Contact: Neil Fauerbach, Partner – Director of Marketing
Smith & Gesteland, LLP
Office: 608-828-3110 – email: neil.fauerbach@sgcpa.com
Cell: 608-345-8178
Madison, WI – May 12, 2016: Six family businesses were honored in the thirteenth annual
Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award banquet held Thursday evening at the Monona
Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison. Three grand awards were presented
along with three special awards.
“Family business leaders focus on the next generation, not the next quarter. They tend to embrace
strategies that put customers and employees first and emphasize social responsibility” stated Julie
Bogle, lead Partner in the Family Business practice at Smith & Gesteland, the award founding
sponsor. “They continue to act as leaders in their communities. We love recognizing the
wonderful things they have done in Wisconsin.” she stated.
Fifteen companies were nominated for the awards. Winners were selected by an independent
panel of judges. Grand Awards were presented in three size categories: Large (100+ employees),
Medium (50-99), and Small (under 50). Special awards were given by the judges to companies
excelling in a particular area.
Grand Awards
Empire Screen Printing, Onalaska – Large Company
Badger Basement Systems, Fort Atkinson – Medium Company
Shiloh Dairy, Brillion – Small Company
Special Awards/Title
Architectural Design System, Inc., Lake Delton – “Communication – Commitment -Creativity”
Gordon Flesch Company, Madison – “Wired for Success Award”
Tamara’s the Cake Guru, Oshkosh – “Sweet Success”
About the Award: The Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award is sponsored by
Smith & Gesteland, LLP, a Madison-based CPA and Business Consulting firm, First
Business Bank, and the Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek law firm, to highlight and celebrate
the accomplishments and contributions of family businesses that make an impact on their
communities and on the Wisconsin economy.
Further information about the award can be found at www.familybusinessaward.com.