Marcel
Goepfert

Marcel and his wife, Sheila, had a dream back in 1965 and, with grit and passion, made that dream a reality. 60 years later, the humble nameplate company has grown into a million-dollar business and leader in the industry. Marcel worked to ensure that the legacy of Willington Nameplate was worth carrying on and wanted WNP to remain a rewarding place to work where customer requirements were always met, no matter what.

He was not a rest-on-your-laurels type of boss. On any given day you would find Marcel reviewing films, asking press operators about the job they were working on, or actually shearing parts in fabrication. Marcel truly felt more at home on the shop floor than in a conference room or office.

For Marcel, the best part of being a business owner was that nothing fell outside his job description. As a young entrepreneur he touched everything in the business and that “all hands on deck” attitude kept him coming in—even after passing on the reins to his children. Marcel set the tone for having a self-starter attitude that continues to inspire the employees at Willington Nameplate. Marcel passed away on November 25, 2015.

This year Willington Nameplate celebrated its 60th Anniversary by reflecting on the vision and accomplishments of Marcel and Sheila and looking to the future to continue their dream. Today’s leadership understands that, through continuous improvement, valuing employees through job development and making the company one that attracts hard workers who seek employers who value integrity, transparency and quality is to honor Marcel’s wishes and vision for the future. On June 18, 2025 State Senator Jeff Gordon presented Willington Nameplate with a citation recognizing the company’s 60 years of contribution to the State of Connecticut and its manufacturing industry.