BizTimes Media presented the fourth annual awards program to salute southeastern Wisconsin’s best corporate citizens and most effective nonprofit organizations at a program on November 2nd, 2017.

The awards recognized excellence in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership.

Business owners who seek to fill the labor shortage and grow their companies attended the fourth annual Nonprofit Excellence Awards, where solutions to develop entrepreneurs and employees in Milwaukee were discussed. The panel discussed how companies and nonprofits in southeastern Wisconsin can collaborate to solve the problems facing businesses while benefiting the community and taking action to address your skills gap by finding creative solutions.

Panelists:

• Bill Krugler, president, Milwaukee JobsWork [1]
• Cheryl Fritz, business development manager, STEP Industries [2]
• JoAnne Johnson-Sabir, The Juice Kitchen, Sherman Phoenix [3]
• Austin Ramirez, chief executive officer, HUSCO International [4]
• Joaquin Altoro, vice president, Town Bank [5]

Moderator: Kimberly Kane, founder and president, Kane Communications Group [6]

Corporate Citizenship Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award: Jim Lindenberg, president/CEO, Lindy Enterprises

Corporate Citizen of the Year: This award is given to a for-profit organization in recognition of its impact to a single or multiple nonprofit organizations through financial contributions collective efforts to promote, encourage and organize fundraising efforts and company-sponsored programs and/or events engaging employees to participate in volunteerism.

• WINNER: Kohl’s
• JPMorgan Chase
• West Bend Mutual Insurance

Corporate Volunteer of the Year: This award is given to a for-profit non-executive volunteer who demonstrates outstanding dedication to a nonprofit or multiple nonprofit organizations. Active volunteerism can be ongoing or linked to a specific single project or cause.

• WINNER: Nick Obrochta, Kohl’s Corporation
• Robert Kennedy, WE Energies, Inc.

In-Kind Supporter: This award is given to a professional or company that provides in-kind support to single or multiple nonprofit organizations through any type of non-financial contributions.

• WINNER: Bartolotta Restaurants
• Anthologie, Inc.
• SafeNet Consulting

Next Generation Leadership: This award is given to for-profit, (under 40 year-old) executive who demonstrates leadership and significant contributions to single or multiple nonprofit organizations through active leadership on a board and/or strategic management/guidance.

• WINNER: Molly Schweiger, PNC Financial Services
• Benjamin Juarez, Public Policy Forum

Nonprofit Awards

Nonprofit Collaboration of the Year: This award recognizes a collaborative project that encompasses developed collaborative relationships with other nonprofit organizations engagement of multiple stakeholders within the community being served and innovation in approaching a community problem or issue and have leveraged these relationships to make and even more meaningful impact in the community. Note: since this award recognizes a project that may involve multiple organizations or individuals, it may be “awarded” to more than one part of the project in recognition of their contributions.

• WINNER: Next Door
• SaintA
• Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center / Augustine Preparatory Academy

Nonprofit Executive of the Year: This award is given to a nonprofit leader who demonstrates vision and innovation in advancing the mission of the nonprofit extensive involvement in a nonprofit and/or creativity in bringing new resources and opportunities to the nonprofit.

• WINNER: Keith Stanley, Near West Side Partners, Inc.
• Ellen Blathers, Serenity Inns, Inc.
• Patti Gorsky, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin

Nonprofit (Organization) of the Year: This award is given to a nonprofit organization (not an individual) in recognition for creativity and innovation in building a sustainable organization excellence in teamwork and an outstanding dedication to the organization’s mission in the community organizational excellence in management and operations.

Large (operating budget $3M and above):

• WINNER: Milwaukee Rescue Mission
• Beyond Vision
• The Threshold, Incorporated

Small (operating budget under $3M):

• WINNER: Summit Educational Association, Inc.
• Greater Milwaukee Committee
• Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee

Interested in sponsoring an event? To reap the benefits of the ultimate in-person marketing opportunity contact Linda Crawford, Director of Sales, to discuss opportunities. Event sponsorships are limited.