Jeremy Ratliff
Editor
This past September marked five-years of operations for Wisconsin Interstate Contracting, located at N3479 CTH G in Merrill.
Founded in September of 2015 by local business woman Renee Koebe, WIC is a certified DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).
Offering a range of contractor services including installation of erosion control and restoration, excavation, signage and guardrail/cable barrier, WIC contracts as a subcontractor on WisDOT projects throughout the state .In fact as of the close of the 2019 construction season, WIC has fulfilled over 250 DOT, municipal, county and residential contacts, while visiting each of the state’s 72 counties.
The long list of success benchmarks for WIC in a relatively short time frame carries on from there, including expansion from a staff of three in 2015 to now employing 16; operating as a signatory to Operator’s Local 130 and Laborer’s Local 258 unions and topping the million dollar mark for payroll in 2019.
WIC’s rapid growth garnered statewide attention after just over a year in-business, when it became one of of seven Wisconsin businesses recognized by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation during Marketplace 2016, the Governor’s Conference on Minority Business Development. Wisconsin Interstate Contracting was one of two businesses awarded ‘The Rising Star’ award; given to businesses operating less than five years that have demonstrated strong growth potential.
“I’ve always enjoyed working outdoors and someday opening my own business was something I had always thought about,” Koebe explains.
“When my sons Austin and Justin (Bonnell) graduated high school, they supported the idea. They’ve always had a strong work ethic and also enjoy working outside. So we decided to give it a go. When we first started out, it just the three of us. “
Along with a successful start came rapid growth for the company.
As WIC took on more employees, Renee’s husband Rob was one of them; serving as superintendent and bringing with him over 30 years of construction experience. The company’s foundation of being family owned and operated continued with the addition of Renee’s daughter Kaitlin and step-daughter Mikalea Schneider.
While WIC has left its mark across the state of Wisconsin, examples of their work and craftsmanship are abundant locally as well, such as replacement of guardrail and erosion control on the US 51 overpass at STH 64 and assisting with several projects in the Merrill community.
During the construction of Jay Stadium, WIC donated $10,000 in labor and supplies while providing restoration work for the project. In addition, the company donated another $2,500 in labor and supplies, while providing brush clearing services for the Riverbend Trail and last summer donated free grass planting and erosion control services during construction of the new Banker’s Square Pocket Park in downtown Merrill.
“We feel it’s pretty important to give back to the Merrill community, as the community has been very supportive of us over the years,” Renee explains. “Rob and I were born and raised here and so were our children. We consider ourselves very fortunate to call such a great, supportive community, home.”
For more information about Wisconsin Interstate Contracting, Renee can be reached at (715) 218-2423. Or visit WIC on Facebook or their website at https://www.wisintercon.com.