Received Award February 2014
The Wooster Brush Company, established in 1851, is one of the oldest manufacturers of paint applicators in the country. Company founder Adam Foss began producing handmade bristle paintbrushes in a small, two-story building in Wooster, then sold the brushes door-to-door throughout the state.
The company moved to Madison Avenue in Wooster in 1909, where the corporate office still stands. During its 163 years in business, Wooster has established many milestones in the industry. They invented the angle sash paintbrush, the “Foss-set” process to cement bristle into paintbrushes, and were the first to use nylon filaments to create brushes that performed in latex paints. They also created the the Exploded-Tip® process to make soft flags on filament ends, and were the first to introduce synthetic fabrics for roller covers, now an industry standard.
The Wooster Brush Company produces more than 2,000 products for painters of all skill levels in more than 888,000 square feet of manufacturing, shipping, administrative, and warehousing facilities. They have 500 dedicated employees with an average of 18 years of service each.
Plant Facilitator Gary Leisure will accept the award from the Career Center. Wooster Brush has hired Career Center graduates of both office and manufacturing programs, and has an apprenticeship program that provides additional training for Career Center students. Gary serves on the Adult Education Trade and Industry advisory committee, and hosts field trips for Adult Ed industrial students.
The Wayne County Schools Career Center thanks The Wooster Brush Company and Gary Leisure for their involvement in the education of Wayne County students, and honors them for being an outstanding business partner.