Manufacturing
Chairman, president and CEO
Green Bay Packaging Inc. | Green Bay
William Kress represents the third generation of family leadership at Green Bay Packaging, serving as chairman, president and chief executive officer of the pulp and paper company.
During his tenure, the company has expanded through a series of acquisitions, including Franksville-based Midland Packaging and Display and Germantown-based Great Lakes Packaging Corp. in 2014; Waukesha-based Baird Display in 2015; and Fort Atkinson-based Wisconsin Packaging Corp., Traverse City, Michigan-based Grand Traverse Container Inc. and Aurora, Illinois-based Citadel Industries Inc. in 2018. That same year, the company broke ground on a $500 million new paper mill and expansion project in Green Bay, while its sales and distribution center in Downers Grove, Illinois, also commenced construction of a new 170,000-square-foot complex. With more than 3,700 employees, the company has operations across 37 locations in 16 states.
The company recently announced plans to build a new 600,000-square-foot “super plant” corrugator plant in Fort Worth, Texas. It has also expanded in recent years in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Geneva, Ohio. Its products include shipping containers, folding cartons and coated label products. Its Green Bay mill recently achieved net-zero water in its production of 100% recycled containerboard, using a reclaimed water system.
Kress serves on the boards of the Green Bay Packers and advisory boards for Associated Bank and Junior Achievement. In 2016, he received the Rotary Club of Green Bay’s Free Enterprise Award.