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There are many things we can tell you about our business. Many of those things are unique to us. A good number of others could be said by any other fabricator.
The truth is, our most unique assets are our people. Our craftsmen/women are each one of a kind. Whether their trade is bookkeeping, hand finishing or selling, we take a lot of pride in the individuals that bring your project to life.
Be sure to read below what others have experience in working with our professionals. Then scroll down and meet our team.
We look forward to working with you!
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"...we both believe that we've never worked with a business or people where to a person, everyone was professional, fun, helpful, confident and seemed to lover their job a lot. We only wish we had another kitchen to remodel. Thank you for the experience & keep up the good work."
Ann Kramer
“Professionally handled from beginning to end. Complete, on time, and it looks PERFECT.”
Jim & Renie Schauf
"Absolutely wonderful experience - would work with you again in a heart beat!"
David & JoEllen H.
"Thanks for giving our kitchen a fabulous new look. The entire team did a great job! The professional level of Elegant Stone Products was demonstrated every step of the process; from measuring, templating, install and follow up. Excellent craftsmanship!"
Tom & Monica S.
"Tom was quick to discover potential problems & immediately set to work to find solutions. I love the way this man thinks & works. Thanks so much".
"I made a conscious decision to work with the Viroqua location because I felt there would be a more personal touch than a big city operation. I was right. Thanks so much!"
Terry G. Monroe, WI
Employee Bio's
Click employee name for bio
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Management:
Dian Krause, President | Bert Jeske, V.P. Business Development | Rob Krause, Plant Manager
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Plant Operations:
Julie Kern, Floor Supervisor Kerry Kazenske, Machine Operator Brian Hase, Sawyer
Karen Levendoski, Fabrication Dave Busche, Machine Operator/Fabrication Kevin Schlough, Fabrication
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Templating & Installation:
Vince Demmer, Template(Scheduling) Tom Murphy, Template/Lead Install Jonathan Dregne, Lead Install
Logan Sheldon, Install Helper Mark Joseph, Install Helper
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Front Office:
Ruth Zitzner, Bookkeeping | Sarah Niemyjski, Estimating / Sales |
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Dian Krause, President
Nickname: Dee
What do you do @ ESP? She's the President...she does what presidents do... and she's been doing it since 1999 when she started the business with her husband, Gary
Where do you live? Viroqua, Wi
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc.: Three step children (now grown), two cats. Synchronicity has brought me to Viroqua and where I am in life.
What do you want to be when you grow up? The wisest woman in Viroqua...if not the WORLD.
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? Moving to Western Wisconsin
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? Realizing that I don't have all the time in the world to do the things I want to do.
What do you do for fun? Live life
What do you do because you have to? Wash windows
Favorite Hero? Jane Austin
Favorite Villain? Jack Nicholson
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? My husband
Why? I enjoy his company
Favorite Quote: "A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions"
~Wendell Holmes
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Bert Jeske, VP Business Development
Nickname: Bertski
What do you do @ ESP? A little bit of everything!
Where do you live? Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin -- 3 feet above the flood plain thank you very much!!
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc.: A beautiful wife of 20 years and four wonderful kids.
Stories...I used to have a BMX bike that had an issue with keeping its front wheel on. There were number of times that I came down hard (over the handle bars) while watching my front wheel make a peaceful, yet wobbly journey down the stretch of gravel road in front of me. Fortunately, I have no scars to show for it.
What do you want to be when you grow up? Same thing I am now but older...
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? There are a ton of them, really. I saved the little notes my wife gave me we found out we expecting a child. The cutest one was the stick figure drawing she did of herself when she was pregnant with our daughter.
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? 2 feet of water on the main floor of our house. It's not as clean as it looks on TV!!!
What do you do for fun? I LOVE bicycling.
What do you do because you have to? Fix my blasted house.
Favorite Hero? Columbo. I've learned a lot from his humble pie approach.
Favorite Villain? The Joker in a nurse's dress. Awesome.
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? Any of our Founding Fathers
Why? I would love to have a fraction of their vision, conviction and ambition rub off on me.
Favorite Quote: "It is hardly too strong to say that the constituion was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." Daniel Webster
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Rob Krause, Plant Manager
Nickname: Rob says, "I'm not telling". What kind of nickname is that?
What do you do @ ESP? Plant Manager
Where do you live? Viroqua
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc.: Sherri, son Jeremiah & grandkids: Katelyn, Konnor and dog Shonoc, Scars - 1/2 moon scar on forehead from golf club at age 7
What do you want to be when you grow up? Brain Scientist or Rocket Surgeon... one of the two...
