Business for Good at AMPP Annual Conference + Expo 2025

Camp Dairyland: Honoring Camp Daniel

Visitors entered the Dairyland lounge at AMPP Annual Conference + Expo 2025 by walking under a hanging wood plank arch that read “CAMP DAIRYLAND.” Designed to bring greater awareness to Dairyland’s concept of “using business as a force for good,” Camp Dairyland plays on the fun and nostalgia of summer camp, and highlights an organization very near and dear to our heart.

Dairyland team members volunteering at Camp Daniel during Volunteer Week, October 2024

One of our favorite local partners, and the inspiration for the lounge theme this year, Camp Daniel, is a non-profit organization located near our manufacturing facility in northern Wisconsin. They provide a safe summer camp experience for people with disabilities, adapting to meet the unique physical, social, and emotional needs of each camper. The campus has largely been constructed through volunteer time and labor, to which Dairyland has contributed significantly over the last five years through various volunteer days. Each year at AMPP Annual Conference + Expo, Dairyland designates an organization to receive a donation as a direct result of attendee participation—for each visitor to the lounge this year, Dairyland pledged to donate $3 to Camp Daniel.

The Camp Dairyland Experience

The fun didn’t stop after guests entered Camp Dairyland and had their badge scanned to count toward the Dairyland donation to Camp Daniel. Guests were given a tote bag, their first patch, and instructions on how to obtain the three remaining patches. Through a mini scavenger hunt, patches could be obtained by completing a “task” such as getting a photo taken in the Dairyland canoe or visiting our booth across the expo hall aisle.

 

Camp Dairyland visitors could take a printed copy of their photo with them

 

Once the first three patches were obtained, guests were given a final “Nashville” Patch and could pick any letters or numbers available on the picnic tables to add to their tote bag design. We saw many clever designs, especially as the supply of letters and numbers began to dwindle over the course of the event.

 

The Final Results

After close to 350 badge scans, a total of $1,100 was donated to Camp Daniel on behalf of all of the Camp Dairyland participants at AMPP Annual Conference + Expo 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

A very big thank you to AMPP and Freeman for helping bring Camp Dairyland to life. And thank you to all the event attendees who took time out of their day to stop by the lounge, hear about our vision to make a safer world, and participate in Camp Dairyland. It was one to remember, but we can’t wait to do it again next year.

About Dairyland and Business for Good

Dairyland Electrical Industries engineers and manufactures rugged and reliable decoupling products that are critical to cathodic protection systems. Dairyland decouplers keep workers and valuable assets safe from AC faults, lightning, and induced AC voltage, all while optimizing CP systems.

Beyond our products, we use business as a force for good to support our vision to make a safer world. We do this by volunteering locally in our communities and working with non-profit organizations that provide safety and stability for people around the world. We believe that by working together, we can expand our reach and create more opportunities to enhance the quality of life for others.

Thirty years ago, on April 7, 1995, Sherry Kostreva and Sherry Kostreva started working at Dairyland Electrical Industries (yes, you read that correctly). Sherry Ann and Sherry Lynne, as they are better known, are sisters-in-law who began their careers with Dairyland on the same exact day. Their husbands had worked for Dairyland first, but they needed to be on their family farms once spring rolled around. So, Sherry Ann and Sherry Lynne stepped in to help Dairyland.

When the Sherrys started, Dairyland was a much smaller operation—and nearly everything was done in the Tachick family barn. At the time, only VTNIs and ISPs were manufactured, everything was written down by hand, and purchase orders were received through the United States Postal Service. Much has changed since then, but some things remain the same.

Sherry Ann & Sherry Lynne, inadvertently matching

To celebrate their thirtieth anniversaries, I had the honor and privilege of sitting down with the Sherrys to discuss their time at Dairyland and what it has meant to them. I sincerely enjoyed their wisdom and wit. Now, what follows is a story about family, hard work, good times, lots of laughs, and everything in between.*

*Light editing was done throughout for the sake of readability.

Looking back over your time at Dairyland, what are you most proud of accomplishing?

Sherry Ann: I remember building the first SSD’s, the first PCR’s, even the first OVP’s. It was cool to be part of determining which serial numbers to start with for each. It also meant a lot to me to be able to work with Henry, Mike, and Brian Pelly. Working with them was so humbling. They are incredibly knowledgeable. They are brilliant, even! I used to have to ask them, “can you please say that again in English?” But they were all so humble and down to earth. Lastly, I am thankful for the opportunity to have gone to Guatemala with Dairyland to see the work of IJM (editor’s note: you can read more about this trip here).

Sherry Lynne: I feel most proud of helping to pave the way for where we are today. That’s a great accomplishment for me. But it was always so important to both of us to make sure we did the best we could. I wanted everything that I made to be perfect as it went out the door. I always took great pride in the work that we did—to keep the Dairyland name a good name.

