CEO, Jacquart Fabric Products, Home of Stormy Kromer
As the third generation to lead the Jacquart Fabric Products business and the first female CEO in the brand’s 120-year history, entrepreneurship runs in Gina Thorsen’s blood. Established in 1958 when Robert R. Jacquart began making bank deposit bags in his basement, Jacquart Fabric Products now occupies over 90,000 square feet and provides contract sewing and canvas and upholstery restoration as well as design, sourcing and importing services. In 2001, the iconic Stormy Kromer brand joined the Jacquart Fabric Products family. Most known for the Original Stormy Kromer cap, the lifestyle brand also offers a full line of outdoor outerwear, apparel and accessories with over 80% of the product line manufactured in the U.S. and sold in over 800 retailers across the country.
Under Gina’s leadership, the Stormy Kromer brand has experienced continuous growth. In addition to refreshing the brand, she hired the company’s first apparel designer, launched Stormy Kromer’s first pet products collection, and led successful collaborations with national brands such as Carhartt, Wolverine and Merrell.
Before rejoining her family’s business, Gina spent 11 years in Dallas, Texas, with Big Thought, one of the nation’s premier youth development nonprofits. As Vice President of Research & Program Development, she managed the nationally recognized program, Dallas Arts Partners, and led the development of new programs such as Thriving Minds. She helped secure significant national funding and shared Big Thought’s programs and strategies with communities across the nation.
Gina earned a master’s degree in arts administration from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, and a bachelor’s degree in arts management with a minor in music/voice from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She currently lives in Mercer, Wisconsin, with her husband David Thorsen, owner of Northwoods Home Services, and serves on the board of directors of the Small Business Association of Michigan and the Emberlight Festival, and is a member of the Ironwood Economic Development Corporation.
