Manufacturing
Chairman and CEO
Kacmarcik Enterprises | Grafton
Jim Kacmarcik joined the management team of Kapco Metal Stamping in 1985, assuming the second-generation of family leadership for the Grafton-based contract manufacturer of metal components. Today, the company has nearly 700 employees across its nine Wisconsin facilities. Kacmarcik is also chairman and chief executive officer of Kacmarcik Enterprises, an umbrella organization that includes Kapco, Advanced Coatings Inc., House of Harley Davidson, Forward Madison FC, Speedkore Performance Group, Given Entertainment, and several of Kacmarcik’s philanthropic initiatives. Kacmarcik is the owner of the new Milwaukee professional soccer team that will play at the Milwaukee Iron District – a project Kacmarcik has been working to bring to fruition for several years. Kacmarcik is also a minority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison
What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
"My first job out of college was at Kapco, working alongside family members, namely my dad, Tom Kacmarcik Sr., and my brother, T.J. Going into college I thought I wanted to be a lawyer, but my family really came from a simple, blue-collar background, so to continue my education I would need to work and save up. But after some time learning from my dad and seeing the reputation he had built in the manufacturing industry as a brilliant salesman, problem solver, and leader, I decided that Kapco was the right place for me. The biggest thing I learned from my dad was that you always take care of the people who take care of you. To me, that meant our customers, employees, partners, and the community, which for 50 years now has supported us. So as I move into the latter parts of my career, that’s where a lot of my time and energy is focused – making a lasting impact on the community."
What has been the most important piece of advice you've ever received?
"From my dad. He said not to sweat small stuff and focus on the big picture."
What are some of your favorite destinations/places to visit?
“I recently went to Iceland with my family, and it was absolutely beautiful. One of the most stunning places I’ve had the pleasure of traveling to.”
What's your hobby/passion: “Spending time with my family, traveling and Milwaukee Bucks basketball.”
What was your first car?
"An American Motors Pacer."
What is the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome?
“When my dad passed away. You’re never ready to lose the person who was the leader of a company and the person you learned the most from, but also your dad. I think going through that helped guide some of the things we’re doing now, 20-plus years later where we are really trying to do the best we can to take care of our employees both professionally and personally. At that time in my life, it was really a challenge, but as an employer of more than 700 people, you know there are people on the team that are going through difficult periods, so it’s important to me that we're doing all we can to provide a supportive environment for all of my teammates."
What advice would you give to a young professional?
"Follow your dreams. Set goals, and work to achieve them. Align yourself with people who will help you achieve them and believe in you. I think today’s culture of social media and instant gratification, we’ve lost the art of taking pleasure in the process. Nobody’s path is a straight upward trajectory, but if you set goals and chart a course to achieve those goals, then that potential is possible."
What has been your/your company’s most significant success over the last 12 months?
"It would be difficult to limit it to just one thing! The biggest achievements for Kacmarcik Enterprises and our family of companies have been achieving 50 years in business for Kapco Metal Stamping, which manufactures metal components for some of the biggest OEMs and brands in the world, the launch of the Iron District MKE and Milwaukee Pro Soccer, which has been so well-received by the greater Milwaukee community, and unveiling the Kacmarcik Center for Human Performance, which we hope will serve as a hub of positive activity in southeastern Wisconsin. Also, our custom car and carbon fiber business, Speedkore Performance Group, built its most extreme car ever, a 1,000-horsepower 1968 Dodge Charger for Ralph Gilles, the automotive industry’s biggest name in global automobile design."
What would you change about Wisconsin to make it better?
“Mindset. Wisconsin really is a place of opportunity. If you have an idea or a vision, and the work ethic to bring it to life, it’s possible in this state. I think we naturally have kind of a little-brother mentality, where we’re constantly comparing ourselves to more populous states, but Wisconsin has everything you could ask for. I feel blessed to be able to do business in this state, to employ people from this state, and to give back to this state.”
Is there a nonprofit cause that has special meaning to you? Please tell us about it.
"Well, it’s not a nonprofit cause, but it’s delivering meaningful, sustainable change to the community through education, learning and removing self-imposed limitations on ourselves. This fall we launched the Kacmarcik Center for Human Performance, which endeavors to help individuals, teams and organizations reach their true potential through a variety of different personal and professional development initiatives. Every year, we work to positively impact the lives of 1 million people in southeastern Wisconsin, and for many years that was through our support of philanthropic organizations like Camp Hometown Heroes, Camp Reunite and Kids to Kids. While all of those initiatives are worthwhile, we believed we could do more, which is why we launched the Kacmarcik Center for Human Performance, which we think will first have an amazing impact on the personal and professional growth of our 700 plus teammates at Kacmarcik Enterprises, but also through organizations around the community. We are trying to achieve something different that hasn’t been done before and we want to share that energy and vision throughout our community, the state and the region."
