Marketplace Governor’s Awards Winners Named

MADISON, WI. Oct. 30, 2015 – Twenty-one Wisconsin businesses received top honors in the 2015 Marketplace Governor’s Awards competition, which recognizes outstanding businesses owned by minorities, women and service-disabled veterans.

The awards were presented by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) on Friday at Marketplace 2015, the Governor’s Conference on Minority Business Development, which was held at the Potawatomi Expo Center in Milwaukee. Awards were given to minority-owned business enterprises (MBE), women-owned business enterprises (WBE) and service-disabled veteran businesses (DVB)

“The businesses represented in the Marketplace Governor’s Awards competition demonstrate a healthy entrepreneurial spirit in Wisconsin,” said Mark Hogan, chief executive officer of WEDC, which organized and hosted the Marketplace conference in partnership with statewide minority business development stakeholders. “I congratulate the winners as well as the finalists for their successes and thank all participants in this year’s conference for their commitment to sustaining a strong and diverse Wisconsin economy.”

The Outstanding Business Awards recognize businesses that show overall business excellence in sales, product, customer relations, employment and management. The Rising Star Awards were given to businesses operating less than five years that have demonstrated strong growth potential.

The winners are as follows:

• Wangard Partners Inc of Wauwatosa (MBE); Great Lakes Power Vac LLC (WBE) of Waukesha and Applied Fab and Machining (DVB) of Wausau each won an Outstanding Business Award in the large business category. Wangard provides sustainable products to the Midwest real estate market. Great Lakes Power Vac provides industrial and environmental cleaning services to the manufacturing, construction, municipal, engineering, roofing, utilities and power plant industries. Applied Fab and Machining specializes in custom metal manufacturing and assembly for the original equipment manufacturing and military markets. Runners up in the Outstanding Large Business category included KL Engineering (MBE) with offices in Madison, Green Bay and Menomonie; Hurt Electric Inc. of Menomonee Falls (MBE); IBC Engineering Services Inc. of Waukesha (WBE); and Share Corp. of Milwaukee.
• Innovative Dynamic Networks of Racine (MBE); L.P. Mooradian Flooring Co. of Green Bay (WBE); and US Vet LLC of Madison (DVB) each won an Outstanding Business Award in the small business category. Innovative Dynamic Networks is an information technology company dedicated to growing the area’s small and midsize businesses and nonprofits. L.P Mooradian Flooring is a family-owned company offering nationwide sales and installation of all types of flooring as well as cleaning equipment and supplies. US Vet provides general construction, subcontracting and construction management services. Runners up in the Outstanding Small Business category included Weatherization Services LLC of Milwaukee (MBE); Moore and Associates of Kenosha (MBE); M Squared Engineering LLC of Cedarburg (WBE); and Allcon LLC of Butler (WBE)
• Sanchez Coating & Environmental LLC of Wausau (MBE); P3 Development Group. LLC of Milwaukee (WBE); and HB Laser Art LLC (DVB) of Kenosha each won a Rising Star Award. Sanchez Coating and Environmental provides lead paint testing; removal and abatement; and painting services. P3 Development Group provides consulting services to assist clients in the development and execution of social programs. HB Laser Art offers trophies, awards and personalized recognition items. Runners up in the Rising Star category included Pino & Sons Remodeling LLC of Sun Prairie (MBE); Physical Therapy of Milwaukee (MBE); Attract of Saint Croix Falls (WBE) and the Wonderist Agency (WBE).

Nearly 200 nominations were received for businesses of all sizes and from a diverse range of industries. The winners and finalists were recognized at a luncheon on Frida featuring Governor Scott Walker and keynote speaker Baly Ambegaoker, chief executive officer of CENTERPOINT Inc. and a U.S. Small Business Administration Minority Entrepreneur of the Year award recipient.

Attendance for the two-day conference was more than 700, making it a record year for the 34^th annual event. Marketplace is the premier statewide business capacity building conference of the year for minority, women and veteran business entrepreneurs looking to do business with state, federal and local agencies as well as corporations. The conference provided opportunities for businesses to meet with potential buyers, identify funding sources, and connect with business assistance resources while networking with other businesses. 

About the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing Wisconsin’s business climate. WEDC nurtures business growth and job creation by providing resources, technical support and financial assistance to companies, partners and communities in Wisconsin. WEDC has four focus areas: business and industry development, economic and community development, entrepreneurship and innovation and international business development. Together with more than 600 regional and local business development partners, it represents a highly responsive and coordinated network. Visit www.inwisconsin.com or follow WEDC on Twitter @_InWisconsin to learn more.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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