Henry, Brian, Sherry Ann, and Mike

What is the best piece of advice you ever received while working at Dairyland?

Sherry Lynne: Oh yeah! Henry always told me, “don’t stress or worry about things that you can’t control. There will always be disappointments in life. It’s how you navigate through them that matters.”

Sherry Ann: And we would ask him, “how do you handle those things?” Because there were some pretty high pressure situations that would come up over the years and he would handle it so well and we were always like, “how do you do that?” Henry would say, “Is there something you can do about it? Do it. If not, don’t lose sleep over it.”

Sherry Lynne: And “don’t stress over it.”

Sherry Ann: Yeah, don’t stress over things you can’t fix or control. That all really stuck with me. But another thing that has stuck with me is the emphasis on family. Family always came first and that was important to me. I always appreciated that.

 

What’s the funniest or most memorable story you can share from your time here?

What was it like manufacturing in the barn for so many years?

Sherry Ann: Sometimes our kids would be hanging out around the barn. Mark, our brother-in-law, used to tease the kids. He would tell them that a man in a green jacket lived up in the haymow. You should ask Kailey and Logan if they were ever afraid to go up there because of it . . . Oh, going back to the last question, this is definitely memorable, but not funny… one time, Henry’s truck started on fire. He went to go get the mail one day and on his way back up the driveway, he noticed smoke coming out of the front of the truck. So, he parked the truck and got out before it went up in flames. That was very memorable.

Sherry Ann, continued: Another memorable event at the barn was our first large OVP order. The customer ordered something like 360 units. When they were all boxed up, we did a victory lap around the entire barn like we were in Rocky.

The Sherrys and the large OVP order

Editor’s Note: Much was said in response to this question, but in a way that is difficult to capture in this medium. The following is a summary of what was said. The Sherrys loved their time manufacturing in the barn. In the early days, it was very small and simple. As time went on, things needed to be reconfigured and expanded, including moving the horse and knocking down walls and the silo. Pauline, Henry’s wife, would often bake cinnamon rolls and blueberry muffins for everyone. They also have many fond memories of sharing a Coke and Peanut M&M’s with Henry.

The Sherrys with the classic snacks

What was it like when Dairyland became a “company” more formally?

Sherry Ann: Scary and exciting at the same time.

Sherry Lynne: Yes! For sure. It was hard. It was almost like a grieving process. For example, leaving the barn, you know, there was something to that. It was very difficult. As I get older, I think about that word… “change.” It can be difficult to navigate, especially when you’ve done something a certain way for so long. But like Sherry said, it was very exciting to see how Dairyland was growing. I’ve always had so much faith in Mike and Henry. I trusted their vision even during those hard moments.

The Tachick Family Barn

Editor’s Full Question for Context: As you know, I worked in Customer Service for many years prior to moving over to marketing. I’ve talked with customers from Australia, Japan, India, Brazil, Chile, and the list goes on and on. Something you built, whether it’s an SSD or PCRX, is literally in the hands of people all around the world, protecting people and infrastructure.

So, in some way, your mark is all over the world. Does that fill you with a sense of pride?

Sherry Ann: Being able to be part of such an amazing company that invests in safety beyond just the product I build means a lot to me. And just knowing that it’s seen as such a high quality product around the world is very humbling.

Sherry Lynne: Absolutely! Everything you build is and was done in a manner that shows why Dairyland leads in this industry. We were taught from the best how to take pride in everything we do, right down to the tape on the box. It all matters.

 

What has working at Dairyland meant to you?

Sherry Lynne: It’s an extension of my family, really. Seriously, the friendships made and the time spent together as a team have made me a better person. It’s given me a sense of purpose beyond just my responsibilities at home. It’s been extremely valuable in my life.

Sherry Ann: Wow. Yeah, same. Well put. It has been a huge blessing to me and my family. I always pray that I can be a blessing to Dairyland and everybody that I work with and for.

The Dairyland crew back in the day

What do you want future decoupler-makers to know? (What’s one piece of advice you’d share with someone starting their career?)

Sherry Lynne: I want them to know that you can truly make a difference in this world through hard work, dedication, and a mindset of thankfulness and service to others.

Sherry Ann: Whether it is a day or many years, we never stop learning. So, embrace the learning process. Be open to new experiences. Enjoy your coworkers—each of them has their own unique strengths and character that they bring to the team.

The Dairyland “Shop” team today

Making the World a Better Place, One Pop Tab at a Time

Dairyland Supply Chain Manager Kiley Dura details Dairyland’s latest challenge, a battle between locations to see who can collect the most pop tabs, and its personal connection to her family. 

