MINNEAPOLIS – Thrivent, a Fortune 500 diversified financial services organization, announced today that it will explore development options for the Ballard Operations Center and 600 acres of surrounding land in Appleton, Wisconsin. The organization reinforced its commitment to its Appleton team and shared its intent to work on a Master Development Plan with Appleton officials and members of the Appleton community.
“Thrivent has had a meaningful presence in the Appleton community for 120 years, and we'll continue to invest in our Appleton team and community,” said Paul Johnston, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary, Thrivent. “As we look to the future, the needs of our team and business have changed. Our teams have continued to thrive in a hybrid and remote environment and we now have fewer teams going into the office. We don’t need as much physical space, and the space we need is for collaboration and connection for our team. And, the Ballard Operations Center is in need of significant repairs. We look forward to working with the City of Appleton, area developers, the community and our team to plan for the future.”
Thrivent will begin a Master Development Plan with Appleton officials and developers, which will include opportunities for the community to share feedback. The organization will also factor into account the needs of the business, employee experience and feedback, overall investment costs, community impact and a desire to maintain flexibility for the future.
For its Appleton-based workforce of nearly 1,500 employees, Thrivent will consider several options, including renovating the Ballard Operations Center, leasing space somewhere else in Appleton, or building a new, smaller building on its existing property.
About Thrivent
Thrivent is a diversified financial services organization that helps people achieve financial clarity, enabling lives full of meaning and gratitude. Thrivent and its subsidiary and affiliate companies serve more than 2.3 million clients, offering advice, insurance, investments, banking and generosity products and programs over the phone, online as well as through financial advisors and independent agents nationwide. Thrivent is a Fortune 500 company with $162 billion in assets under management/advisement (as of 12/31/22). Thrivent carries ratings from independent rating agencies which demonstrate the strength and stability of the organization, including an A++ rating from AM Best; an Aa2 rating from Moody’s Investors Service; and an AA+ rating from S&P Global Ratings. Ratings are based on Thrivent’s financial strength and claims-paying ability, but do not apply to investment product performance. For information on these ratings, visit the rating agency's website. For more information about Thrivent, visit