Insight on Business

ONLINE: Click here to see a video of Lou Gentine talking about innovation at Sargento. “Both my father and grandfather leave a strong legacy of creating that culture of mutual respect and trust here at Sargento. That is a meaningful differentiator for us, and it will be on my shoulders to continue it.” — Louie Gentine, Sargento president and chief customer officer “We have many families here with multiple generations,” says Lou Gentine. “Some of them have more family members working here than we do.” From Louie Gentine’s perspective, that’s a principle worth continuing. “Both my father and grandfather leave a strong legacy of creating that culture of mutual respect and trust here at Sargento,” he says. “That is a meaningful differentiator for us, and it will be on my shoulders to continue it.” That culture also extends beyond the workplace. Sargento is involved in multiple community causes both within the local area and across the state, ranging from meal programs and food pantries to the Packers Touchdown for Charities to the Generations center for the Plymouth Intergenerational Coalition, which pairs up senior citizens and young children in the Plymouth area. For Sargento, it’s all about being a good citizen in the community that has meant so much to their success. “It is our responsibility to be involved,” says Lou Gentine. “If you are fortunate, you ought to give back.” Sargento is a tremendous asset for Plymouth and the greater Sheboygan County area, says Lisa Hurley, executive director of the Plymouth Chamber of www. insightonbusiness .com Commerce and Visitors Center. “A corporate entity like Sargento adds stability to the economic climate,” she says. “They are very generous with the local community, which just enhances the quality of life here.” For Hurley, those enhancements include the Intergenerational Coalition, the Plymouth Art Center and the recent Walldogs Rock the Cheese Capital event, which featured 160 artists painting 21 murals around downtown Plymouth in a single weekend. TIED INTO THE COMMUNITY Sargento has also been a major contributor to educational causes, including donating a high-speed manufacturing line that will be used by both Plymouth High School and Lakeshore Technical College to help train the next generation of high-tech manufacturing employees. The $1.2 million training center opened its doors for classes June 21, with Sargento’s contribution being a critical piece for securing the federal grant, says LTC Dean Peter Thillman. The training center will help meet the needs of many area manufactures, not just Sargento, he says. “This skill set is one that will be in demand for years to come,” Thillman says of the high-speed line that students can now study. “We can teach all the basics, but until you see it, you really don’t understand it. Now, they can take it apart, put it back together and get a feeling for how to diagnose problems that might be caused by an issue 50 feet up the line.” Louie Gentine says the opportunity to be involved in projects like the Intergenerational Coalition and the new training facility are what brought him back home to Sargento. If the companies that benefit from the community don’t work to make it stronger, the results are losses for everyone. “The community is one of our stakeholders,” Louie Gentine says. “We want it to be more than just a good place to work; we want this to be a good place to live, especially for families. These efforts benefit everyone, not just Sargento.” Direct involvement in projects with that scope and benefits will be one of the things Lou Gentine misses when he finally passes the reins on to the next generation of leadership. While no formal announcements have been made, nor plans disclosed, he knows that soon his time guiding Sargento will draw to a close. For Gentine, moving on to the next step will mean more time to spend with family. He has three children and eight grandchildren all living within 10 miles of Plymouth. “I have really enjoyed the role that I have played in guiding this company,” Lou Gentine says. It will be hard not to be here every day, but it will soon be time to hand over the reins.” But don’t expect any major changes. The company’s plans include remaining private and family-held. In many ways, the spirit of the company’s founder will continue to guide the company into the future. “It’s important to maintain the culture we have developed,” Lou Gentine says. “There are still a lot of opportunities to grow ourselves.” Augus t 2011 • INSIGHT | 35 4 VIDEO BY JOHN BEHRENS, ARK MEDIA GROUP

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