The Pop Tab Challenge

During Dairyland’s monthly team meeting in November, I introduced a new challenge to the group: Which facility—the headquarter office in Stoughton or the manufacturing shop in Pound—could collect the most pop tabs over the next six-week period? The challenge was simple and straight forward, on January 6^th the tabs at each location would be weighed, and the location with the heaviest supply of tabs would be named the winner and bragging rights would be awarded. We are a competitive bunch here at Dairyland, so everyone was eager to participate.

“We will do anything we can to win.” —Literally everyone at Dairyland during the challenge

What was my inspiration for launching this challenge? It actually started with my kids’ school. Our local elementary school launched a competition across all grade levels — whichever grade collected the most tabs by weight would receive a pizza and “pop” float party. And as an extra incentive, for every 10lbs raised, a lucky student got to throw a pie in the face of a teacher. The school’s competition inspired the entire community, and local bars, restaurants, aunts, uncles, and grandparents were soon collecting tabs for the kids. Quite frankly we were all feeling very excited.

More Than Just a Community Challenge

While I appreciate a community competition as much as anyone, for me, this challenge was more personal.

Nearly two years ago, 1/23/2023, I experienced one of the worst days of my life. On this day, I learned that my nephew, Jameson, who was three years old at the time, had a tumor growing through his skull that was pushing on his brain. The tumor was cancer — Stage 4 Neuroblastoma.  Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that develops from immature nerve cells. It is most common in and around the adrenal glands. Neuroblastoma is typically diagnosed in children between ages 1-2 and it is one of the most common types of cancer that affects the sympathetic nervous system.

The cause of this cancer is not well understood but is associated with specific gene mutations. Unfortunately, Jameson didn’t just have this cancer, he had a rare mutation that caused the cancer to speed up its growth. Jameson underwent surgery to remove the tumor from his head. This was just the beginning.

Cancer sucks. It’s so unfair. When I think of Jameson, I think he’s the most inspiring, courageous, and toughest boy I’ve ever met. Over the following 22 months, Jameson had 66 scans that include CT, MR, IR, XR, and ECG’s, 9 CVL surgeries, 2 tumor surgeries (1 skull and 1 adrenal gland the size of a baseball), 40 radiation treatments, chemotherapy, trials, pokes and blood draws, an endless number of trips to and from Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee,  and the stress and anxiety of the unknown. You name it, this kid has been through it all. During this time, our small-town community was nothing short of amazing. They held benefits to support us financially, community get-togethers to create awareness of childhood cancers, honored us at football games, held lemonade stands, and contributed personal gifts or letters to Jameson while at the hospital. The support from strangers who became like family is a true testament to humanity.

Ronald McDonald House

While the community support was amazing, we found a place in Milwaukee called Ronald McDonald House that provides the same outpouring of care. Ronald McDonald House provides families “a home away from home”, a free place to stay, while their ill or injured children are being treated at Children’s Wisconsin and other area hospitals. This house was built and opened in 1984 and is referred to as “the house that love built”, and it couldn’t be truer. To date, Jameson has had over 223 hospital visits in Milwaukee, an approximately 2.5-hour drive from his home. His family could not afford to stay in a hotel or make the drive back-and-forth for each of these appointments, so staying at the Ronald McDonald House alleviated one worry for the family. Thankfully Jameson’s stay at the Ronald House came to an end on November 14, 2024, when he rang the bell at the hospital, symbolizing that he is officially cancer FREE. To say we are beyond grateful, thankful, and blessed that our little man is on his way to a healthy, cancer free life is definitely an understatement. However, we as a family still want to continue to support such a great charity.

 

So, how is this connected to the pop tabs? The Ronald McDonald house has thrived on donations from mainly soda can tabs, but also canned food or pet food tabs, from families across eastern Wisconsin. Since 2000, recycling the little aluminum tabs has generated over $400,000 for our Ronald McDonald House to help keep families together. They not only offer families a place to sleep while their child is being treated but have fun things for the kids to play with, offer dinners most nights, and provide entertainment to allow the families to take their minds off the main reason why they are there.

Back to the Dairyland Challenge — Who Won?!

As I mentioned early on, there were no rules to Dairyland’s Pop Tab Challenge, which really brought out some competitive spirits. Most people challenged their families to save tabs at home so they could bring them to the appropriate collection site. But some took it a step further, purchasing tabs from Amazon to seal the win. The Stoughton office came up with a stash that weighed whopping 9.476 lbs., while the Shop’s impressive collection weighed in at 7.656 lbs. Collectively, Dairyland gathered enough pop tabs to total 17.132 lbs. I couldn’t have been prouder of my work family for helping my kids donate to such a great charity via their school. My kids were ecstatic!!!

“We put our blood, sweat, and tears into this.” —Various team members at our production facility

 

While the school’s contest isn’t over yet, by mid-December, the students had collectively turned in 417 POUNDS of tabs. Dairyland was able to add our solid 17 pounds to the mix. However, The Ronald McDonald house is the real winner of this company/school/community competition, as these tabs will allow them to continue their good work.

Stoughton, WI – Dairyland Electrical Industries is pleased to formally announce recent changes to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).

In early September of last year, Dairyland’s Executive Leadership Team underwent a transformation. Below is a summary of the changes to the team.

Ken Schuh (left) was promoted to Executive Vice President of Strategic Growth. For over 12 years, Ken worked as Dairyland’s EVP of Operations. Ken is well-suited for his new role, as he seeks to bring Dairyland more holistically to new and existing markets.

Robert Whitehouse (second from left) is the newest member of the team; he was promoted to Executive Vice President of Operations. Robert has been with Dairyland for over two years, leading our supply chain team. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role.

Kailey Tachick’s title now more accurately reflects her duties at Dairyland. She is the Executive Vice President of Finance, Systems, and Culture.

Please join us in congratulating each of them.

 

Vision for a Safer World: Dairyland Takes its First Vision Trip to Guatemala

In 2024 Dairyland provided its first opportunity for employees to take a Vision Trip: an immersive cross-cultural experience of our humanitarian partner’s work. This past September, four team members spent a week in Guatemala learning about the work of International Justice Mission (IJM), why it matters, and what it is making possible to build a safer country. They share about this rich experience here.   

Guatemala is an extraordinary and beautiful country with a complicated history and complex challenges, particularly when it comes to safety for women and children. Sexual and physical violence are all too common. In some neighborhoods, 1 in 4 adolescent girls is a victim of sexual violence. When IJM began working in Guatemala in 2005, human rights experts warned them that the system was beyond fixing, as they believed that change was impossible.  

Today, despite the odds, IJM has facilitated a scaled response that is rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors, and strengthening justice systems. They are intentionally working themselves out of a job as they equip government and nongovernmental partners across Guatemala to sustain and increase justice. IJM is collaborating across three neighboring countries – Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador (known collectively as the Northern Triangle) – to bring stability and safety throughout the region. Dairyland has provided financial support for IJM’s work in the Northern Triangle, making a visit to the area especially significant to us.  

 

IJM’s Guatemala team, a group of 42 national lawyers, case workers, investigators, and advocates were generous hosts throughout our time, eagerly sharing about their model that has proven effective time after time. They shared stories of victims who are healing, survivors experiencing post-traumatic growth, and tangible data showing that more people will never experience violence through coordinated prevention efforts.  

“Our Vision Trip with IJM was a powerful experience, marked by connection with incredible people and a deeper understanding of IJM’s impactful, community-based approach to justice. The trip balanced challenging encounters—like learning about heartbreaking realities and navigating language barriers—with hope-giving evidence of substantial progress and deeply passionate engagement that strengthened my confidence in IJM’s work. I left with a deeper commitment to their mission and gratitude for the experience.” – Amy Wedell, Sr. Manager of Programs & Systems 

During our visit, we spent time with members of the IJM team practicing language, sharing stories and photos, and bonding over delicious food (a favorite meal included chile relleno, elote, tostadas, horchata, and steaming rice pudding) as they helped us understand their work. We were introduced to scaling partners like the Instituo de la Víctima (Victim’s Institute) and SVET (Secretariat against sexual violence, exploitation, and trafficking in persons). On two occasions, we had the honor of meeting with survivors. 

First, we were invited to Mi Historia Importa (My Story Matters), a network of survivors led by survivors that are bringing awareness, healing, support, and empowerment to other women. Their names and the specifics of their stories will not be shared to honor their protection.  

The second opportunity involved a special ceremony where four young survivors were celebrated with a pinning ceremony, honoring the courageous steps they have each taken in their healing journeys. Examples include testifying against a perpetrator in court or starting counseling for the trauma. Pride swelled from their faces and IJM’s Country Director, Juan Miguel Rivera, shared that this is often one of the most memorable moments of their lives.  

“We invest in Vision Trips because few things can more powerfully speak to our vision, values, and philosophy of using business for good like learning firsthand, building personal relationships, and immersing ourselves cross-culturally. I took this same trip five years ago and was shocked by how much has changed for the better because of IJM’s faithful, persevering presence. It is an honor to be a witness transformational change and the people working tirelessly to make it happen.”  – Kailey Tachick, EVP of Finance, Systems, and Culture  

We could share many stories and reflections (and do with the broader Dairyland team). We returned more deeply aware of suffering in our world, full of conviction about the success of IJM’s model in action, and hopeful about how safety is indeed becoming more available for women and children in Guatemala. It reinforces Dairyland’s vision of making a safer world and our own contribution to it as we strive to contribute to the company with excellence.  

Stoughton, WI – Dairyland Electrical Industries is honored to be the winner of the 2024 Wisconsin Best Places to Work in Manufacturing award, presented by Insight On Manufacturing.

 

 

“I am so proud of our team! This could never be done by one or two people – it is a lived, believed, whole-company effort of intentionality.” –Mike Tachick, President

This year, Dairyland launched project “Operation Great Place.” This initiative set out to build on their reputation as a great workplace by fostering a culture that strengthens employee attraction, engagement, retention, and sense of purpose. The project team set out to understand what draws people to Dairyland, why they choose to stay, and how their experience can be made better. Through this process, it was discovered that the Dairyland team is highly motivated by strong relationships and purpose-driven work.

To capitalize on these insights, they created an attraction and retention strategy that includes clear messaging about our culture, values, and benefits for both recruiting and internal engagement. A ‘fun and togetherness’ plan was also introduced, and the team entered the ‘Best Places to Work in Manufacturing in Wisconsin’ competition to benchmark standing and progress.

“Winning this award affirms that Dairyland is truly an exceptional place to work, and we’re excited to continue building on this success.” –Amy Wedell, Programs & Systems Senior Manager, and Jen Merryman, Inside Sales Representative II  (Project Managers of Operation Great Place)

“At Dairyland, culture is a guiding philosophy, a core component of how we define quality, and an intentional long-term investment because we believe it matters tremendously. That is why it felt so meaningful to receive this award, which thoroughly assesses company culture from programs and benefits to the direct employee experience. Every organization has a culture; the question becomes what that culture looks, sounds, or feels like and whether it can be sustained over time. I am proud of the culture we are building together at Dairyland as we look at all areas of the business, our purpose for existence, and our work together as we earnestly strive to use business for good. Our lives are too short and precious – and the world’s needs too great – for any other way of doing business.” –Kailey Tachick, Executive Vice President of Finance, Systems, & Culture

Insight Publications’ mission is connecting minds and creating insights by offering dynamic, creative platforms for sharing business news and information – from magazines and events to digital messaging and marketing partnerships.

Dozens of manufacturers across the state of Wisconsin were considered as part of Insight Publications’ inaugural Best Places to Work in Manufacturing program. An independent survey was conducted by Workforce Research Group, which sought to help employers benchmark their employee benefits and company culture. Ten companies were ultimately selected to be honored on November 13, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI.

 

 

About Dairyland Electrical Industries

At Dairyland, we cultivate innovation to deliver rugged and reliable solutions. Addressing a wide range of complex electrical problems, we engineer our highly specialized products to provide safety protection for assets and personnel across numerous industries. Backed by third-party certifications to standards around the world, Dairyland manufactures products to the highest quality, ensuring unmatched performance. We are dedicated to understanding our customers’ needs and providing reliable products and service. If a solution to your problem does not yet exist, we’ll work to find one. Our experienced team excels at finding innovative solutions for your toughest problems.

Beyond our products, we use business as a force for good to support our vision to make a safer world. We do this by volunteering locally in our communities and working with non-profit organizations that provide safety and stability for people around the world. We believe that by working together, we can expand our reach and create more opportunities to enhance the quality of life for others.

Volunteer Day 2024

Each year we pick a week to mobilize company-wide in service to our local communities. While Dairyland employees volunteer year-round on their own and in small groups, Live Engaged Volunteer Day (LEVD) is a chance to coordinate our efforts and invite others to join us.  

Thank you to everyone who participated – customers, vendor partners, family, and friends! Together, we are passionately using business as a force for good to make a safer world for ourselves, our families, neighbors, customers, and people around the world.   

Here are a few snapshots from a week of volunteering, fun, and togetherness. Some picked up garbage along highways while others packed food at food distribution centers, served with Habitat for Humanity, prepared safe spaces for folks with disabilities, and more. Notice some fun accessories and outfits? This year we incorporated an extra element of whimsy by making it Spirit Week, selecting a unique accessory theme for each day: hats, fancy socks, sports apparel, decades, Dairyland-themed gear, and camouflage.   

