Q: What have been your biggest successes? A: After 33 years in business, we are still finding ways to reinvent ourselves and grow the business. In 2022, we grew the business 20 percent and hit a revenue goal set by John Rinaldi to initiate a transfer of equity to an ESOP. We will be an employee-owned company in 2023. Q: What has been the most surprising part of running a small business? A: Southeastern Wisconsin is teaming with partners that can simplify running your business and allow you the focus needed to bring your core value to market. We tragically lost a VP in December, and the partners he had chosen for us were tremendously valuable as we dealt with both our personal loss and the prospect of replacing the role he played in our business. This is a great region to build a business in. Q: What is something you know now that you wish you would have known when you started? A: R&D always takes exponentially longer than estimated. • Creation is a messy business. • Engineers like creation. • Engineers never properly account for mess. When you are looking to bring new things to the world, do not bet the house on a delivery date. Support the process, set attainable check points and be open to pivots as discoveries are made. Q: What is your favorite part about being a small business owner? A: Looking around the office and seeing all the other soonto-be owners. • WAUKESHA COUNTY BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC. 10
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