Weinbrenner Shoe Company received the 2019 Large Business of the Year, presented at the Merrill Chamber of Commerce Annual Celebration! Debbe Kinsey and the new president of Weinbrenner’s Jeff Burns, re-presented their award the next morning to all the Weinbrenner employers.
Weinbrenner’s originated in Milwaukee in 1892 by a German immigrant Albert Weinbrenner. He designed and made “jobber” boots for workers who climbed lines installing electricity.
By 1908, he had five distribution plants. In the 1930’s, Weinbrenner Shoes arrived in Merrill and became the company headquarters. They also have a manufacturing plant in Marshfield.
Weinbrenner’s is an employee-owned company and has been union made since 1943. They currently employ more than 300 employees.
Under new directorship, the new President/CEO is Jeff Burns who has been with the company since 2011. He said that they are working from the inside out to upgrade their current building and potentially adding on.
Weinbrenner’s was an active participant in the strategic planning efforts that the chamber conducted in 2018-19. They also sponsored a Movie in the Park last summer and will be the headline sponsor for this year’s Annual Lighted Christmas Parade.
Just one more long-time Merrill business that has employed generations of families in Merrill and selling their goods worldwide.
Congratulations to the entire Weinbrenner employee family!