BizStarts Hall of Fame Member

Louis P. Gentine

Lou Gentine is a second-generation family owner of Sargento Foods Inc., a leading national marketer of cheeses and cheese-based solutions headquartered in Plymouth, Wisconsin.  Lou earned a Bachelor of Business in Accounting from Notre Dame, and worked at Price Waterhouse as a Certified Public Accountant before joining Sargento in 1973 as Controller.  Following several other promotions, he assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer in 1981 and Chairman in 1996.  Lou retired as CEO in October 2013.  At that time, his son, Louie Gentine, took on the Chief Executive Officer responsibilities.  Lou continues his role as Chairman of the Board.  Lou has served on various boards including VPI Inc., The Oldenburg Group, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Milwaukee.  He also has served as Chairman of both the International Dairy Foods Association and National Cheese Institute in Washington, D.C. where he continues as a member of their respective boards.  He currently is a member of Legatus, a Catholic Executives organization, serves on the Board of Directors of Road America in Elkhart Lake and the Notre Dame Institute for Church Life.  Lou recently served as co-chair for the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Dairy Research renovation and expansion campaign.  Lou and his wife Michele shared chairmanship duties for the Sheboygan County United Way Campaign in 2005 and the Campaign for Holy Hill in 2001.

Lou and Michele live in Elkhart Lake where they raised their three children, Tony, Louie, and Kelly.  In addition to their children and grandchildren, Lou enjoys motorcycling, reading, and a very occasional game of golf.