James Culea

Since 1986, James Culea has served as CEO and President of Northern Labs, Inc., in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. For over 60 years, Northern Labs, has operated as a leader in chemical manufacturing, serving the greater Manitowoc area and beyond. In the mid-nineties, Mr. Culea and Northern Labs, as well as five other entrepreneurs, earned recognition for their site plans. Under the direction of James Culea, Northern Labs began construction on a 125,000-square-foot production and warehouse facility in the I-43 industrial park at the west end of Manitowoc, which remains in use today. The expansion, which cost $3.7 million, provided the Manitowoc area with 62 new full-time jobs.

At the time of the announced expansion of Northern Labs, James Culea had already successfully expanded the company. Under Mr. Culea’s leadership, Northern Labs tripled in size over the course of a decade. Today, Northern Labs is a thriving business that has helped many Fortune 500 companies with their manufacturing needs.

With an extensive background in product design, management, and marketing, James Culea has worked for many notable companies such as General Mills Inc. and S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Mr. Culea has received several awards in recognition of his work, including the Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc. award for business in 1972 and the regional Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 1990 and 1991. He currently resides in Wisconsin.