The 2008 Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce Top Ten Small Businesses of the Year Awards were presented to a diverse field of growing companies in southeastern Wisconsin on Thursday, June 12.
The awards are presented annually by the chamber and Small Business Times.
This year’s winners are (click on each company to read their profile):
- Avicom Marketing Communications, Waukesha.
- BSI (Building Service Inc.), Milwaukee.
- BuySeasons Inc., New Berlin.
- Centare Group Ltd., Brookfield.
- CSE (Caliendo Savio Enterprises), New Berlin.
- Harken Inc., Pewaukee.
- Hunzinger Construction Company Inc., Brookfield.
- Image Makers Advertising Inc., Waukesha.
- Transcendent LLC, Waukesha.
- Weldall Manufacturing Inc., Waukesha.
The judges also decided to give a special Chamber’s Choice Award this year to the Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) in Waukesha.
The winning companies were selected by an independent panel of judges, based upon criteria that included financial growth, employee growth, customer focus, employee relations and community service involvement.
Combined, this year’s class of winning companies employ nearly 1,000 people and generated nearly $300 million in revenues in 2007. And they are continuing to grow in 2008.
Weldall Manufacturing Inc., a Waukesha stalwart, was named the 2008 Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year.
“With a record number of applications for the 2008 Top Ten Small Business Awards, it is apparent that businesses in our region are thriving due to sheer determination and an even greater focus on providing value,” said Patti Wallner, president of the Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce. “Judges were impressed by the creativity, the re-engineering of products and services and the passion with which successful teams dedicate themselves to company goals and community involvement. We can be inspired and motivated by the messages from these companies who nurture a culture of success.”
“These companies are getting it done. They simultaneously focus on the day-to-day blocking and tackling of executing for their businesses, while at the same time having the vision to see the big picture and position themselves for a promising future,” said Dan Meyer, publisher of Small Business Times.
The leaders of the winning companies shared some of their best strategies for business growth at the awards luncheon, which was held at the Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee.
Patti Wallner. President
Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce