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A group from our Manufacturing and Supply Chain location in Pound spent time cleaning our stretch of highway that was adopted by Dairyland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Many volunteered at various food banks and pantries. Two groups kicked off the week at Second Harvest in Madison, occupying both the morning and afternoon shifts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteering with our technology partner, The20, was a pleasure as we built personal connections while serving our community. By the end of our shift, staff estimated we helped divert 3,000 pounds of produce from the landfill to those in need. It was inspiring to see both the positive impact for people in our communities and the reduction of food waste. Even the blemished produce we sorted was diverted to feed pigs! – Amy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working at Second Harvest was a really positive experience. In addition to four Dairyland office employees, we were joined by one of our recruiting partners who wanted to take time out of her day to join us. It was hard work, and we packaged close to 1200 lbs. of cereal to be distributed to families across southern Wisconsin. – Cassie 

 

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Three different groups of Dairyland employees from the Stoughton office spent time at the Habitat for Humanity Restore over the course of Volunteer Week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Up north, another group from our Manufacturing facility volunteered at Camp Daniel, an organization we have worked closely with for the last few years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I never doubt that volunteering is going to be meaningful, but it always surprises me just how rewarding it feels. I loved getting to work alongside teammates and Jen, one of our trusted business consultants, to support Camp Daniel’s mission to serve folks with disabilities. They run on volunteer support and generosity; it’s an honor to play a small part in what they make possible. This is consistently one of my favorite weeks of the year.  – Kailey  

 

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Our remote employees also participated, volunteering at food banks and food pantries assisting people in their areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a good time at the food bank – they have an interesting program where folks in need can log in to their system and order food basics for delivery.  We boxed up the orders based on what they wanted (canned goods, milk, eggs, vegetable, fruit, cheese, etc.) and then prepared for the delivery drivers. It works well for some folks who are hesitant to go to a food shelter and request help – it gets more food out to those in need.  A novel approach in my mind. – Phil

 

If you participated in LEVD and have photos you would like to share, please send them to LiveEngaged@dairyland.com.   

Save the Date: Starting in 2025, we’re moving Volunteer Day to the spring! We will announce the exact week shortly, so stay tuned.   

 

At Dairyland, our vision is to make a safer world. We strive to achieve this through our rugged and reliable products and the protection they provide, world-class technical support, exceptional customer experience, and our Live Engaged* initiative. 

Our commitment to safety, however, goes beyond products and services. As safety is a core priority at Dairyland and deeply embedded in our brand’s DNA, it was a natural step to offer CPR training and certification to all Dairyland employees at both our Stoughton headquarters and Pound manufacturing locations. 

 

Recently, a group of employees participated in an American Red Cross certification program for Adult First Aid, CPR, and AED training. To become fully certified, participants were required to complete a three-hour online course before joining an in-person session led by an instructor. For our office staff, the in-person portion took place on a Thursday morning in our training room, led by a certified instructor from the American Red Cross. During this session, employees learned about bloodborne pathogens, the life-saving mechanics of CPR, how to care for a choking adult or child, and practiced these techniques extensively through role-playing and walking through various scenarios to simulate real-life emergency events.  

 

 

By completing this training, employees not only earned their CPR certification but also gained the skills and confidence needed to respond effectively in emergencies—whether in the workplace or out in the community. The ability to act swiftly and knowledgeably in a life-threatening situation is invaluable, and it could mean the difference between life and death. 

 

 

 

These skills extend far beyond the office. In alignment with two of the four main pillars of Live Engaged (show up for your circle and strengthen your community), possessing these life-saving skills can allow us to better support our immediate circles of family and friends, as well as the members of our communities by being equipped to act confidently in an emergency. Our circles and communities are now safer places because there are more individuals capable of providing life-saving assistance in public spaces. 

 

 

 

 

 

Being prepared to respond during a critical emergency is one of the most meaningful ways to show up for others. Whether it is for a colleague, a loved one, or a neighbor, Dairyland employees are now equipped to make a real difference. 

If you are interested in learning more about CPR training for the workplace, visit https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/train-my-employees. 

 

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* Live Engaged is an action-oriented expression of our company culture and core values focused on living intentionally to improve ourselves as individuals while positively impacting the world around us.  

 

At Dairyland we believe people have inherent value and investing in people is one way we affirm that belief. We practice investment by taking good care of ourselves and finding opportunities to contribute to the success and flourishing of others, whether customers, team members, members of our local community, and beyond.  

Robert Whitehouse, Dairyland’s Director of Manufacturing and Supply Chain is passionate about helping others succeed and has a knack for identifying their potential. Here he shares how his experience has led him to value investing in others and how he personally approaches this with his team at Dairyland.  

Why is investing in others so important to you? How does it make a difference?  

The most important part of my job, and the part that gives me the most pleasure, is to see people grow. That’s important to me because I come from a very humble background and worked my way up; I want to see people achieve the same sort of success. So many people don’t because they don’t have someone along the way who says “you can do better” or somebody who sees something in them.

Was there a defining moment where investing in people became important for you? 

There are probably two defining moments for me. When I started work at around 15 years old, the General Manager of the company said to me after my first week, “You’re only here for the summer. You better not be here after the summer; you have way too much potential.” That made me think, “Well, he sees something that I didn’t really see.” I ended up staying there for four years but went from carrying bits of metal around to managing a team of people. If he hadn’t done that, I think I’d still be doing the same job, but he saw something and made me think about it.

