PRESENTATION OF 2010 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

The 2010 Community Service Award was presented to Bart Lamers. Bart moved to Rhinelander from Manitowoc at the age of 10 and graduated from Rhinelander High School in 1986, graduated from UW-Madison and passed hisCPA exam in 1990. 

Following graduation, he moved to Minneapolis for 11 years where his job allowed him to travel the Midwest, then the USA, then the world (Western Europe, Asia, Australia).

Bart married Kersti, daughter of Tom and Theda Urban in June of 2001 and moved back to Rhinelander to raise a family. Bart and Kersti are the proud parents of Quinn (7), Ava (5), Truman (3) and Vivian (1).

Bart was recognized for his generous commitment through volunteer work in the following community activities:

• Grow North Regional Economic Development Corp. - VP, President twice (2004 – present)
• Ministry Health Care - Sacred Heart / Saint Mary’s Hospitals BOD – Vice Chair (2006 – present)
• Active member of Rhinelander Rotary Club (2005 – present)
• United Way Executive Board - Treasurer, VP, President (2001 – 2010)
• Hodag Facilities Foundation (2004 – 2007) – organization helped spawn RSEF
• Coaches Multiple sports

 

PRESENTATION OF 2010 BUSINESS AWARDS

WOODRUFF HARDWARE INC
HONOREE
Award for Philanthropy

Woodruff Hardware Inc. started as a 3300square foot, two-story building at highways 51 and 47.  The hardware store has been in business since the late “teens or early 20’s” as NorthernHardware and Wilson Hardware.

Woodruff Hardware built an 8,000 sq. ft. store in 1990 and was incorporated in 1996.  The current building on Hwy 47 was built in 1997 and after 5 additions has reached 78,000 sq. ft.

Woodruff Hardware was nominated by Diane Hapka who states that “it would not be possible to list the many ways that Lowell and his company have benefited the community. Seems all you need to do is ask and (Woodruff Ave Hardware) is there to help when they can. 

Lowell’s staff is always friendly and eager to help; a true testimony to their employer. Our communities are a better place because of Lowell Bostrom and (his company’s) dedication to our needs in the Lakeland Area.”.

OLDENBURG GROUP INC.
HONOREE
Award for Outstanding Growth


Oldenburg Group Incorporated is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based global supplier of engineered heavy equipment and architectural lighting products. From its inception in 1982, Wayne C. Oldenburg has built Oldenburg Group upon core beliefs in employee empowerment and customer satisfaction.

Oldenburg’s customers are never at risk when they choose their products. Oldenburg strives to be the bestsupplier to their customers. Oldenburg employees areencouraged to “fly as high as their wings will lift them” under Oldenburg’s Partnership Plan, which defines their empowered workplace environment. Oldenburg strives to be the best place to work—the best as defined by their employees.

This simple philosophy has propelled three decades of rapid growth and the attainment of leading market positions for each of our brands.

Oldenburg Group Incorporated (OGI), formerly Lake Shore, Inc. has been known as an OEM of custom heavy equipment for decades. They are a diversified industrial manufacturing company catering to both the defense and commercial markets (Land, Sea, and Air). Oldenburg has a history of building modular causeways, heavy machinery for shipboard use, cranes, mining and timber harvesting equipment, and nuclear material handling equipment. They design and build equipment to exactly meet the needs of their customers.

The Rhinelander plant is a modern 80,000 sq ft facility with full manufacturing capabilities. The plant is equipped to fabricate small to large weldments, machine components and large assemblies as well as blast and paint to Mil Spec requirements. This plant is OGI’s primary machining facility for defense projects.

 

FRIENDSHIP HOUSE FAMILY RESTAURANT
Award for Model Start-Up Business

The Friendship House Family Restaurant isowned by Tony & Elvisa Sabini who moved to Rhinelander with their two children in 2006. Their goal was to find a small town where everyone knows you by name; they found that in Rhinelander.

The Friendship House Family Restaurant is open 7 days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. They have a large variety of food, including breakfast which is served all day.

They also have a special senior menu for their elder clientele. The Friendship House Family Restaurant’s pies are made fresh every morning and they now serve sugar free deserts.

Tony & Elvisa would like everyone who walks through their door to feel at home. The Friendship House Family Restaurant is a thriving business and will continue to be successful with their friendly service and welcoming attitude.

WINGER CONCRETE PRODUCTS INC
HONOREE
Award for Longevity

Winger Concrete Products, Inc.manufactures and distributes high-quality concrete products for commercial and residential building projects throughout Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

With four locations in Hazelhurst, Eagle River, Tomahawk, Wisconsin; and Ironwood, Michigan - we specialize in highly technical projects with strict specifications.

A family-owned and operated business since 1918, we are well versed in the varieties of concrete products available today.

FORTH FLORAL
HONOREE
Award for Family Business

For over 100 years, our floral business has been growing and thriving! In 1900, a greenhouse in the center of a rough and rowdy mecca for lumberjacks didn't seem to stand much of a chance for survival, much less success. Our great-grandparents, Peter and Lena Philipp persevered - immigrating from Luxembourg full of dreams and determination, the young couple put down roots on North Brown Street in Rhinelander and built Philipps Greenhouse. 

Though the early years were tough, including a destructive fire that damaged the original greenhouse, Peter and Lena's business grew and began to thrive. In 1928, their daughter Julia and her husband Arthur Forth bought the business and renamed it Forth Floral which they then owned and operated into the 1970's.
In 1958, Julia and Art's daughter, Leona, and her husband, Marv Schumacher, came into the business and began the third generation of outstanding customer service in the floral business. For three decades, Leona and Marv continued to serve the Northwoods with the same principles and ideals that their parents and grandparents had established more than half a century earlier and, in 1988, they welcomed their daughter Ruth into the business. 

Carrying on a four-generation family tradition, Ruth and her husband Henning have helped Forth Floral blossom, adding modern floral techniques and services to a business that continues to flourish. The retail store and greenhouses have been rebuilt and modernized through the years. Presently, Forth Floral offers its customers a spacious shopping environment and garden center at the original North Brown Street location as well as 20,000 square feet of modern greenhouses. 

Growing and prospering over the past 100 years, Forth Floral has become one of Rhinelander's oldest family-owned businesses. The success of our business has been possible due to the loyal support of the community and the hard work of our dedicated employees. We're looking forward to our second century of business serving your floral and garden needs.

Guidelines for OCEDC Award Nominations
Longevity: 60 or more years in business inside the county. The company has a distinct story to tell about itself and its county operation.
Philanthropy: Continually improving the community through generous financial and humanitarian efforts.
Outstanding Growth: 5 or more years in business. Growth in physical space, # of employees and sales.
Model Start-up:  3-5 years in business, financially sound, met goals in business plan.
Family Business:  Family owned/run business, two generations or more.

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Last Update on May 26, 2010