Manufacturing Category
Innovative Machining, Inc.
John Milanowski, President or Paul Halfmann, Controller

Boring bars, water jets, sawing equipment, items sound like parts to a plot of the latest horror movie.  But in reality, they are machines that are an integral part of a very successful manufacturing business that specializes in machining, fabricating, and assembly.
 
Located in Neenah since 1995, Innovative Machining, Inc. is a full service machine shop capable of making small precision prototype parts, quick turn-around parts, large quantity production parts and building full machines from the ground up. 
 
Utilizing Mastercam, SolidWorks, and AutoCAD the IMI shop can bring their customers enhanced overall design quality in many 2D and 3D formats to satisfy their needs, along with increasing overall productivity. To run more efficiently in the internet economy, IMI uses M1 by Bowen & Groves to manage resources, schedules and cost.

Some of the company's capabilities include short run and prototype machining; palletized production machining; CNC turning; mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic assemblies. 

The company has instituted three shifts, each having their own work schedule to allow for more production time from the equipment along with better turn around on short lead time orders.  The company is ISO 9001:2008 certified and also has implemented a debt reduction plan to better manage their financial future.  

This planning has enabled the company to start a 50,000 square-foot addition to their current 75,000 square-foot facility.  IMI employs approximately 110 employees and plans to add more once the addition is complete.

Community involvement includes robotics competition with high school students and committee involvement at Fox Valley Technical college; contributions to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Special Olympics and veteran's causes. 

Service Category
Appleton Group Wealth Management
Mark Scheffler or Cherie Wirth

The word investment has become a jarring word in the seesaw action of the market of late.  As the market continues to be unstable, one firm has persevered in the investment world with more than 6 percent average annual returns. 

Appleton Group Wealth Management was founded in 2002 when Mark Scheffler left the brokerage world and struck out on his own.  The firm started with zero clients and zero assets to manage.  Today three Core Products currently managed by the independent firm have all received 5 stars from Morningstar for a 10-year performance.

To ensure continued growth, the firm diversified its products by offering a mutual fund and asset allocation composite to reach a broader audience.  The Appleton Group PLUS strategy produced an average return of 6.45 percent per year; the Appleton Group Tax Managed Growth strategy a +6.07 percent and the Appleton Group Portfolio strategy a +4.87 percent aver annual return after all fees and expenses.  In comparison, the S&P 500 Total Return Index lost an average of -0.95 percent per year. 

The advisors of Appleton Group Wealth Management have a diligent and disciplined approach to building investments that has proven to be one of the most efficient in the industry.  The company openly discloses all portfolio holdings and performance, and participates in several national databases that investors can access to compare performance with other funds.  The underlying approach to their business practices is to serve the client rather than to sell.

DALBAR Inc., a leading national financial services market research firm, ranked Appleton Group with a 96 percent or better in every category including trust of a professional, financial performance, satisfaction with services and quality of advice in 2007.

In just eight years the firm now includes six employees and has more than $140 million Assets Under Management serving 143 clients. 

Investing with the Appleton Group also means investing in the local community.  The company established a profit-sharing program that donates a percentage of the firm's yearly profits to area organizations including the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley, the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Fox Valley Symphony and the White Heron Chorale.

Wholesale/Retail Category
GingeRootz Asian Grille
Doris or Alice Ng

Customer service can make or break a company, especially in the retail sector. Often a business owner will have a philosophy of customer service, but transferring that philosophy to employees can be a different story.

For one local restaurant, commitment to understanding the definition of customer service begins with all staff members learning the business from the ground up, including bussing tables and moving up through the ranks.  GingeRootz Asian Grille began operation a little more than five years ago and has become well known for outstanding customer service in that short time.

This family-owned business has a history in the restaurant industry as former owners of Jade and Silver Palace.  GingeRootz offers a casual upscale atmosphere providing customers with a comfortable environment without sacrificing on price and quality. 

The menu offers global flavors from China, Thailand, Japan, Korea and other Pacific Rim countries.  Specialty items include crystal shrimp, filet mignon, crabmeat Rangoon and lettuce wraps.  GingeRootz is the first restaurant in the area to be named to ThedaCare's Coronary Health Improvement Project (CHIP), a heart health program. 

A creative marketing approach includes use of social media to promote weekly specials, creating a "too good to be true" happy hour and prominent placement on traffic-heavy websites to reach the marketplace. 

GingeRootz has been recognized locally by The Post-Crescent's Best of the Valley and the Fox Cities Golden Fork Awards.  Nationally they are one of 10 recipients of the 2008 Make Mine a Million Business Award, a national organization dedicated to helping women small business owners reach their goal of building multimillion dollar enterprises.  The owners, Alice & Doris, were top 10 finalists in the 2009 Stevie Award for Best Young Entrepreneur.  They are currently in the running for the 2010 Ernest and Young Winning Women award for 2010. 

GingeRootz gives back to the community by providing gift certificates to many fundraising events throughout the area and by participating in Xavier High School's International Food Fair.

2010 Rising Star
Apple Tree Connections, LLC
Tina Donaldson, Owner

Coffee shop, dry cleaning service, prepared take-home meals, resource library – perks that you would expect to be part of the corporate culture.  In this case, they are services to help simplify the lives of clients.  Clients who are the parents of your customers.  Customers who range in age from a few months old to school age.  Highly unlikely in the corporate world, but rather a child care center. 

Tina Donaldson, owner of Apple Tree Connections, a working mother in the accounting field, developed a vision for a safe and secure child care environment after personally experiencing some unfortunate situations at other centers. 

Donaldson began extensive research into child care with Child Care Research and Referral Agency, and the Wisconsin Child Care Improvement Project, and by enrolling in the early childhood classes at Fox Valley Technical College.  Her research led her to develop a business plan and secure investors for building a new center.  Next in the process was an extensive search for a director for the center who would share her passion for quality child care.

Additional research went into the site selection for the new building, which was completed in August 2007 and located at the corner of JJ and Providence Avenue in Appleton.  Donaldson managed the undertaking of her dream while working full-time but eventually left the corporate world to focus on Apple Tree Connections in late 2009.  

Initial employment in 2008 started with 13 employees and 28 children enrolled.  Today the center employees 30 people with approximately 150 children.  Donaldson's approach to running the center has been so embraced by current families that many put down a deposit to hold a spot soon after they learn they are expecting their next child.

The initial investors have been pleased, as Donaldson has been able to purchase the building in half the original time per the agreement. Her philosophy of working closely with parents includes a parent board that meets monthly to offer suggestions and advice.

Giving back to the community also is important to Apple Tree Connection's success.  The center works on three annual events that include a brat fry at Copps with funds being donated for care packages to send to military troops, a 5K run/walk to celebrate birthdays at the center as a healthy alternative with funds being donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation; and participation in the Adopt-A-Family during the holidays.