Forward Janesville - TheReport - Fourth Quarter 2023

prioritized excellence, integrity, and a genuine passion for creating memorable experiences,” commented Prosser. “Our focus on service and building genuine relationships with our clients has been pivotal. We understand their unique needs and ensure each event we cater becomes personalized and unforgettable.” The bond between Michael and his father, Bob Prosser, is their secret to delivering an enhanced level of connection to the people they serve. The father- son connection makes communication easy and collaboration seamless. “My father is and has always been my hero. He has not only imparted valuable business acumen but has also instilled the importance of moral integrity, grit, leadership, never-quit attitude and a customer-centric approach,” Prosser said. The open lines of communication and level of trust between father and son has helped the Prossers navigate important business decisions and look ahead to what’s next. “Balancing tradition with modernity is a challenge unique to generational businesses. While our rich history and traditions define us, finding the right balance to remain relevant in a constantly evolving market is an on-going effort,” Prosser said. JP Cullen “The Cullens know that successful multi- generational family businesses like JP Cullen are rare,” George Cullen, fifth-generation co-president. The special synergy that comes from having five generations of a family-business is not lost on the team at JP Cullen. Only three percent of family businesses reach the third generation. Hitting the milestone fifth generation of business is a testament to the Cullen family’s perseverance, George Cullen said. But the success of JP Cullen comes from committed family ties inside and outside of the Cullen name. Several non-Cullen families have multiple generations represented within JP Cullen. “The strength of our company lies in our exceptional team, where the commitment to hiring and retaining the best talent has resulted in significantly lower turnover rates than industry averages,” Cullen said. Prent Corporation “The biggest strengths of being a generational business lie in the continuity of values, traditions, and a long-term perspective,” Rachel Andres, third-generation executive vice president. Knowledge and experience in generational businesses compound like interest. Generational businesses see challenges in succession planning and managing family dynamics in the workplace. Prent faces those challenges by instilling a deep knowledge of the company’s history, values and goals. “At the end of the day, we want a focus on innovation combined with retaining the things that have made our business what it is today,” Andres said. Innovation runs deep at Prent, which was founded in 1967 by Jack Pregont. Jack worked at his family bakery and started experimenting with plastics to make custom cake molds. What began as a process improvement for the family bakery, turned into the world’s leading manufacturer of rigid, custom plastic thermoformed packaging with an operational footprint in nine countries. Andres recounts the story, “[My grandfather] launched the company and initially served the consumer market. Today, more than 99% of our business in North America is focused on the medical device industry. My father, Joe Pregont, pushed the company to be a global corporation [and] drove the business to be tech-forward, with a significant focus on automation. We’re extremely vertically-integrated. If there is something in the supply chain we can make ourselves, we will.” Building the original Janesville High School. Blackhawk Technical College Central Campus addition The Prossers enjoying their success together 10 | FORWARD JANESVILLE