6 minute read
Featured Affiliates
THE HOUSE OF INSURANCE
Milwaukee native Mike Cross set out to create a better insurance agency over 25 years ago. Today, his company, The House of Insurance, goes above and beyond to help clients and community businesses thrive.
Marty Lindquist, a commercial account executive, joined the agency early on in 1993 and says the company prides itself on delivering prompt service to clients. “We don’t ignore phone calls and usually can take care of whatever is needed with only one conversation,” he explains. “We have the knowledge from many years of experience to be able to handle most inquiries quickly. Our customers deserve the best we have to offer or we don’t deserve to have them.”
Lindquist says being a member of the TLW makes sense for the agency as The House of Insurance insures a good number of taverns and restaurants. “We have good insurance markets for taverns, and we can usually do a better job on price, coverage and service for anyone that we get an opportunity to quote,” reveals Lindquist. “Taverns and restaurants are a preferred risk in my mind because they often are family-owned and operated by people who take great pride in what they do and how they do it.”
The House of Insurance supports Mukwonago, Greenfield and other southeastern Wisconsin communities not only by providing exceptional service, but also charitable action. The insurance agency backs local food banks and other nonprofit services like Seniors on the Go, which provides inexpensive rides to elderly or disabled people in Waukesha County.
The company additionally supports the TLW. “We attended Waukesha County and Marquette County Tavern League golf outings in the past, and look forward to attending more of these events across the state,” says Lindquist. “We had hole sponsorships and donated prizes.” He says the agency looks forward to having a booth at future trade shows, too.
Lindquist praises the TLW for staying involved from the beginning of the pandemic, keeping members informed and offering opportunities to take action. “During the pandemic lockdown, I was getting emails almost daily from the TLW with useful information concerning closures, lobbying, stimulus offerings and just great information about what was going on,” he says. “I usually get notices from the TLW before I get them from my own insurance companies. Hats off to the TLW for its dedication to its members when there was a big need. Thank you for that.”
THE HOUSE OF INSURANCE
7431 W. Cold Spring Rd., Greenfield, WI 53220 (414) 327-3800 | thehouseofinsurance.com
BERG COMPANY
Business owners are always looking to stretch every dollar, but today, each penny can be the difference between survival and a shuttered establishment. In 1938, the pioneer of liquor control technology, Madison native B. L. Berg, designed the first rotating display case. This technology eventually led to his creation of the first liquor dispensing system in 1973. Today, Berg Company has over 50 years of experience maximizing profits for bars and restaurants.
“You don’t need to know how to mix even a standard cocktail, just push a button on the gun and the perfect proportions come out every time,” says Mike Keating, general manager of Berg Company. “A mixologist can rest assured knowing any server in the place will be able to pour to the millimeter his own custom cocktail.”
Keating believes that he can save a customer roughly $32 per liter of liquor based on estimates of spillage and liquor loss per pour, and as a result, Berg’s liquor control systems typically pay for themselves in six to 12 months. The Berg website even features a free Liquor Loss Calculator so you can crunch the numbers yourself, or you can sign up for the company’s “10 E-Tips to Prevent Theft, Giveaways and Overpouring” to gain valuable insight into increasing your profits immediately.
Located in Monona, Berg Company often reaches out to Madison Area Technical College (MATC) to work with students in various programs and even hires students directly from MATC, according to Keating. Being a member of the TLW also allows Berg Company to stay in contact with the community and his clients to get feedback and find out what the market needs. The company provides free on-site demonstrations to local businesses and the larger Madison community, or folks can schedule an appointment to visit the company. Keating says he looks forward to participating in future tavern league meetings and events so that he can connect with those who can most benefit from Berg’s line of products.
“With the marketplace the way it is right now, we see all these bars and restaurants hurting, some of them shutting down,” says Keating. “It’s important to us to help them maximize their profits and minimize their expenses. We want to help people keep their doors open.”
— Mike Keating, Berg Company
BERG COMPANY
2160 Industrial Dr., Monona, WI 53713 (608) 221-4281 | bergliquorcontrols.com
SALES & INCOME TAX ADVISORY NETWORK
Last October, sales tax specialist Holly Hoffman took an opportunity to buy out her partners at Sales & Income Tax Advisory Network, making her the sole owner. Today, Hoffman believes she made the right decision. “I love being independent,” says the CEO. “I can better understand what my clients are going through.” 4.875" During her eight years as an auditor, speaker and technical tax law specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR), Hoffman worked to implement laws regarding sales and excise taxes, and earned a customer service award for her passion for educating Wisconsin taxpayers. But while she found her work at the DOR to be challenging and rewarding, Hoffman says she wanted to find a way to help people directly. “People need to understand what they should do and how to navigate their interactions with the DOR,” explains Hoffman. “My business idea was to take my skills and experience, and put it to work for small businesses, many of which are not adequately experienced or trained in sales and use taxes, and not in a position to hire expensive accountants and attorneys.” Her goal was to create a network of empowered taxpayers. Hoffman supports her Amherst community by participating in local groups like the Tomorrow River Business Association and the Portage County Business Council. She also offers interested businesses, like taverns and contractors, free sales and use tax training. “I spent 20 years of my life working in restaurants and bars, and my father-in-law is a proud tavern owner. (Shout-out to Skip’s Friendly Village in Afton!)” says Hoffman. “I understand the realities of running a business and I can marry that to sales tax compliance.” Hoffman says being involved in the TLW is incredible because of its dedication to the needs and success of its members. The TLW understands the power of helping small businesses and supporting communities by providing resources to members. Conversely, Hoffman’s adaptability and willingness to help out businesses are an asset to TLW members. “My clients do not get a cookie-cutter solution forced on them. They get answers and options that fit into their business,” she says. “I have done training for local tavern leagues and, if any local league wants me to come in and talk about sales tax, I will do that at no charge. Education is the key.”
SALES & INCOME TAX ADVISORY NETWORK
205 Wilson St., Amherst, WI 54406 (715) 498-4164 | salesandincometax.com Contact us for all of your insurance needs!
Business Insurance, Personal Insurance & Employee Benefits
888 State Hwy. 153, Mosinee WI 54455 715.693.2100
We provide a variety of different product and service offerings. Contact Ansay & Associates for more information.
MedPro R RiskPro Umbrella Elevator Risk Management & Claims Advocate
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4603 DOMAIN DR., MENOMONIE, WI 54751 PH: (715) 235-2151 • (800) 472-2006