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? Married Sherri
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? I'm not telling
What do you do for fun? Spend time at the cabin, fish and boat
What do you do because you have to? TAXES!!!!
Favorite Hero? John Wayne (The "Duke")
Favorite Villain? The Wicked Witch of the West
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? Family
Why? There's never enough time
Favorite Quote(s): "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway."
John Wayne
"Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more."
Mark Twain
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Julie Kern, Floor Supervisor
Nickname: Ju-Ju Bug
What do you do @ ESP? Help run the circus
Where do you live? Viroqua
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc.: Bandit, the thieving Dalmatian
What do you want to be when you grow up? Horse trainer
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? Finding my soul mate.
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? Nothing to terrible, I guess.
What do you do for fun? Go play on the river
What do you do because you have to? Cleaning toilets
Favorite Hero? Sponge Bob
Favorite Villain? Plankton
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? My Grandma
Why? She totally rocks
Favorite Quote: "Oops, I did it again", Brittany Spears (really, Julie...who knew...)
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Kerry Kazenske, Sawyer
Nickname: Polock
What do you do @ ESP? Sawyer, Odyssey/CNC, Proedge, Wizard, and some handwork
Where do you live? Viroqua
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc.: 3 kids, 1 dog, 3 cats, 1 lizard, and 1 hamster and too many scars to name them all
What do you want to be when you grow up? I don't want to grow up
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? My 3 kids
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? Got hurt my first week working here
What do you do for fun? Woodworking, working on my truck and house
What do you do because you have to? Work
Favorite Hero? Dale Earnhardt and Jonny Cash
Favorite Villain? Rob Krause :)
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? Dale Earnhardt and Johnny Cash
Why? They were awesome!
Favorite Quote: Wide open till you see God, then brake!
Second place is just the first loser - Dale Earnhardt
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Brian Hase, Sawyer
Nickname: Hoss
What do you do @ ESP? Sawyer - I cut stone
Where do you live? Viroqua, WI
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc. Snowmobiling in Arizona
What do you want to be when you grow up? Dale Ernhardt
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? Qualified for the Indy 500 Moped Races
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? I biffed it hard in turn 1. Ripped my sneaker right off my foot.
What do you do for fun? Hunt fish and knit. I like to knit socks for fish.
What do you do because you have to? Clean my game.
Favorite Hero? Sean Hannity
Favorite Villain? Hillary Clinton
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? Newt Gingrich
Why? Cuz he's a Wild & Crazy guy...kinda like Steve Martin
Favorite Quote: "Life is hard. It's even harder if your stupid" -- John Wayne
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Karen Levendoski, Fabrication
Nickname:
What do you do @ ESP?
Where do you live?
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What's the best thing that ever happened to you?
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you?
What do you do for fun?
What do you do because you have to?
Favorite Hero?
Favorite Villain?
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who?
Why?
Favorite Quote:
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Dave Busche, Fabrication
Nickname: Mr. Bush
What do you do @ ESP? Fabricator
Where do you live? Viroqua, Wisconsin
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc. Wife & 8 children
What do you want to be when you grow up? Rich, so I can give things away
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? Getting married and having children
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? Having the car die on a highway when it was -20 out with a baby in the car.
What do you do for fun? Read, work, go visiting
What do you do because you have to? Eat and sleep
Favorite Hero? Jesus- He shows me mercy
Favorite Villain? Devil- He gives it to me when I mess up
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? Holy Spirit
Why? His fruit is love, joy,peace, and I might become like him
Favorite Quote: It's more blest to give than receive
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Kevin Schlough, Fabrication
Nickname: Peaty
What do you do @ ESP? Professional Fabricator
Where do you live? La Crosse -- born in Sauk County
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc. 10-year-old Alaskan Husky
What do you want to be when you grow up? I have to grow up!
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? Still waiting
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? Learning that patience isn't easy.
What do you do for fun? My job. I'm an artist...everything is fun!
What do you do because you have to? Live each day one day at a time
Favorite Hero?
Favorite Villain?
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? My Grandfather
Why? I've never met him
Favorite Quote: "No brain - No headaches" -- Me
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Vince Demmer, Templating (CAD) & Template Scheduling
Nickname: Vince
What do you do @ ESP? Measure and Templating
Where do you live? Westby
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc.: Three family plants
What do you want to be when you grow up? I suppose I should decide that before I get much older
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? I quit smoking 17 years ago.
