Two Waupaca Foundry executives, Joey Leonard and Jim Larson, will present “Waupaca Foundry: Past, Present, Future” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at the Waupaca Area Public Library.

Hosted by Winchester Academy, the program is free and open to the public.

Waupaca Foundry is the largest producer of gray, ductile and compacted graphite iron in the world.

Recognized for its quality employees, many of Waupaca Foundry’s workers are second and third generation employees. According to Waupaca Foundry managers, this skilled local workforce is the reason for the company’s success.

“We’re proud of the hardworking, skilled workers in the region,” said Leonard, who is currently the foundry’s vice president of human resources.

Area residents named Waupaca Foundry the “Best Place to Work” in a recent poll.

Named Large Business of the Year 2012 by the Waupaca Chamber of Commerce, the Waupaca Foundry has 1,620 employees, with more than 25 percent living in Waupaca.

The local jobs the foundry provides, along with corporate purchasing and employee spending on local businesses, have a significant impact on the Waupaca economy.

Leonard has worked at the foundry since 1993. He worked his way up from summer jobs to positions in operations until becoming personnel manager and then human resources director. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and served on the board of the American Foundry Society Northeast Wisconsin for eight years.

Larson, who retired from the foundry as vice president of industrial relations, served in various leadership roles at the foundry.

Winchester Academy programs are funded through sponsors and through donations from community members. Donations are tax deductible. The Waupaca Foundry presentation is sponsored by Al and Gloria Gruer.

For more information, go to winchesteracademywaupaca.org or contact Executive Director Ann Buerger Linden at 715-258-2927 or email her at linden5@cox.net.