MMAC recognizes 65 ‘Focus on the Future’ award honorees

Celebrating Milwaukee Region companies’ responses to COVID-19 pandemic

MILWAUKEE -- The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) is recognizing 65 Milwaukee Region organizations and individuals as Focus on the Future Award honorees for their work to meet challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honorees will be celebrated in a virtual event on Sept. 18, from noon to 1 p.m., and in a special edition of BizTimes Media. Registration for the event is available online.

“Our business community has faced unprecedented challenges in 2020,” said Stephanie Hall, MMAC Vice President of Membership and Small Business. “Through it all, these 65 companies, organizations and individuals have shown us examples of the Milwaukee Region at its best, and give us hope for the future. Through the Focus on the Future Awards, MMAC wants to recognize those who have risen to their best during the most difficult of times.”

The Focus on the Future awards are presented by First Midwest Bank, and sponsored by Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C.; Sitzberger & Company SC; and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in collaboration with Aurora Health Care. BizTimes Media is the MMAC’s media partner for the awards.

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Honorees are recognized in the following categories:

ESTABLISHED NEW LINKS IN THE CHAIN
These honorees have retooled their supply chain or made new links in another supply chain to meet new market demands:

Duet Resource Group
Exciting Events
Gross Automation LLC
Hunger Task Force
IAS Inc.
Lanex LLC
MicroSynergies
PartsBadger

MOTHER (OR FATHER) OF INVENTION
These honorees have created a new product or service to meet rapidly changing market demands:

Badger Technology Group Inc.
BoothCentral Inc.
Central Office Systems
Central Standard Craft Distillery
The Chef’s Table
Clarity Management LLC - #lunchwithlorry
Connoils LLC
Healics Inc.
Milwaukee Center for Independence
Milwaukee Food & City Tours
MKE Tech Hub Coalition and The Commons
Pat Miller – The Idea Coach
Server Products
Stonehouse Innovations LLC
TopLine Results Corporation
West Allis Blue - Large Format Graphics

FUELING THE FRONTLINES
These honorees have come to the aid of healthcare or other frontline workers when they needed it most:

Kane Communications Group
Nourish Natural Products
Pliszka's Adventures LLC, dba Headline It
Surfacide Manufacturing
SVA, A Professional Services Company
YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee

TRUE COLORS
These honorees have maintained an employee-centric focus by managing the health and well-being of their workforce:

Advocate Aurora Health
Ascension Wisconsin
The Bartolotta Restaurants
Brainchild Studios
Brilliance Business Solutions
Bublr Bikes
CCB Technology
Catholic Financial Life
CG Schmidt
Dale Carnegie Training
Girls on the Run of Southeastern Wisconsin
Granular
Insulation Technologies Inc., dba INTEC
La Causa, Inc.
Medical Eye Associates
Penfield Children’s Center
Rocket Clicks
The Starr Group
TEKLYNX
Terra Translations LLC
Xymox Technologies Inc.

PIVOT NOT PANIC
These organizations and individual honorees displayed clarity and purpose, showing exemplary leadership during the pandemic:

Accelity
Advanced Hires
American Construction Services
Brunch – Morgan Schnabl
Celesta LLC – Nina King
Gehl Foods LLC – Michael Schwartz
Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Milwaukee Committee – Julia Taylor
INVIVO Wellness
Lueder Financial Group – Matt Lueder
Physical Therapy of Milwaukee - Dr. Sylvestra Ramirez
Rehab Resources (a division of Greenfield Rehabilitation Agency) – Ginger Brath and Kate Brewer
SPEARity – Darren Fisher
The Tandem

About the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
Founded in 1861, the MMAC serves as the chamber of commerce for the Milwaukee Region, representing approximately 2,000 member businesses with 300,000 employees. Its mission is to improve Metro Milwaukee as a place to invest capital, grow business and create jobs.
Online: MMAC.org.