Businesses inducted into Hall of Fame

Greater Mankato Business Hall of Fame winners this year have astounding records of not only business success but draw that success from their constant attention to customer service and business relationships.

Schmidt Siding and Window estimates that they have served over 40,000 customers over their 60 years in business and have never had a complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau. That's unheard of in the home construction and contracting business where disputes occur just as a course of business. But it's clear Schmidt has done an excellent job of making everything right by the customer.

The company estimates 38 percent of its business is repeat customers, another impressive statistic.

Someone did raise an issue with the BBB on a Schmidt ad claiming that they were the number one contractor for their kind of business in Mankato, and when the BBB saw Schmidt's documentation of the numerous industry awards it won, they said, yes, no problem, you can call yourself No. 1.

Schmidt President Dale Brenke likened building the Schmidt business to building a cathedral, one generation builds the foundation, the next generation ads to that and others join in until the cathedral is completed.

Gary Schmidt sold his interest in the business a few years ago to employees Jim Hockert and Steve Beetch, but is still part of the Schmidt team that accepted the award.

After 60 years in business, the Schmidt company has built quite a cathedral.

Weir Insurance

The James R. Weir Insurance Agency also had a great story of a family business that grew for some 40 years.

The Weir agency was also inducted into the Greater Mankato Business Hall of Fame. Founder James Weir started the agency in 1969 with a few business associates. "We came to town and didn't have one policy," he told The Free Press. "Now the business is huge."

His son Jay Weir and son-in-law Mike Donohoe now run the business. Jay recalls coming back from college graduation in 1986, sitting down in his father's office and waiting for instructions on his new job.

His father plopped a phone book down in front of him and told him to "start making relationships" and pointed to the clock, saying "we don't watch the clock in this business."

Said Jay: "23 years later, I know exactly what that means."

Mike Donohoe thanked the Mankato community for all their patronage and, like many others on this night, described Mankato as a great place to live and do business.