Four decades of Valley Design can be told through milestones — growth, expansion, and the decisions that shaped the company along the way.
But that’s not what stands out most to Brenda Isensee.
She remembers what it took to get through the early days, when nothing was a guarantee. The work, the uncertainty, and the steady effort it took to keep things moving forward, one day at a time.
In the very beginning Brenda worked alongside her husband Butch, his business partner Tim Bremseth, and Tim’s wife, Roseann. She didn’t just watch Valley Design take shape; she was part of the work that built it.
As the company marks its 40th anniversary in 2026, her perspective offers a different view. Not just through what the business became, but through what it took to build it.
There From the Beginning
When Valley Coating opened its doors in 1986, there wasn’t much separation between roles or between who was responsible for what.
During the day, Brenda and Roseann worked in the shop while Butch and Tim held onto their full-time jobs. Evenings and weekends, all four came together to keep things moving. Whatever needed to be done, got done.
One moment they were pressure washing parts. The next, hanging them on racks and fixtures. Then into the paint booth applying powder, followed by packing those same parts for shipment. Sometimes all in one day.
Brenda clearly remembers the whole process, especially the prep work — getting parts ready, using the pressure washer, and ensuring everything was set before coating, which she enjoyed most.
The coating itself is what she laughs about now. At the end of the day, she’d head home covered in powder — on her clothes, in her hair, even in her socks. The technology and safety measures were far from what they are today, and the work was physical and messy. But it was the work that needed to get done, so it did.
Betting on the Future Together
Less than ten years into their marriage — and before they had even started their family — Brenda and Butch were building something they believed in, without knowing yet what it would become.
Would it grow?
Would it last?
Would it be enough?
All questions that never fully went away.
Even with that uncertainty, the work didn’t slow down. Brenda continued right alongside Butch, even while pregnant with their first child, doing what needed to be done because that’s what the moment required.
When Butch began stepping away from his full-time job, it wasn’t a single leap. It happened gradually, and Brenda remembers how much it meant for them to have an employer willing to work with them during that transition. Then employer, Tuohy Furniture, was led by F. Mike Tuohy, who offered guidance and flexibility, allowing Butch to work part-time as they grew their vision. That mentoring is something that stayed with them and inspired Valley Design’s strong commitment of support and care for its own employees.
Stepping Back Without Stepping Away
As Valley Design grew, the business began to take on a different shape. More employees joined the team. Processes became more defined. What had once been a small, all-hands operation started to evolve into something larger.
At the same time, life outside the shop was changing too. Brenda and Roseann were raising young families and building careers of their own, and gradually, their roles in the day-to-day operations shifted.
They stepped back from the floor but not from the business.
For Brenda, trust in Butch and Tim had been there from the beginning. In the early days, she was more directly involved in decisions. As the company expanded and her day-to-day involvement lessened, that trust only grew.
She’s watched Butch lead through every stage of that growth – steady, thoughtful, and focused on the long term, without losing sight of the people behind the work.
A Family Business, in Every Sense
As the business and their family grew, the two became even more connected.
Once the kids were old enough, each of Brenda and Butch’s children spent time working at Valley Design in some capacity. It started with weekends spent sweeping floors and cleaning up. Then it grew into summers working in assembly, offering an extra set of hands as needed.
They didn’t just hear about the business, they experienced it. They saw the pace, the expectations, and the effort it took to keep things moving day after day.
While two of their three children went on to build careers outside of Valley Design, their son, Luke, chose to pursue his career at the family business. Having spent the past nine years with the company, he now serves as VP of Sales, playing an active role in shaping Valley Design’s future. Future plans include Luke taking over the reins as Butch prepares for retirement.
For Brenda, that’s been one of the more meaningful parts of the journey. Seeing those early lessons carry forward in different ways, and watching the next chapter begin to take shape.
Forty Years, Seen from Her Side
As Valley Design marks its 40th anniversary in 2026, Brenda Isensee doesn’t just see it as a reason to look back. It’s also a reason to look forward with pride for what she and Butch built together, grateful for the people who helped build it, and excited for the milestones, moments, and successes that the years ahead will have in store for Valley Design and the Isensee family.
Curious what Brenda’s husband sees when he looks back over the past 40 years? Discover Butch’s perspective in “40 Years of Valley Design: A Story Through the Eyes of Our Owner.“