They all have the same thing in common
WHAT GETS RECOGNIZED GETS DONE: Living proof...
The Menomonee Falls-based custom label printing and bonding company has grown to $12 million in annual sales and 64 employees.
The award was presented by Waukesha County Chamber president Patti Wallner and BizTimes Milwaukee publisher Dan Meyer to Tailored Label president Mike Erwin.
The other companies honored as Top 10 Small Businesses of the Year were Advanced Waste Services Inc., Batzner Pest Management Inc., Brookfield Academy, BuySeasons Inc., Interstate Sealant & Concrete Inc., Kinateder Masonry, Mantz Automation Inc., MSI General Corp. and Velcheck & Finger Roof Consulting & Service.
The companies were saluted for excellence in their treatment of stakeholders, including customers, employees and the community. The event took place at the Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee.
Is recognition really all that important?
Each of the 10 companies was given a 3 minute opportunity to tell their story of success, why they got where they are and could speak on any topic. 6 of the 10 used most of their time discussing their recognition programs!
Mike Malatesta, President of Advanced Waste Services, Inc, spoke of his plans to grow from a $30 million company to a $100 million company with 135 employees and how his Elite Reward Program was crucial to his success. All employees in the company are involved except sales staff who have their own recognition program. Awards are presented quarterly.
Jerry Batzner, President of Batzner Pest Management with 81 employees, a $7 million company, spoke of his peer driven employee recognition program. Every month every employee is given 4 tokens which they can give to any employee for any good deed. It could be related to customer service, offering help around the company, a new sale, or anything above and beyond the call of duty. Hugely successful, it is called the WOW Program and is entirely employee managed and run.
Fred Kinateder Sr, President of Kinateder Masonry with 125 - 200 employees, a $20 million company, spoke of embracing the unions and the impact of his Safety Incentive Program, resulting in an incredibly low rate of lost time accidents.
Denise Mantz of Mantz Automation, Inc with 80 employees, a $16 million company, spoke of the Employee Wellness Program with 97% participation rate, which has a huge impact on the health insurance costs.
Mike Irwin, President of Tailored Label Products, Inc, a $12 million company with 64 employees, spoke of the emphasis on how work should be fun and how their recognition and reward programs had a huge impact. In fact, in the past 5 years, their safety recognition program helped ensure zero lost time accidents.
Craig Coursin, President of MSI General Corp, a $50 million company with 52 employees, told of a focus on fun at work and Zumba Dancing. Their focus on internal recognition was carried over to all employees.
They could have talked about quality products, could have talked about being in the right market niche, they could have talked about overcoming adversity. Sure, they do all that in getting to where they are. But, in listening to these stories of success, it is pretty clear that a major reason for their being recognized in the business community is the emphasis on recognition and what it means to the person, the team and the company. What gets recognized gets done.
What does your company do to recognize its employee achievements? Do you have an example you can share?
