Future 50 companies have major economic impact

The 2016 Future 50 companies have combined annual revenues of $1.19 billion and employ 3,958 people in the Milwaukee area.

Together, these firms are the engine driving economic growth in our region. Many of them are hiring new employees or expanding their product offerings or facilities, and more than half are bringing new income to the area – 58 percent say at least a quarter of their business comes from outside the Milwaukee region.

Future 50 companies span all industries. This year, the business services, manufacturing and technology sectors make up nearly half of winners.

The Future 50 Program, administered by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s Council of Small Business Executives, highlights inspirational success stories among privately-owned businesses in the seven-county region. Winners have been in business for at least three years and have demonstrated significant revenue and employment growth.

Since Future 50 started in 1988, it has recognized 728 companies for their accomplishments.

BizTimes is the program’s media partner. Help us honor this year’s recipients at the annual awards luncheon on Friday, Sept. 23, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. For more information or to register, visit www.biztimes.com/Future50.

Future 50 Winner Profiles

Profiles compiled by: Alysha Schertz

Photos by: Paul Gaertner of White Dog Photography

Master Mettle winners are a diverse group

By Andrew Weiland, staff writer

A diverse group of southeastern Wisconsin companies comprise the Master Mettle winners for the 2016 Future 50 awards presented by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s Council of Small Business Executives.

The Master Mettle winners are companies that have been named to the Future 50 three times, the maximum number allowed. In the 2016 Future 50 class, there are 13 Master Mettle winners.

Unlike in some years, when a particular industry sector is dominant, the Master Mettle companies this year represent a wide variety of industries. However, five of the firms are technology-related.

• BSI, of Waukesha, designs, builds and furnishes commercial interiors.
• Concurrency Inc., Brookfield, provides consulting and Microsoft-focused systems integration.
• CSE Inc., New Berlin, is a branded merchandise agency.
• Eagle Enterprises Ltd., Milwaukee, is a commercial cleaning business.
• Healthfuse, Milwaukee, works with hospitals to reduce costs and increase collections.
• HUSCO International Inc., Waukesha, is a manufacturer of hydraulic and electro-hydraulic components for automotive and mobile equipment.
• Hy-Brid Lifts, Richfield, is a manufacturer of custom equipment and all-purpose lifts.
• Krueger Communications Inc., Elm Grove, is a provider of communication system technology solutions.
• Nissen Staffing Continuum, Waukesha, is a staffing firm.
• OwnersEdge Inc., Brookfield, is a technology firm comprised of five affiliated companies.
• Stay-Lite Lighting Inc., Pewaukee, is a commercial lighting firm.
• SWICKtech, New Berlin, is an IT management services firm.
• Vantage Point Corp., Kenosha, provides a variety of technology hardware procurement and solutions, technology management services, hosting services and solutions.

Geographically speaking, Waukesha County dominates this year’s Master Mettle winner field with nine firms. Only two (Eagle Enterprises and Healthfuse) are located in Milwaukee County. Vantage Point Corp. is located in Kenosha County and Hy-Brid Lifts is located in Washington County.