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? Started smoking 40+ years ago.
What do you do for fun? Ride bicycle, read
What do you do because you have to? Eat & sleep
Favorite Hero?
Favorite Villain?
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? My grandparents
Why? They died before I was born so I never knew them
Favorite Quote: "A mistake is simply another way of doing things"
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Tom Murphy, Templating & Installation Lead
Nickname: Murph
What do you do @ ESP? Install countertops
Where do you live? In my house
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc.: yes. I also raise a rare breed of racing spiders that I sell to pet shops in Jamaica.
What do you want to be when you grow up? Alive
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? I measured a kitchen correctly
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? I measured a kitchen incorrectly
What do you do for fun? Polish my shoes
What do you do because you have to? Wear shoes
Favorite Hero? My right arm
Favorite Villain? My left arm
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? Preferably someone present.
Why? Someone in the past would mean I messed up somewhere
Favorite Quote: "Huh?" Unknown
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Jonathan Dregne, Installation Lead
Nickname: Jaws
What do you do @ ESP? Installer
Where do you live? Viroqua, WI
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc.: Linda & Don ( Mom & Dad) and Logan (Little Brother)
What do you want to be when you grow up? Countertop Installer
What's the best thing that ever happened to you?
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? I've been robbed
What do you do for fun? A lot
What do you do because you have to? Work
Favorite Hero? Kermit the Frog (Because it's hard to be green)
Favorite Villain? Scar Face - Tony Montana
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? Gene Kelly
Why? To teach me to dance
Favorite Quote: "Uff-Da" - Every Norwegian
"If everybody is nobody, somebody could be anybody"-Author Unknown
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Logan Sheldon, Installation Helper
Nickname: Deer Slayer
What do you do @ ESP? Install stuff
Where do you live? Viroqua, WI
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc. I love to deer hunt. I'm crazy that way!
What do you want to be when you grow up? A monster truck sponsor
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? I turned 21!
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? The day after I turned 21
What do you do for fun? Hunt, fish, ride 4-wheelers
What do you do because you have to? Clean the house
Favorite Hero? Ted Nugent
Favorite Villain? Brett Farve...or whatever his name was...
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? Aaron Rogers
Why? He ... sniff ... is ... SOOOO Awesome!
Favorite Quote: "A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it" Bob Hope
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Mark Joseph, Installation Helper
Nickname:
What do you do @ ESP? Countertop Installation
Where do you live? Viroqua, WI
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc. I am one of 7 kids
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? My family
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you?
What do you do for fun? Photography
What do you do because you have to? Work
Favorite Hero?
Favorite Villain?
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who?
Why?
Favorite Quote: "Don't take life too seriously. You'll never get out alive" -- Unknown
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Ruth Zitzner, Bookkeeping
Nickname: Ruthy
What do you do @ ESP? Bookkeeper
Where do you live? Liberty Pole, WI - Just past the Monument Rock
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc.: 3 sons Logan-17 Levi-16 & Matthew-5. My husband Joe. 2 dogs Charlie & Bandit.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? Becoming a Mom!
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you? Finding out that my dad has cancer.
What do you do for fun? Ride motorcycle, 4-wheeler & snowmobile
What do you do because you have to? Cook & grocery shop
Favorite Hero? My dad - He's been so courageous, positive and strong through his battle with cancer.
Favorite Villain?
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? My husband, Joe
Why? We rarely get the chance to just hang out by ourselves, we are so busy working and raising our children.
Favorite Quote:
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Sarah Niemyjski, Estimating / Sales
Nickname: Quoting Queen
What do you do @ ESP? Well as Bert would put it, I'm the glue that holds the office together.
Where do you live? Viroqua, WI.
Family, pets, scars, stories, etc.: My Husband Keith & 2 dachshunds Kujo & Angel
(Don't let the names fool you!)
What do you want to be when you grow up? Fortunate enough to be able to retire with my husband at an age where we would be able to travel and sit back and truly enjoy life.
What's the best thing that ever happened to you? Getting married
What's the worst thing that ever happened to you?
When I turned 20! It may sound silly, but I had a slight crisis! Hopefully not a mid-life one though!
What do you do for fun? Spend time with Keith and play with our dogs.
What do you do because you have to? Wash dishes & fold laundry
Favorite Hero?
Favorite Villain?
If you could hang out with anyone past or present, who? My Great-Grandfather Fred
Why? I never had the chance to really get to know him
Favorite Quote: "Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth."
-Mark Twain
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