For additional information contact
Neil Fauerbach, Director of Marketing
Smith & Gesteland
608-828-3110 – neil.fauerbach@sgcpa.com
MADISON, WI March 30, 2005: An award honoring family businesses in Wisconsin has drawn 28 nominations from across the state. The companies are competing for the Second Annual Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award.
The nominees are from a wide array of service and manufacturing industries including construction, retail grocery, commercial laundry, dance instruction, plastics, real estate, and motorcycle engine manufacturing. They are from across the state and represent first through fourth generation family businesses. The oldest started in Madison in 1880 and has defied the odds by making it to the fourth generation. The youngest started operations in 1995 and is managed by a father and son.
The award program was developed by Smith & Gesteland, a Madison-based CPA and consulting firm and is co-sponsored by Associated Bank and the law firm Dewitt Ross & Stevens. All three companies are founding sponsors of the Family Business Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and have a focus of serving family-owned businesses.
Nominees
Company Name City
Bay Tek Pulaski
Bay Towel and Uniform Green Bay
Bayland Buildings, Inc. Green Bay
Commercial Laundry Sales Green Bay
Eagan Agency Ltd. Wautoma
ElderSpan Management, LLC Madison
Kehl School of Dance Madison
K-tech Kleening Systems Weston
MacFarlane Pheasants Inc. Janesville
Malcore Funeral Homes & Crematory Green Bay
Mennenga Tax & Financial Service Madison
Neuman Pools Inc. Beaver Dam
Neumeyer Upholstering Two Rivers
Nordic Group of Companies, Ltd. Baraboo
Ogden & Company, Inc. Milwaukee
Port Side Builders, Inc. Sturgeon Bay
Rechek’s Food Pride Beaver Dam
S&S Cycle, Inc. Viola
Schaefer’s Service Center Slinger
SciLog Middleton
Sheehy Mail Contractors, Inc. Waterloo
Staff One, Ltd. West Allis
Stark Company Realtors Madison
The Learning Shop Appleton
Valley Cabinet Inc. De Pere
Watry Industries Inc. Sheboygan
Wausaukee Composites, Inc. Wausaukee
World Class Wire & Cable, Inc. New Berlin
The winners will be selected by a panel of independent judges based on criteria including: positive links between family and business, contribution to community and industry, and innovative practices. Awards will be given in three size categories: Small (1-49 employees), Medium (50-99) and Large (100+) companies. The winners will be announced at a banquet on May 5th at the Marriott West in Middleton.
In the United States, there are more than 10 million family businesses, from mom and pop stores to Fortune 500 companies. Their economic influence is enormous, producing at least 50 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product and paying 65 percent of all wages. The success of family businesses is also demonstrated in the stock market. A stock analysis of publicly held, family-owned businesses reveals that they significantly outperform the rest of the stock market. It is clear that family run businesses will play a large part in Wisconsin’s ongoing economic growth.
