Copyright Successful Builder

Life as we know it would not exist without one important material that helped build our cities, roads and public infrastructures—concrete. It is literally the building block of our civilization. To fully recognize its value, however, you'd have to spend years working with it, mastering its composition and evolving with its capabilities. County Materials Corporation has done just that. What began more than 50 years ago by producing concrete masonry block, is now a company as strong and stable as its flagship product.

In 1946, County Materials's founding father Merlin Sonnentag recognized the demand for supplying concrete block to Marathon County masons. The sand and gravel excavator seized the opportunity by starting his operation with a manual block machine, and became the area's first producer of concrete products. With that same pioneering spirit, the second and third generation Sonnentags advanced the direction of County Materials and formed it into the multifaceted manufacturer and supplier of high-quality building materials that it is today.

You could say that their longstanding reputation for providing their customers with concrete solutions stems from its solid foundation. "There's a deep level of commitment within this company that's been passed down through the generations. Our family grew up working in the business and know it intimately," said Rebecca Sonnentag, the marketing director and owner's daughter-in-law.

That intense commitment is evident in every aspect of the company's operations. They've employed cutting-edge technological advances in manufacturing and new plants to develop innovative product lines. County Materials has also diversified its products and services to meet the needs of builders, contractors and architects from the ground up.

By the early 1980s, County Materials was well established as a leading supplier of concrete block, aggregates and brick in Central Wisconsin, when it started the push to further expand product offerings and production capabilities, as well as establish 13 other facilities throughout Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota.

"We're fortunate to be a major player in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Our diverse customer base has influenced our moves into new territories and taught us what it takes to grow in the business," said Sonnentag.

And part of what it takes is knowing exactly what will make it in different markets. In addition to its corporate office in Marathon and locations in Custer, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Rice Lake, Stevens Point, Webster, Weston, Wisconsin Rapids, and Maple Grove, MN, the company has new state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Appleton and Roberts. The company meets the demand of its building market with an array of products and services. "It's our goal to work with our customers in every area that they need us. We appreciate the strong customer relationships and credibility we've earned as both supplier and educational resource," said Sonnentag.