Local Business Honored for Community, Economic Impact

Smith-Dahmer Associates was recently recognized as one of the “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch,” at an awards program sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation. Smith-Dahmer Associates has offices in St. Joseph, Michigan, and in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The award was presented by Gov. Jennifer Granholm at the third annual “Michigan Celebrates Small Business” event, held April 12 in East Lansing, Michigan.

"Michigan 50 Companies to Watch is a unique awards program designed to shine the spotlight on second-stage companies,” says Mark Lange, executive director of the Edward Lowe Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation based in Michigan. The foundation’s mission is to “champion the entrepreneurial spirit” by encouraging entrepreneurial cultures in communities throughout the country and helping second-stage companies learn from each other.

"When it comes to a robust economy, second-stage entrepreneurs play a critical role because they generate new jobs and sustainable growth,” Lange said. “And yet, they’re not often recognized or appreciated for the impact they have on the economy or the community.”

Smith-Dahmer Associates is an independent market research firm specializing in product development and design, brand strategy, communications and distribution challenges. The firm was founded by Joan Smith and Ann Dahmer in 1991 and employs 43 associates.

“We are enormously proud to receive this award,” said Joan Smith, principal of Smith-Dahmer Associates. “We’ve been so focused on supporting our clients’ products and services, we seldom stop to think about the impact our own company is having. It’s very gratifying to be recognized as having such a positive presence in the communities where we do business.”

Companies nominated for the “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” list must be second-stage companies, defined as having 6 to 99 full-time-equivalent employees and generating $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants.

Winners were selected by the Michigan Certified Development Corporation, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, the Small Business Association of Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the U.S. Small Business Administration-Michigan and the Edward Lowe Foundation. Judges evaluated the nominees’ demonstrated intent and capacity to grow based on one or more of the following:

• Employee or sales growth.

• Exceptional entrepreneurial leadership.

• Sustainable competitive advantage.

• Other notable factors that showcase the company's success.

Information about the 2008 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch program can be found at http://Michigan.CompaniesToWatch.org.

Established in St. Joseph, Mich., in 1991, Smith-Dahmer Associates is a privately held marketing research company specializing in discovering actionable customer insights for a wide range of clients. The firm employs 43 associates in St. Joseph and Minneapolis who provide clients with marketing research expertise in the areas of product development and design; brand strategy; communications analysis; and channel/distribution assessment. For more information, visit the web site at www.smithdahmer.com.