Honoring the State's Outstanding Corporate Citizens

Corporate Report Wisconsin, Mar 2007 by Zukowski, Paul

To help diversify the field of architecture, Eppstein Uhen has provided scholarships and internships to minority architecture students since 1995. Seventeen current employees were interns, and five of the scholarship students are employed by the firm.

Less impact on environment is Bay Towel goal

Bay Towel is a linen and uniform rental company based in Green Bay with its major production plant there and distribution centers in Milwaukee, Madison and Wausau. It employs 190 people and has been in business 77 years. President Paul Linzmeyer believes business people should not only look for business and economic improvement in a community or region, but should also drive social change. "We want to be an active part of the community and give back," he said in the nomination statement.

From the executive suite to the production line, Bay Towel employees and executives are active participants in community efforts and nonprofits. The company itself donates to many causes, such as Freedom House, the YMCA, the Brown County Literacy Council, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

As a user of water and energy, Bay Towel has found ways to lessen its impact on the environment. Wash water is used twice, and fresh water coming in is heated through heat exchanged from discarded water as well as boiler exhaust. And all water used is filtered for particles before going down the drain. More efficient dryers and wash cycles that use less heat are also employed.

Bay Towel takes care of its employees in many ways. Its Wellness/Occupational Health program provides free clinic services on site, and annual health risk assessments are conducted with regular follow-ups. English classes are also offered, as well as tuition reimbursement for higher education.

Knupp & Watson creative marathon helps nonprofits

Knupp & Watson is a Madison advertising agency with 24 employees that has been in business since 1986 and serves a broad mix of clients. Like most ad agencies, the firm receives requests for pro bono work from a variety of nonprofit organizations, but is not always able to donate time to them. Two years ago, a new approach was thought up - a 24-hour marathon creative session called Goodstock in which art directors, account execs, traffic managers and media strategists come together for 24 hours of "love and advertising," as the company puts it.

In its first two years, Goodstock produced $700,000 worth of marketing goods and services for 33 local nonprofit organizations. Nearly 50 projects were tackled, including logos, fully produced TV and radio spots, marketing plans, and media recommendations.

Knupp & Watson screens proposal submissions from nonprofits based on the services they provide to the community, their level of need and if the projects are feasible within a 24-hour time frame. Goodstock projects have dealt with the arts and the environment, child abuse, housing, AIDS, youth outreach, job training and education.

The recommending judge for Knupp & Watson, Edgewood College professor Denis Collins of the School of Business said, "The Goodstock program is a wonderful program that all companies could replicate in some shape, form or manner. It is a win-win situation where the chosen nonprofit organizations receive pro bono assistance from seasoned experts and the employees of the company doing the pro bono work experience team building, high morale, and making a difference."