DE PERE, Wis. -- What began in a small garage in 1960 in rural De Pere, has flourished to become Valley Cabinet, one of Wisconsin’s premier manufacturers of custom cabinetry. 

Owner and founder James Stoller started small, but with his vision and the support of his wife Mary Jane Stoller and a crew that included family and friends, the company has grown to become a nationally recognized and respected manufacturer within the industry.

Valley Cabinet built their business by serving homeowners and professional home builders, seeking to provide the highest standards of quality. Stoller’s motto was “Great customer service, exceptional quality at a fair price.”

Valley Cabinet is also a company in the FDMC 300 listing of market leaders in North America.

Stoller began the company with a table saw, jointer and a few hand tools. He helped to shape the local industry through equal parts inspiration and action. As northeastern Wisconsin grew so did the demand for custom cabinetry. Product lines evolved to include the latest styles and trends in kitchen and bath cabinetry, each were met with technological upgrades and process improvements.

Sales and customer service also expanded with the addition of dedicated showrooms that offered an opportunity for customers to work directly with designers to customize their new space to their lifestyle.

Valley Cabinet was the first in the area to invest in specialized equipment to bring solid wood doors to the market. Developments and innovations in machining, construction design and finishing have continued to keep Valley Cabinet at the forefront of quality and excellence in the custom cabinetry market.

With only fields and farms as neighbors, Valley Cabinet Inc. was the first business to build in what is now the De Pere Industrial Park. There have been 19 production and office expansions over the years as well as numerous equipment upgrades. Valley Cabinet now employs 281 professionals across four divisions with many having 15 to 45 years of experience.

“It’s important to remember that it is craftsmen who manufacture our products,” said Steve Mashl, vice president and director of operations. “Machines enhance our capabilities, but they can’t replace the knowledge and experience that comes from being a trained expert. Our team of designers, craftsmen and installation specialists are the strength of our company. We utilize technology to help us achieve excellence in production and service, that compliments the experience and talents of our team.”

As the reputation of the company grew, opportunities arose in new markets. In 1986, Valley Custom Door was added. Valley Custom Door is a division that supplies custom cabinet doors and wood components to builders, cabinet shops, and architectural millwork companies across the nation. Then soon after, Seville Cabinetry was introduced fulfilling a need for a modular systems to custom cabinetry bringing their brand of custom cabinetry to markets in the Midwest, South and Northeast with the goal to expand to serve a national audience.

Furthering the relationships with commercial and residential builders, in 2001 Counter-Form LLC of Marshfield, a postform countertop manufacturer, was added.  Counter-Form supplies laminated countertops and panels to the residential and multi-family housing market and to industries involved in providing laminated surfaces for medical, educational, hospitality and retail applications.

Additional expansions also included four design centers located in Sturgeon Bay, Neenah, Germantown and De Pere, Wisconsin.

The Valley Cabinet operation has grown to occupy more than 240,000 square feet. It uses more than 1.5 million board feet of lumber as well as 40,000 plywood panels per year. They also employ an fleet of delivery and service vehicles. 

The children, grandchildren and extended family of Jim and Mary Jane are active in all aspects of the business. Family is at the foundation in the development of the company.

“We have numerous examples of families where siblings, parents, and their children have worked here,” said Mike Stoller, vice president. “Their creativity, commitment to excellence and leadership is key in our continued success. It is a case of great people manufacturing great products and we are very fortunate to have them on staff.”

With the third generation active in the business, the assurance that the strength of tradition and commitment to the founding principles will continue to guide the future of the company for years to come.

Valley Cabinet’s years in business is matched by years of support to the industry and to De Pere and the greater communities where their employees work and live.  

As a long-standing member, Valley Cabinet has helped to establish the Wisconsin State Builders Association and the local Brown County Home Builders Association.  By participating in industry organizations at both the state and local levels, they helped to create programs to promote the industry and provide educational programs to attract generations of workers and consumers.

At a local level, Valley Cabinet has been a leader in the support of local high schools, technical colleges, youth sports, Habitat for Humanity, Options for Independent Living, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, The Ledgeview Boys and Girls Club, Special Olympics and the Greater Green Bay YMCA.

“We are proud of the communities in which we work and live, we pledge to continue our support and thank you for your business throughout the years and we look forward to a great future together,” said Dean Stoller, president.