Area Development Manager Deb Clements Recognized by Business Council Foundation

Deb Clements

On May 1 one Portage County business and one individual in the county's business community were singled out for honors at the Portage County Business Council Foundations' Small Business Breakfast. Over 100 people attended the event at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Stevens Point.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award was presented to Rudy Rack, located 1400 Contractors Blvd., Plover, WI. Rudy Rack was selected from several nominees by the Business Council's Selection Committee based on their:

• Growth and financial stability
• Dedication to customer service and community needs
• Personal commitment
• Innovative efforts to identify a market niche.

Rudy Rack manufactures bike racks for retail stores. His company has been a consistently growing company for five years. They have acquired over 300 new customers in the past two years and their market share has grown not only in the United States but internationally as well.

The Friend of Small Business Award was presented to Deb Clements, Area Development Manager for the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, for her ongoing and extraordinary support of small business in Portage County and commitment to expansion opportunities for small business. Among her accomplishments are assisting businesses at all points of the continuum including business planning, site selection, initial capitalization, permitting, employee training, research and development, business expansion, retention efforts, and financial restructuring. In addition, Deb has been actively involved with a new regional loan fund, which will provide a larger pool of flexible dollars to assist area businesses and help to facilitate business development projects in Central Wisconsin.

"Both Rudy Rack and Deb Clements are great mentors and advocates for small businesses in Portage County," stated Karen Schanock, Director of Programs & Events for the Business Council. "We are proud to present this year's awards to individuals who display such a keen sense of spirit."

The Small Business Breakfast is an annual celebration of small business success across Portage County. The Portage County Business Council focuses in the areas of business, community, employee and student development to strengthen our area's quality of life and business climate.

-- Karen Schanock, Portage Business Council