The Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protégé Program this week 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.
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. Photos from the celebration are available for media to download to use for their stories at this link.
"We're proud to celebrate 15 years of helping Wisconsin entrepreneurs build stronger businesses through meaningful mentorship," said Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs for the Green Bay Packers. "The success of this program is reflected not only in the growth of the participating businesses but also in the supportive community built over 15 years. The jobs, opportunities and economic impact created across our state are a testament to the lasting value of mentorship and collaboration."
The celebration also named this year's Most Valuable Mentor, Most Valuable Protégé and Comeback Player of the Year. 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 in recognition of their longstanding commitment to supporting entrepreneurs through mentorship, volunteer engagement and contributions that have helped strengthen Wisconsin's small business community from the program's onset.
Protégé companies that received recognition for the 15th session are:
- 2Sisters Cleaning & Carpet Cleaning Services in Milwaukee
- Secure ID in Madison
- Dyslexia Achievement Center in Elm Grove
- Origins of Wellness in Greendale
- Out & About Transportation in Milwaukee
- Podcast Town in Brookfield
- Shawn's Pro Wash Solutions in Green Bay
- The ATT Center in Bellevue
- Aqua Therapups in Richfield
- D'VAXVAs Portable Parties in Milwaukee
- Triple Double Logistics in Madison
- Gold Coast Candy in Appleton
- Ictect in Burlington
- Spark Ops Metalworks in Fond du Lac
- ITAD Logic in Neenah
- 57 Farm Store in Sturgeon Bay
- Dapper Cadaver in Madison
Mentors who received recognition for the 15th session are:
- Todd Hanson from Catalyst Performance Group
- Jim Filter from Schneider National
- Myesha Thompson from More Than a Conqueror
- Jan Botz from Botz Communications Consulting
- Leslie Chase from Chasing Gain Consulting
- Mike McKay from ActionCOACH
- Garrick Roby from GTR Business Consulting
- Gary Vaughan from Guident Business Solutions
- Julie Stadtmueller from KI
- Michael Foley from MEP Health
- John Bozec from TAKKION
- Patrick Murphy
- Jamie Veeser
- Northwestern Mutual
- Richard Allcox from Allcox & Associates
- Barb LaMue from Pebble Rock Partners
About the Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protégé Program
Established in 2010, the Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protégé Program pairs experienced business leaders with emerging Wisconsin companies to foster business growth, create jobs and strengthen communities. 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.
