Outlook Magazine - Fall 2018

PROGRAM INNOVATION

Joe and Tina Pregont donate $1 million Prent Corp. donates $1 million for endowment, new packaging lab equipment

P

rent Corporation’s owners, Joseph and Tina Pregont, of Janesville have donated $1 million in gifts of new

equipment valued at approximately $500,000 and an equivalent cash contribution to establish the Prent Packaging Equipment and Technology Fund. The endowment gift through the Stout University Foundation will provide annual funding to maintain, repair and replace equipment and technology for the UW-Stout packaging laboratories. The laboratories will be named the Prent Packaging Laboratories. Prent, headquartered in Janesville, Wis., is a global leader in custom thermoform packaging for the medical, electronics and consumer industries. The dedication sign for the renaming of the lab will be unveiled in September.

The packaging lab at UW-Stout has state-of-the-art equipment, thanks to Prent owners Joseph and Tina Pregont

“I have many fond memories and owe a lot to UW-Stout.” - Joseph Pregont

Pregont was appointed Prent president and CEO after his father, Jack, retired in 1985.  As a 1981 UW-Stout packaging alumnus, Pregont values the long-standing partnership with UW-Stout. Prent, since 1990, has been vital to the continued growth of the UW-Stout packaging program through scholarships, internships and conference opportunities for students. “I have many fond memories and owe a lot to UW-Stout,” Pregont said.  Prent and its sister company, GOEX Corporation, continue to be family-led organizations with Joe Pregont and the next generation, Rachel Andres, Joseph II and Michael Pregont, guiding them into the future.  Pregont said he is very honored to have his children leading Prent and GOEX and continuing to expand in the global market. Since its founding in 1967, Prent has garnered dozens of pack- aging awards, including 16 WorldStar medical packaging awards, while operating in clean room environments at its facilities in Arizona, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Malaysia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Wisconsin. The companies employ approximately 2,000 associates worldwide. Prent counts among its customers nearly every major medical device-maker in the world, as well as electronics industry giants, which Prent supplies thermoforms used to enhance the process of microchip manufacturing and for consumer end products. GOEX makes plastic sheeting for thermoforming and printing, with a customer base throughout North America.

“UW-Stout has been a provider of phenomenal talent to our organization over the years,” said Joseph “Joe” T. Pregont, president and chief executive officer of Prent. “We want to help ensure Stout continues producing the outstanding talent that, in turn, helps us continue to push into the future. We have had over 100 UW-Stout graduates employed at our companies over the past 25-plus years and currently have over 20 alumni in full-time positions at Prent. It is important to support the institution where we find some of our best talent.” “Prent has been a great partner in helping UW-Stout produce packaging professionals who have access to the latest equipment,” said Chancellor Bob Meyer.  “This is an extremely generous gift, and I want to personally thank Joe Pregont and everyone at Prent for helping us prepare our packaging students for successful careers in the industry.” New equipment being installed includes testing equipment for tensile strength, coefficient of friction, water vapor permeability, gas permeability and headspace gas analysis as well as upgrades to other existing equipment, said Robert Meisner, packaging department program director. “We want this to be the envy of the industry and to have the most current state-of-the-art lab in the U.S.,”  Meisner said, noting this helps enhance the university’s ability to recruit and retain students and faculty.

30

U W - S T O U T O U T L O O K