The Featured Contractors on this site currently employ Indentured Apprentices of the Southeast Wisconsin Carpentry Training Center. These contractors may employ carpenters, millwrights, floor coverers, pile drivers, lathers or cabinet makers.
T.J. Hale Company
W139 N9499 Highway 145
Menomonee Falls, WI 53052
Phone: (262) 255-5555
TJ Hale's Vision, Mission, and Values
Vision:
TJ Hale will be known as the industry benchmark for service, quality and value
Mission:
TJ Hale manufactures custom wood store fixtures and complementary products. We focus on supporting our customers with an incomparable level of quality and service by attracting and developing talented and caring people who can have fun while doing their jobs.
Values:
TJ Hale’s business success depends on building and maintaining relationships through integrity, caring, teamwork and the pursuit of exceptional service and value for the customer.
TJ Hale's History
TJ Hale was founded in 1950 by 53-year-old Thomas J. Hale, Sr. The original location, a 3,000 sq. ft. shop, was on N. 125th Street in Butler, Wisconsin. At that time, the company specialized in supermarket interiors and architectural woodworking. Tom Hale, Sr. handled all the drawings, bidding and expediting. His wife, Dorothy, did the bookkeeping. Their sons, Tom Jr. and Jack, worked in the shop sweeping floors and helping out weekends and school vacations.
In 1960, as business volume increased, they built a 10,000 sq. ft. building at 12833 W. Glendale Avenue in Butler. Jack and Tom Jr. joined the company in 1969. In the mid 1970s, TJ Hale began manufacturing fixtures for department stores in addition to supermarket work. Sales volume steadily increased. Jack assumed the responsibility of President in 1977. Thomas Hale, Sr. passed away the following year.
A 1984 building addition increased the size of the Butler plant to 25,000 sq. ft. The business acquired a 10.8-acre parcel in 1987, which borders the Menomonee Falls Industrial Park in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The modern 50,000 sq. ft. plant was completed in May 1988. A 25,000 sq. ft. shop addition was built in November 1991, and another 38,000 sq. ft. shop and 5,300 sq. ft. office addition were added in 1994. The plant currently totals 119,000 sq. ft.
In addition to the current manufacturing plant in Menomonee Falls, TJ Hale includes 104,786 sq. ft. of leased space at our SPA (Satellite Production Area) in Milwaukee. Over 45 TJ Hale employees work at this facility in production, shipping, inventory and receiving. All of our products are shipped from this location to customers throughout the country.
Reed Felton joined TJ Hale as Project Manager in 1979. After serving in several capacities, Reed was named President in 1998 when Jack Hale assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer.
Now serving department stores and retailers throughout the United States, TJ Hale has grown from five to well over 140 employees
4-year apprentice Scott Mac Donald says, “Qualities an apprentice needs to bring to the table at TJ Hale are honesty, be a hard worker, work well with others and be dependable."
1st year apprentice Nick Van Wieringen is learning finishing techniques and how to use tools for various applications
Chris Trapp likes the atmosphere at TJ Hale, as well as the juice and doughnuts that are sometimes provided on Saturdays. Darlene Persch ,TJ Hale’s only female cabinetmaker says, “In order to be successful at TJ Hale an employee needs to have a good attitude and solid work ethics”
Former apprentice graduate Zoran Markovich preparing a cabinet for hardware. When asked why he likes working for TJ Hale he replied, “While other companies are laying off, TJ Hale keeps us working. Job security is very important. Jack Hale is also a good decent man to work for.”
Shop lead person Dale Kirner says, “Continuing education is definitely important to the success of an employee, not only to interpret prints but to better utilize technology and machinery."
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