From the pages of In Business magazine.
Several years ago, with all the award programs wearing out red carpets, we embarked on a new program that honors local business excellence, an under-recognized category. IB’s annual Executive Consumer Choice program is a toast to local companies that please the most discerning of all customers — small business owners and members of the executive suite.
Since the winners and three finalists in each of 37 categories are chosen from a fill-in-the-blank survey, these are companies that have achieved top-of-mind awareness in the business community. Some are repeat winners, including organizations such as Lindsay Stone & Briggs, First Business Bank, and Summit Credit Union, and some such as Spencer X Smith Consulting, a social media firm, are as new as their category (preferred social media consulting company).
From advertising agencies to website development companies, they represent the best of the best of local businesses that have achieved excellence in their pursuit of perfection. In this annual presentation, we identify them and provide selected testimonials from business consumers who filled out our annual ECA survey.
Advertising Agency
Winner
- Lindsay, Stone & Briggs
Finalists
- Hiebing
- Rippe Keane Marketing
- Strategic Brand Marketing
Social Media Consulting Co.
Winner
- Spencer X Smith
Finalists
- BConnected LLC
- Lindsay, Stone & Briggs
- Revelation PR, Advertising & Social Media
Bank (For Business)
Winner
- First Business Bank
Finalists
- Monona State Bank
- Oak Bank
- Park Bank
Credit Union
Winner
- Summit Credit Union
Finalists
- Dane County Credit Union
- Heartland Credit Union
- UW Credit Union
Wealth Management Company
Winner
- First Business Trust & Investments
Finalists
- Mass Mutual
- SVA Plumb Financial
- UBS
Health Insurance Company
Winner
- Unity Health Insurance
Finalists
- Dean Health Plan
- Group Health Cooperative
- Physicians Plus
Commercial Builder
Winner
- J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc.
Finalists
- 1848 Construction
- Bachmann Construction
- Ideal Builders, Inc.
(Continued)
Commercial Interior Design Firm
Winner
- InteriorLOGIC Facility Planning
Finalists
- Brownhouse
- Creative Business Interiors
- Lerdahl Business Interiors
Commercial Architectural Firm
Winner
- Strang Inc.
Finalists
- Eppstein Uhen Architects
- Flad & Associates
- Potter Lawson
Cleaning/Building Maintenance Company
Winner
- Kleenmark
Finalists
- Capital City Cleaning & Supply
- Green Planet Cleaning
- Kayla’s Custom Cleaning
Commercial Landscaper
Winner
- The Bruce Co.
Finalists
- Barnes, Inc.
- Maple Leaf
- Olson Toon Landscaping, Inc.
Office Furniture Company
Winner
- Lerdahl Business Interiors
Finalists
- Atmosphere Commercial Interiors
- Creative Business Interiors
- Emmons Business Interiors
Office Supply Company
Winner
- EZ Office Products
Finalists
- Office Depot
- Rhyme
- Staples
Website Development Company
Winner
- Tingalls Design
Finalists
- Adesys
- Envision IT
- Powderkeg Interactive/Econoprint
(Continued)
IT Consultant
Winner
- Adesys
Finalists
- Aberdean Consulting
- Acuity Consulting Services
- Applied Tech
Management Training Company
Winner
- ActionCOACH
Finalists
- Dale Carnegie Training
- Loichinger Advantage
- UW Small Business Development Center
Higher Educational Training Institution
Winner
- UW–Madison
Finalists
- Edgewood College
- Globe University
- Madison College
Commercial Property Manager
Winner
- Oakbrook Corp.
Finalists
- The Alexander Co.
- Gialamas Co.
- MIG Commercial Real Estate
Real Estate Company
Winner
- Restaino & Associates
Finalists
- Bunbury & Associates
- First Weber Group
- Stark Company Realtors
Cell Phone Provider
Winner
- US Cellular
Finalists
- AT&T
- Sprint
- Verizon
Phone Company
Winner
- Charter Communications
Finalists
- AT&T
- TDS
- Verizon
(Continued)
Hotel for Out-of-town Guests
Winner
- The Edgewater
Finalists
- Hilton Monona Terrace
- Madison Concourse
- Marriott Madison West
Venue for Business Meetings/Events
Winner
- Monona Terrace
Finalists
- Alliant Energy Center
- The Edgewater
- The Madison Club
Printing Company
Winner
- Econoprint
Finalists
- Alphagraphics
- American Printing
- Kramer Madison
Security Company
Winner
- JBM Patrol & Protection Corp.
Finalists
- J&K Security Solutions
- MPI (Midwest Patrol & Investigative, LLC)
- Per Mar Security Services
Staffing Firm
Winner
- The QTI Group
Finalists
- ABR Employment Services
- Aerotek
- Celerity Staffing Solutions
Restaurant for Breakfast
Winner
- Egg & I
Finalists
- Hubbard Avenue Diner
- Marigold
- Panera Bread
Restaurant for Lunch
Winner
- The Madison Club
Finalists
- Bonfyre American Grille
- The Great Dane
- The Old Fashioned
(Continued)
Restaurant for Dinner
Winner
- The Madison Club
Finalists
- Johnny Delmonico’s Steakhouse
- Rare
- Tornado Steak House
Place for Business Cocktails
Winner
- Eno Vino Wine Bar & Bistro
Finalists
- Bonfyre American Grille
- The Edgewater
- The Madison Club
Golf Course for Business Outings
Winner
- University Ridge
Finalists
- Hawks Landing
- Nakoma Golf Club
- Pleasant View
Health/Fitness Center
Winner
- The Princeton Club
Finalists
- Anytime Fitness
- Harbor Athletic Club
- Pinnacle Health & Fitness
Law Firm
Winner
- Axley Brynelson LLP
Finalists
- Boardman and Clark LLP
- Dewitt Ross & Stevens S.C.
- Husch Blackwell (formerly WHD)
Insurance Company
Winner
- American Family Insurance
Finalists
- Northwestern Mutual
- QBE North America
- West Bend Mutual
Independent Insurance Agency
Winner
- Hausmann-Johnson Insurance
Finalists
- M3 Insurance
- Neckerman Insurance Services
- Schwarz Insurance
Business Catering Company
Winner
- Hy-Vee
Finalists
- Blue Plate Catering
- Food Fight Restaurant Group
- Gaylord’s Catering
Accounting Firm
Winner
- Smith & Gesteland
Finalists
- Baker Tilly Virchow Krause
- Meicher CPAs
- SVA Certified Public Accountants S.C.
If there is a business category you would like us to consider for next year’s Executive Choice Awards, please email your suggestion to jon@ibmadison.com.
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