For additional information contact Neil Fauerbach, Partner – Director of Marketing
Smith & Gesteland, LLP
Office: 608-828-3110
email: neil.fauerbach@sgcpa.com
Madison, WI – Seven family businesses were honored in the eighth annual Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award banquet held Thursday evening in Madison. Three grand awards were presented along with four special awards.
According to the Family Firm Institute, over 80 percent of all business enterprises in North America are family-owned. Nearly 35 percent of Fortune 500 Companies are family firms. Family businesses account for 78 percent of all new job creation, 60 percent of the nation’s employment, and 50 percent of the GDP.
“We see the difference that family businesses make in their Wisconsin Communities” stated Jeff Schleicher, Managing Partner of Smith & Gesteland, one of the award sponsors. “They have lead us out of the recession with innovative business practices and a culture of determination” he stated.
Winners were selected by an independent panel of judges from nominations submitted by the companies. The award program is sponsored by Smith & Gesteland, a Madison-based CPA and consulting firm, Associated Bank, and the Madison-based law firm of DeWitt Ross & Stevens.
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
C. G. Schmidt, Milwaukee – Large Company
Hellenbrand, Inc., Waunakee – Medium Company
Botham Vineyards, Barneveld – Small Company
Special Awards/Title
Hunzinger Construction Company, Brookfield – “Community Star”
Standard Process, Inc., Palmyra – “Setting the Gold Standard”
The Fireside Dinner Theatre, Fort Atkinson – “The Show Must Go On”
Rockweiler Insulation, Inc., Verona – “Hometown Hero”
Further information about the award winners can be found at http://www.familybusinessaward.com.
