Wisconsin Life

ding, ding of trolley bell

Trolleys are fun. All aboard. Here we go. Kristina Pence-Dunow understands that. It's an American history for one thing. Trolleys are like an iconic form of transportation. Kristina's been making trolleys since she was a teenager, and the thrill has never worn off. I feel like I'm going to Mr. Roger's neighborhood. Kristina sends Hometown Trolleys from Crandon, Wisconsin to vacation spots around the country and the result is always the same. People will let city buses go by, but if they see a trolley, they will wait and ride that trolley because it s fun and it s an experience. So trolleys are fun but who knew making trolleys could be fun too? When an employee is happy, the product is happy. When Kristina Pence-Dunow walks the floor of Hometown Trolleys, she is many things at once. Hey Richie, how many seats do you have left? Like three. She's the owner. She's the inspector. But she's also a mother. Hometown Trolley really is a family and a team company. So when I walk through the shop I'm like mother hen. Hi, what's your name? Ian, I just started here. When? Oh today cuz I'm like, wait a minute, I don't know you. It's his first day.

chuckles

In two cases, she literally is mother. Both her son and daughter are employees. And Kristina knew many of her employees long before they came to work here. I mean I know these-- some of these people were kids in the same class as my children. And so I know on their faces if they're having a bad day. Kristina knows about bad days too. In the early '90s, she and her first husband moved their fledgling trolley business from Illinois to Crandon. It was a culture shock really to come to the north woods from Illinois. After a divorce, Kristina kept the company and decided to make it her own. I was a single mom in the north woods not knowing what to do. We had eight to twelve employees. And I had to fire probably half of them to get respect and rehire them as the woman taking over when the husband's leaving. To get their respect, I learned every single process. When I took over, we did one trolley a month and now we are doing two to three a week. Fifty-two employees and we're adding six more jobs as soon as we tear down the wall and can expand out.

high pitch whirring

To attract good workers, Kristina sells the family atmosphere, and the ability to earn a good living in the north woods.

vrooom of engine

For some employees, the chance to ride your snowmobile to work in winter is a perk. It s just a fun thing to ride to work. You know it's twenty minutes of fun before you get to work. Occasionally, Kristina visits her trolleys in their new home. We do have a big order coming up this summer for Hawaii and so we'll plan on a trip there and I ll definitely be going on that trip.

whoosh of passing car

But it's always nice to come home. When you go away and you come back, it's cleaner air, cleaner water, space. What trolleys do you want to go in see today? That one? Now remarried, Kristina has family all around her at work. Going to drive? Get up in the driver s seat. Even her grandsons like to inspect the trolleys before they leave for warmer climates. Look, see there's grandma's trolley bell up on the wall. For some reason, I was chosen to do trolleys and it's grown on me and I love 'em. So I love the trolleys. I love the colors. I love the fact that we're building a happy product. Can you pull hard?

ding

chuckling

You want to do it now?