The other defining moment for me was when I worked for a startup company in the UK. There was a young lady that nobody saw potential in. She was very unhappy. For some reason I thought back to that time when I was a kid and realized there’s something special in this young woman. I went to the main boss and said, “Don’t let her go, let me work with her and in a year I’ll make sure she’s the best employee you’ve got.” And that’s what happened…she just needed someone to believe in her and tell her “You can do this.”

How do you invest in yourself? And how are you investing in other folks in your current role? 

I do a couple of things to invest in myself professionally. I have a good network of people that I talk to often. I talk to different people to get an understanding of what’s going on in their world and share what’s happening in my area. Then I’d say that working with Bob—a professional leadership coach provided by Dairyland—is very good for me.

As for investing in others, you learn so much when you just sit and listen to somebody. You sit and listen, they chat, and you start getting little bits about their personality and what really will drive them. Then I like to challenge people and to make them a little bit uncomfortable. It’s that positive anxiety – you take them out of their comfort zone, and they feel like they can’t do it, but the positive anxiety generates adrenaline. That gets them through it, and they realize they’ve just done it. It’s…celebrating that success. If it wasn’t quite right, don’t criticize. I think that’s the key…if you encourage and listen and help them, then they grow.

One of our core values at Dairyland is investing in the person; how do you see that show up here?  

There are really good things that happen at Dairyland that I don’t think happen anywhere else in a formal format. Take IDPs (individual development plans) for example. Everyone here has an IDP. There’s no distinguishing between job role or person, everybody gets the same opportunity. Also, they all get the chance to speak into their IDP, and they all get a chance to develop. I don’t think you realize how unique that is. I’ve worked in a small business setting, and I’ve worked for corporations – corporate would never do an IDP for the people in the Plant, which is shocking.

It’s so much pleasure to sit down and talk to the team and ask, “What do you want to do? In what areas do you want to develop?” Then we give them time to develop.

The other thing about Dairyland is that I just think everybody here cares about each other. Most people here really want to help each other. If somebody’s in pain the team is there for them — I’ve seen a lot of that.

What would you say to an employer or leader who says they don’t have time to invest?  

I would say this: Dairyland’s core value centers around investing in people. You can’t say you haven’t got the time. That time invested in somebody will save you somewhere else. You have to find the time. If you truly can’t invest in the people that work with you, there’s something a little bit wrong there. Money’s one thing, but if you do the right things, that comes. When you put the right people in the right job and you invest in the right people, naturally sales will come, naturally the job gets done, naturally the company makes money.

What tidbit of wisdom would you leave us with? 

First, be patient because people develop at different speeds. There are steps to get there, and sometimes some of those steps take you backwards because you’ve gone a little too far too fast. You need to slow down because you’re missing some of the key stuff to get you to the end. You can’t just jump from here to here; there’s a process involved.

Second, it’s important to have a good network of people to talk to. I have a particular style, and it might not suit everybody. But if you have a network of different people—all with different styles—it then helps you work out what sort of style resonates best with the different people on your team.

And lastly, hard work pays off.

 

Thank you, Robert, for sharing your wisdom and approach with us!  

When new and old industry friends gather, it’s sure to be a good time. Add in arcade games, prizes, and an element of generosity and you have a winning combination.  

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This year attendees at the AMPP Annual Conference + Expo in New Orleans immersed themselves in Dairyland’s lounge filled with throwback arcade games and tickets.

Red tickets were claimed through claw machine victories and were used to redeem prizes at the prize counter.  

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Blue tickets were used to donate to the nonprofit organizations we partnered with. Attendees chose whether to allocate them to one, two, or all three of the organizations; and Dairyland then made donations on their behalf. 

    

Together, we sent over $2,700 to our three nonprofit partners:  

Thrive New Orleans: $853 

Thrive New Orleans is a non-profit dedicated to empowering marginalized neighbors and leaders to move from surviving to thriving. They accomplish this through workforce development, building up small businesses, and engaging vulnerable youth and families.  

Feeding America: $1,134 

Feeding America envisions a country without hunger. They partner with foodbanks, pantries, and local food programs to bring food to people facing hunger while advocating for policies that create long-term solutions to hunger.  

Samaritan’s Purse: $761 

Samaritan’s Purse International Relief provides aid to hurting people across the world. They help meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine. These donations specifically go toward tangible support amid disasters like war, conflict, and natural phenomena.  

 

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The arcade and pop-a-shot games used in the lounge were also donated to Thrive New Orleans after the event.

