The Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protégé Program celebrated 15 years of business growth by recognizing the most recent session of program participants with a celebration event.
The entrepreneurs gathered at Lambeau Field to honor the program that pairs established mentor companies with growing protégé companies throughout Wisconsin. In the 15 sessions of the program, more than 504 full and part-time jobs have been created across 164 protégé companies in 67 different Wisconsin communities. Additionally, participants have increased their annual revenue by a combined $110.9 million.
The program matches mentor companies that can provide technical, managerial, financial or other guidance with protégés that are seeking to improve their competitive standing. The partnerships aim to foster business growth, economic development and job creation in Wisconsin. Created in part to match up minority-owned, veteran-owned, or woman-owned businesses with experienced mentor companies, such businesses account for 87 percent of the participating protégé businesses.
Spark Ops Metal Works was named the Most Valuable Protégé, celebrating its outstanding revenue growth of over 1,000 percent, their leadership and engagement throughout the program.
Michael Foley, MD, was named the Most Valuable Mentor for his exceptional leadership and strategic guidance, successfully helping his protégé navigate breaking into a business sector many considered difficult.
Out and About Transportation was honored as Comeback Player of the Year for demonstrating resilience, perseverance and significant progress despite business challenges.
This year, the Mentor-Protégé Program celebrated the second annual “Mark Murphy Hall of Fame Award,” named after former Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy, to honor former program participants or contributors who have made outstanding contributions to the program or the local business community. This year’s award was presented to Northwestern Mutual.
Protégé companies that received recognition for the 15th session are:
- 2Sisters Cleaning & Carpet Cleaning Services in Milwaukee
- D’VAXVAs Portable Parties in Milwaukee
- Secure ID in Madison
- Triple Double Logistics in Madison
- Dyslexia Achievement Center in Elm Grove
- Gold Coast Candy in Appleton
- Origins of Wellness in Greendale
- Ictect in Burlington
- Out & About Transportation in Milwaukee
- Spark Ops Metalworks in Fond du Lac
- Podcast Town in Brookfield
- ITAD Logic in Neenah
- Shawn’s Pro Wash Solutions in Green Bay
- 57 Farm Store in Sturgeon Bay
- The ATT Center in Bellevue
- Dapper Cadaver in Madison
- Aqua Therapups in Richfield
Mentors who received recognition for the 15th session are:Todd Hanson from Catalyst Performance Group
- Julie Stadtmueller from KI
- Jim Filter from Schneider National
- Michael Foley from MEP Health
- Myesha Thompson from More Than a Conqueror
- John Bozec from TAKKION
- Jan Botz from Botz Communications Consulting
- Patrick Murphy
- Leslie Chase from Chasing Gain Consulting
- Jamie Veeser
- Mike McKay from ActionCOACH
- Northwestern Mutual
- Garrick Roby from GTR Business Consulting
- Richard Allcox from Allcox & Associates
- Gary Vaughan from Guident Business Solutions
- Barb LaMue from Pebble Rock Partners
