in 1974. This job helped to define them as a leader in
their field and gave them a presence in the community.
In
1982 the goats were introduced to Endres Mfg. They were put on
the north side of the property which unfortunately caused a
small stir in the neighborhood because of the noise and smell.
But Larry was not deterred, In 1990 Larry brought the kids back
to the south side of Kappel Park where they now live from
Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend every year.
In 1990, Larry decided to step down
as president, and formally gave the reigns to his son-in-law Ken
Ballweg. In 1995 Endres Manufacturing joined the
Steel Plus Network
and was selected fabricator of the year by this multinational
organization for steel fabricators. In 2003 Ken was
awarded the prestigious Bob Coffey award in recognition of his
leadership and contributions to the Steel Plus Network. From a
Barn on West Street, Endres has grown to an internationally
renowned model for superb steel manufacturing.
In
1996 the
EMC Foundation
was formed with Diane Endres-Ballweg as president, Ron Endres as
vice president, and Alan Wolfe as financial counsel. The EMC
Foundation was established to provide financial support to local
organizations and non-profits that would make Dane County a
better place to live, work and play. Since its beginning, the
foundation has given over $200,000 to local area non-profit
organizations.
Endres has continually given back to
the community through community parties, Oktoberfest
celebrations, Easter egg hunts, goat races, parade floats, and
donations to local organizations. The 75th
Anniversary was celebrated in 2001 with a community party and
tours of the plant which the whole community was welcome to take
part in. They have also given back to their employees through
elaborate Christmas parties all over Wisconsin, Brewer games,
golf outings, softball picnics, and a variety of company
sponsored activities.
The next
generation is also starting to make an impact on the company.
Ben, Sam, and Katie Ballweg have all spent summers working in
the office, painting out in the park and learning about the
organization and their family heritage. Sam returned to Endres
in the summer of 2004, after graduating from Boston College and
spending time gaining work experience for other business
organizations. He is currently living in Waunakee with his wife
Annie, who is a board member for the EMC Foundation. Katie is at
Denver University and continues to help out around the shop when
she is home on break. Ben is back in school after serving in the
Navy and has spent time researching and consulting at Endres to
help them become more lean and efficient. Ron Endres and his wife Sheila
continue to stay involved and live in the Madison area with
their children Alexandra and Jordan. Diane stays busy with a
plethora of community involvements, teaching aviation at
Edgewood High School, helping plan the company events, and
chairing the EMC Foundation.
Endres is
grateful to neighbors who have supported us in the community, to
business associates who trust in our products and rely on our
service, to customers who have become our friends, to our loyal
and dedicated employees who continue to go above and beyond in
the quality of their work, and to God who has so richly blessed
our labors.
Endres
Manufacturing Company, truly a family business and Waunakee’s
oldest industry, will continue to be an asset to its customers
its employees and its community for years to come. Through
proper management and dedicated craftsmen, we, at Endres, will
keep providing a superior and timely product that people can
appreciate.
