John Schram: Wisconsin’s Relentless Turnaround Chief Who Thrives on Grit & Growth

We’ve quietly admired John Schram’s work for years at Wisconsin Business Group—his reputation as a “fixer” and leader of zero-failure projects precedes him wherever he goes. John is the definition of humble: he’d rather let his results speak than step into the spotlight. We’ve been gently nudging him to share his journey, but he’s always demurred—until now. After seeing the impact he’s made through ventures like Shredding Hunger, John finally agreed to let us tell his story.

As John devotes even more of his time and energy to scaling Shredding Hunger’s life-changing mission, you won’t catch him at our regular meetups quite as often. We’re grateful he carved out a moment to sit down with us and open up about the challenges and triumphs that shaped him. His story is a testament to the quiet power of perseverance—and we’re honored to bring it to you.

Early Roots in Beaver Dam & Fall River

John Schram’s story begins on the streets of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, racing neighborhood friends and trading baseball cards. One summer, his family moved to Neumann’s Dairy Farm near Randolph—yet he continued at Fall River Schools, where hands-on science and farm machinery sparked his fascination with how things work. Meet John Schram to dive deeper into his origins.

Dyslexia & DIY Discovery

Diagnosed with severe dyslexia in second grade, John turned a challenge into his edge. Words blurred, so he taught himself electronics from library books, building backyard go-karts and experimenting until they ran. This early confidence in hands-on learning laid the foundation for a career defined by rapid, creative solutions. Learn more about John’s journey.

Forged by the Navy Crucible

At 18, John enlisted in the U.S. Navy. While serving aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, a late-night high-voltage transformer failure threatened to keep the entire carrier group from getting underway. John was tasked with leading an emergency, zero-margin repair—working through exhaustion, under intense time pressure, and with the fleet’s schedule on the line. That all-night effort taught him how to stay calm in crisis and make decisive calls when there’s no room for error.

Corporate Alchemist & Turnarounds

Bringing his Navy-honed discipline home, John transformed Gilman Cheese: building the first in-house IT and CI teams, automating 8,000 labor hours, and doubling plant throughput—driving valuation from \$40 M to \$170 M. Whether in manufacturing or nonprofits like Shredding Hunger, he combines technical rigor with empathy to deliver sustainable, win-win results. Explore John’s turnaround career.

Personal Trials & Purposeful Leadership

Behind the headlines, John endured personal hardship—health crises, betrayal, and loss. Yet he chose not to retreat but to rebuild, channeling pain into purpose. His leadership blends intense urgency with genuine care: pushing teams to excel while bending over backwards to support them.

A Mission-Fueled Vision

Today, John consults for Wisconsin businesses, nonprofits, and startups—helping them navigate “make-or-break” challenges with the same fearless drive that has defined his life. His mission is simple: empower people, solve tough problems, and leave every place stronger than he found it. See the businesses he’s built and imagine what he could do next.