OVERVIEW

The Path We Follow

Johnsonville Sausage, LLC has invested in the local community of Sheboygan County since 1945, when Ralph and Alice Stayer decided to open a small butcher shop in Johnsonville, WI. In 1978, Ralph C. Stayer took over leadership of the company with an emphasis on employees’ emotional investment, hence creating “Members” rather than employees. Members were to create ownership, solve their own problems, and work creatively to improve the business. It is with this perspective that Abacus Architects, Inc. engaged the Ownership and Members of Johnsonville Sausage in the design and construction of Johnsonville’s new Corporate Headquarters.

While the headquarters is attached to the existing office structure, the design was influenced by a simple quote “Greatness is a journey – not a destination,” by Ralph C. Stayer. As such, the building’s footprint deliberately creates a Path, one that can be added to in the Future. The design is focused on the members and their collaboration.

Although the building is functionally an office, it also serves as the focal point of all Johnsonville Members, bringing them physically together, be it in the Member Conference area, the Fitness Room or simply a short stop to Ralph’s Café.

Ralph C. Stayer stated that “other companies use their people to build business, but at Johnsonville we use our business to build people.” Abacus Architects, Inc. couldn’t agree more, and through Relational Architecture, we have helped create the next Chapter of Johnsonville Sausage.