Press Releases
Adair, IA - April 2, 2003
Schafer Systems Inc. Named Iowa/Nebraska ESOP Company of the Year
On February 26, 2003, the semi-annual meeting of the Iowa/Nebraska ESOP Chapter of the ESOP Association, hosted by Travel & Transport, was held at the Double Tree in Omaha, Nebraska. Schafer Systems was among fifteen companies throughout Iowa and Nebraska represented at this meeting. Ginny Vanderslice, Praxis Consulting Group, and Dick Duffy, Ownership Vision, presented an excellent interactive program on how an ESOP is set up and how one functions.
Later in the day, Schafer Systems was named Iowa/Nebraska ESOP Company of the Year. The award was presented by RSM McGladrey, Inc. of Des Moines, Iowa. Eight Schafer Systems employee owners received the award on behalf of the company. They were Bea Hackwell, Kelby Harris, Jacquie Hotchkin, Michael Hughes, Curt Jahde, Matt Jorgensen, Victor Aspengren and Chapter President, Roberta Beschorner.
The basis for this award was the unique “ownership culture” of Schafer Systems Inc. and its subsidiary, Connect-A-Dock Inc. Since the creation of its ESOP in 1999, the company has implemented a leadership style that encourages and trains all employee owners to become “players” in the company. In order to become “players”, they must understand the financials, company goals and vision and have the freedom to question why. With this information, they are empowered to participate in the company strategic plan and assume a position of responsibility for the financial results of Schafer Systems.
Receiving the Iowa/Nebraska Chapter Company of the Year Award has placed Schafer Systems in competition for the National ESOP Company of the Year that is awarded at the National ESOP Association Annual Conference in Washington, DC in April, 2003.
877-742-3071; Fax: 712-243-2469. www.connectadock.com.