Skyward receives Family Business of Year Award

May 9, 2008

Skyward Inc. of Stevens Point was one of six family businesses honored in the fifth annual Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award banquet held Thursday, May 1, in Madison.

Skyward received the Grand Award for Large Company. Other Grand Awards were presented to K-tech Kleening Systems, Inc., Weston, for Medium Company; and Drake & Company of Madison Inc., Madison, for Small Company.

Special Awards went to J.J Keller & Associations Inc., Neenah, “Jack Keller Award”; Gordy’s Lakefront Marine, Inc., Fontana, “Southern Wisconsin Fixture”; and O’Leary Plumbing & Heating Inc., East Troy, “Half Century Success”.

Skyward was founded in the family garage in Stevens Point in 1980 and has grown to be one of the premier providers of school administrative software in the country. In 1981 Skyward developed a software application for Merrill Public Schools. Three more districts were added as clients that year.

By 1985 Skyward was providing up to 50 school districts with service. Branch offices were opened in Illinois and Minnesota.

Today, Skyward applications are installed in 1,236 K through 12 school districts in 16 states and also in India, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Lebanon. The company employs 294 people located in 10 branch offices.

Between 2006 and 2007 sales increased 47 percent.

Started by Jim and Jean King, the company has experienced growth from the beginning. And they integrated the family into the business early on.

All three of their children worked part time in the business as soon as they were able to contribute, some as early as age 8.

All three children graduated from state universities and, upon graduation, the children were offered full-time entry-level positions. They accepted. Each child was given a 10-percent share in the company and they all serve on the board of directors.

Skyward is a big supporter of communities through charitable giving, but also with the goal to Buy Wisconsin. Thirty-five percent of the workforce around the country are graduates of either the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, or Mid-State Technical College.

The Family Firm Institute says more than 80 percent of all business enterprises in North American are family-owned. Nearly 35 percent of Fortune 500 Companies are family firms. Family businesses account for 78 percent of all new job creation, 60 percent of the nation’s employment and 50 percent of the GDP. “Family businesses are a major force in our economy,” said Jeanie Farmer, partner at Smith & Gesteland and chair of the firm’s Family Business Practice. “This award honors family businesses, some of whom are into their third, fourth and fifth generations. They anchor their communities, provide jobs, support charities and lead by example. We wanted to acknowledge those contributions with these awards.”

Winners were selected by an independent panel of judges from nominations submitted by the companies. The award program is sponsored by Smith & Gesteland, a Madison-based CPA and consulting firm; Associated Bank; and the Madison-based law firm of DeWitt Ross & Stevens.

Grand awards were presented in three size categories: Large (100-plus employees), Medium (50-99) and Small (less than 50). Special awards were given by the judges to companies excelling in a particular area.



Portage County Gazette