“We are so grateful to Dairyland for providing Thrive with these incredible gifts,” said Oscar Brown, Director of Thrive 9th Ward Community Center. “At Thrive, we aim to invest in families and the arcade games provided to us not only gives our young children a chance to have a fun and safe space to enjoy themselves during leisure activities, but it also propels our mission to invest in families and be a constant support pillar in the lives of the young children in the neighborhood.” 

   

Thank you to each person who stopped by, designated their donation, and claimed their prizes.  

We look forward to seeing you all next year in Nashville!  

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At the conference, we had several people ask how they could personally contribute to the represented organizations. While Dairyland is thrilled to make the donations on behalf of lounge visitors, and does not expect additional contributions, if you feel compelled to personally donate to their work, you can make a direct donation to the organizations using these links:
Thrive New Orleans
Feeding America
Samaritan’s Purse International Relief.  

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Join us for Live Engaged Volunteer Day 2024, a time when the industry comes together to meet a need they care about in their local communities. Learn more and register here.  

 

Madison, WI – Dairyland Electrical Industries is pleased to announce a new line of product accessories — Direct Bury Enclosures ENCL-DB-SSD/OVP2 and ENCL-DB-PCR/PCRX.

After a recent uptick in customer requests for decoupling products that can be buried underground, Dairyland is thrilled to announce a rugged solution with this new ENCL-DB accessory line.

There are times when it may be beneficial to install a Dairyland decoupler entirely underground. Reasons may include deterring theft or vandalism, minimizing lead distance to buried isolated joints, or simply, not wanting any visible components above ground.

The Dairyland ENCL-DB series of enclosures allows for the direct burial of selected Dairyland products. These consist of a fully sealed enclosure to house the decoupler, with cables exiting the enclosure through a sealed interface. The cables are supplied with unfinished ends, giving the operator the flexibility to cut to length and/or to accommodate a variety of connection types in the field.

“In recent years, one of our most common customer requests has been for a way to bury decouplers underground so they are out of sight and out of the way … for example, on plowed farmland, in areas prone to theft and vandalism, or in populated areas where aesthetics are critical. It’s exciting to now be able to offer the ENCL-DB accessory line as a robust solution that ensures decouplers are protected from water ingress and loading from soil and surface traffic.”

– Jay Warner, Dairyland Senior Business Development Leader

Both models ENCL-DB-SSD/OVP2, designed to house Dairyland SSDs and OVP2s, and ENCL-DB-PCR/PCRX, designed to house Dairyland PCR and PCRXs, are available now.

 

About Dairyland Electrical Industries

Over a range of industries and applications, Dairyland has been applying the concepts of isolation, grounding, and over-voltage protection to standard and custom products since 1983. Dairyland deals with a wide variety of applications across multiple industries including oil and gas, power utility, railroad, and others where it is necessary to provide simultaneous isolation and safety grounding. Dairyland products isolate DC current, ground AC fault current and lightning, and protect equipment and personnel.

Offering the first solid-state solutions to each of these markets, Dairyland remains the leader in the industry, with popular products such as the PCRX, PCR, SSD, OVP and OVP2 as well as a full line of accessories to make installation quick and easy.

Madison, WI – Dairyland Electrical Industries is proud to be selected as a finalist for In Business magazine’s 2023 Business of the Year (1-50 Employees) and Corporate Citizen of the Year awards.

Dairyland is the world’s leading manufacturer of solid-state decoupling products across multiple industries. Since its start in 1983, Dairyland’s goal has been to make a safer world by using business as a force for good. This is accomplished not only through the rugged and reliable products they manufacture, but also their exceptional customer service and support, paid volunteer hours for employees to make a different in their own communities, and financial partnerships with local and global organizations.

“We are honored to be selected as a finalist for both In Business awards,” said Mike Tachick, President of Dairyland Electrical Industries. “Congratulations to each of our fellow finalists and winners; you are well deserving of these honors. I would like to specifically express my appreciation to the Dairyland team for the work you do daily that is well deserving of praise and recognition. At Dairyland we strive to create an environment where our team is excited to come to work and contribute their expertise to make a safer world. Thank you to the Madison community for this recognition; we intend to continue to use business as a force for good to serve in ways that ripple throughout the community and around the world.”

In Business magazine, which is the premier business-to-business publication of the Greater Madison region, celebrated the Madison area’s most successful organizations and influential executives at its inaugural Business of the Year award ceremony on December 4, 2023 at the Edgewater Hotel. Over 250 executives and guests were in attendance.

 

About Dairyland Electrical Industries

Over a range of industries and applications, Dairyland has been applying the concepts of isolation, grounding, and over-voltage protection to standard and custom products since 1983. Dairyland deals with a wide variety of applications across multiple industries including oil and gas, power utility, railroad, and others where it is necessary to provide simultaneous isolation and safety grounding. Dairyland products isolate DC current, ground AC fault current and lightning, and protect equipment and personnel.