Contact:
Neil Fauerbach
Smith & Gesteland
608-828-3110 direct
608-345-8178 cell
neil.fauerbach@sgcpa.com
The 11th annual Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award program is accepting nominations from businesses throughout the state. The award celebrates the accomplishments and the impact that family-owned businesses have on Wisconsin. The deadline for nominations is April 3, 2014. Awards will be presented at a banquet to be held in Madison on May 1, 2014.
Since the beginning of the program, 70 businesses have been recognized for their contributions to their communities, their industries, and the economy, including department stores, lumber yards, funeral homes, grocery stores, coffee shops, auto dealers, and construction companies. The winners have come from all parts of the state, from Sturgeon Bay to Milwaukee, Beloit to La Crosse.
One family business will be selected for a Grand Award in each category of small (fewer than 50 employees), medium (50-99), and large (100 or more) companies. Special awards will also be given to companies excelling in a particular area. Self-nominations are encouraged, or nominations can be made on behalf of the company by consultants, vendors, clients, or friends. An independent panel of judges will select the award recipients.
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 an estimated 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. An analysis of publicly held, family-owned businesses reveals that they significantly outperform the stock market. Economic growth in Wisconsin clearly is influenced by the health of family-run businesses.
The Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award program is sponsored by CPA firm Smith & Gesteland, First Business Bank, and the law firm of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.
Additional information about the program, including nomination forms and a list of past winners, can be found at www.familybusinessaward.com, or by calling 608-836-7500.
