Yutka Fence
Address: 11880 12th Street, Kenosha
Industry: Light Construction/Fencing
www.yutkafence.com
Brett Yutka left his job as an industrial asset appraiser in 2004 to rejoin his father, Paul, in the family business.
Paul started Yutka Fence in 1968. He employed a small crew, but performed most of the fence estimates and installations himself.
Employment levels at the company have increased 50 percent and revenue levels are up 12 percent since 2011, said Brett, now president of Yutka Fence.
Last year, Yutka Fence purchased a new facility right off I-94. The company created space to display fencing, added new signage and remodeled two offices at the new facility.
“We definitely changed the way we approach the business,” Brett said. “The new facility is a huge marketing piece for us, and we’ve started doing direct advertising and training our own sales people.”
There’s still plenty of room for improvement, but the new approach allows for more opportunity to grow, Brett said.
Yutka Fence currently employs 13 people in the office and has three full crews of contract workers it regularly contracts with for larger jobs as needed.
Paul has transitioned to vice president of sales, and focuses primarily on residential and commercial estimates.
“We will always have a mix of residential and commercial work,” Brett said. “Right now, I would say residential is a bigger part of our business, but both sides are growing.”
The company is looking forward to growing in the Kenosha community and having more opportunities to give back.
“Kenosha itself is an incredible opportunity for business,” Brett said. “More and more business keeps moving here. There’s really great energy, and I don’t think that’s going to go away.”
