Rite-Hite opens new Third Ward office

A Milwaukee-area manufacturer is shifting some employees from its suburban headquarters to a new office in the Historic Third Ward.

Rite-Hite Corp. will keep its headquarters in Brown Deer. But the company will move around 20 sales and marketing employees to a 12,500-squarefoot office at the Mayer Building, 342 N. Water St., it announced Thursday.

The new office also will include space for an employee training center.

Rite-Hite has been bringing employees from throughout the world to its headquarters for three-month training sessions, said spokesman Andy Larsen.

But those employees have been staying at a downtown hotel, he said. So, Rite-Hite thought it made sense to move that training function to the same area.

Rite-Hite, which makes supply chain logistics and industrial safety equipment, also is following the trend of other Milwaukee-area companies that have shifted operations from the suburbs to the downtown area.

“As Rite-Hite continues to experience tremendous growth, it’s essential to make sure we have the most skilled and highly trained sales and service professionals possible,” said Sara Everts, director of corporate marketing and communications.

“Milwaukee’s Third Ward is the perfect place to bring in young motivated people for our training program. We’re excited to be part of the energetic and vibrant downtown," she said in a statement.

Rite-Hite has more than 2,000 employees worldwide. In addition to its Milwaukee-area locations, the company operates plants in Iowa and Mississippi and also has sales, service and manufacturing operations in China, Europe and Canada.