As a small business owner, Rob Zerban believes that hard work and honesty should be rewarded and that creating jobs locally is key to strong communities. Rob grew up cooking hamburgers for his brother and sister because his mother worked long hours. Rob never forgot how hard his mother worked to keep a roof over their heads, but his early cooking experience developed into a passion he’d turn into two successful businesses and a philosophy of treating people fairly.

At age 15, Rob started washing dishes at a local restaurant where he quickly impressed his managers with his work ethic and integrity. By 18, Rob was promoted to assistant manager and soon left to study at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Rob worked throughout school and following graduation in 1992, worked at hotels and restaurants across the country.

Encouraged by strong relationships he built in the food service industry, Rob decided to follow his dream of starting his own small business. His first company launched with 12 employees, and Rob’s skill, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit helped him successfully turn this fledging business into a successful model in the industry. Rob’s commitment to his employees, providing strong benefits and creating a culture of job security, forged new industry standards and helped him to expand to build two successful food service corporations, employing 45 people.

In 1998, Rob met his wife Cornelia Zerban, and they moved to Kenosha in 2004. Together, they share a passion for sailing and Lake Michigan. They race competitively, and Rob even earned his USCG license as a captain. He has been committed to preserving the Great Lakes as a natural and economic treasure. Rob’s work to protect Lake Michigan from potential pollutants earned him recognition from the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, where he served as a board member.

Rob currently serves as a Kenosha County Supervisor in Kenosha and has been an outspoken advocate for better government oversight and transparency.

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