MIKE NIKOLAI

As President, COO and CEO of Waupaca Foundry, Mike Nikolai is the fifth person to serve as the iron castings supplier top chief executive. He is the Chairman of the board of directors for Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state’s largest business association.  

Mike's career has focused on providing a path forward to developing new markets for Waupaca Foundry, ensuring the company is a leader in developing technology, and provides rewarding career opportunities for team members. 

He began his career with Waupaca Foundry in 1993 as a metallurgical engineer after completing his master’s degree research on a project conducted at the foundry. During his career, he has held leadership positions at plants in Waupaca, Wisconsin; Tell City, Indiana; Etowah, Tennessee; and in 2011 was named Vice President of Operations. 

Mike earned a masters degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and an M.B.A from the University of Louisville.