Case Studies Region: Midwest

Jamie Keys – Big Cedar Lodge

Est. reading time: 5 mins

In 1987, Johnny Morris, who founded Bass Pro Shops, purchased a small parcel of lakeside property to create a “fish camp” getaway for his outfitters. Thirty-seven years later, that initial vision has evolved to become a luxury wilderness resort known as Big Cedar Lodge. The award-winning destination sits on 4,600 acres across the Missouri portion […]

David Hebig – Shannon’s Inc.

Est. reading time: 5 mins

It was an ordinary doughnut shop in International Falls, Minnesota—part of the Tim Hortons chain and a place for people to come for a snack or linger over coffee with friends. The shop was also part of the portfolio of plumbing and HVAC mechanical contracting services provided by Shannon’s, a family-owned business based in International […]

Trey Poe – IGO Legacy Hotel Group

Est. reading time: 5 mins

While many children spend their free time playing with toys or video games, Trey Poe did things differently while growing up in New Mexico. His father, Lewis Poe, is a retired electrical engineer who used to take him on jobs when he was a kid. “We went everywhere from a burned-down fast-food restaurant to a […]

Mark Radtke – The Cincinnati Air Conditioning Co.

Est. reading time: 5 mins

You could say that Mark Radtke is one driven man when it comes to his professional and personal interests. For the former, there’s The Cincinnati Air Conditioning Co., where he’s the third-generation owner and chief executive officer. On the latter, there’s the nonprofit Salty Dog Museum, which he co-founded and operates in nearby Shandon, Ohio, […]

Paul Thomarios – Thomarios

Est. reading time: 4 mins

In 1948, Nick Thomarios started a small painting company to meet the needs of his neighbors as well as residents of nearby communities. His son Paul Thomarios would often join him, wielding brushes and rollers. Later on, as a political science undergraduate student at The University of Akron, the younger Thomarios would spend his summers […]

Jim Waldron – Wausau Tile

Est. reading time: 4 mins

Glass and concrete: Two seemingly diametrically opposed materials, one known for its fragility and the other for its strength. So, how could glass ever replace concrete? One Wisconsin company has discovered the secret to using post-consumer recycled glass as a one-for-one replacement for cement—and the leadership at Wausau Tile is working in partnership with it. […]

Lisa Smola-Hollo – Ulta Beauty

Est. reading time: 4 mins

Light drastically influences the way people perceive their surroundings. Imagine a haunted house without flickering and broken lights or a Broadway play without a spotlight shining down on the performers. Since 2013, Lisa Smola-Hollo has been bringing a similar mindset to Ulta Beauty, where she has been the director of construction and remodels for one […]

Tony Palumbo – Rush Oak Park Hospital

Est. reading time: 4 mins

In the early 2000s, Tony Palumbo was a general contractor, someone who handles everything from materials and equipment to labor for construction-related projects. Rush Oak Park Hospital hired him every so often on a contract basis. Having worked on everything from retail to residential homes and commercial properties, he found he really enjoyed working on […]

Michael Blanchard – Vision Electric & Plumbing

Est. reading time: 4 mins

Michael Blanchard gets a charge out of building long-term working relationships. As the owner of Vision Electric & Plumbing, he’s cultivated plenty of them with agricultural producers for more than 25 years. Now as the company adds commercial electrical and plumbing to its service offerings, he says he and his team always think long-term as […]

Scott Kallemeyn – St. Luke’s Hospital

Est. reading time: 5 mins

It’s a sensitive operation, much like what goes on in the surgical units at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Only it’s the hospital itself undergoing the operation as part of several major renovations and expansion projects that have been ongoing since 2020. And a hospital being a 24/7/365 operation, some very intricate procedures […]

Testimonials

It was an absolute pleasure working with the team at Blueprint. Their genuine interest in our company's journey not only resulted in a delightful piece, but gave us the opportunity to recognize some of the unsung heroes of our rapidly-growing organization. We are grateful for the opportunity to highlight the development and growth of our now well-established work-hard, play-harder culture.
— Cole Settem, Communications Coordinator, Brain Corp
Working with the Blueprint team was both a pleasure and a great learning experience. They went to great lengths to assure the article was reflective of my vision. I could not be happier working with each team member involved in bringing the final production to print. This experience has helped me realize the importance of marketing my business and how powerful the services offered have given my business credibility and exposure.
— Joan Magill, Founder, Residential Realty Group Inc.

LATEST EDITION

vol. IX 2023

READ NOW

Get Blueprint in your inbox.

  • * We’ll never share your email or info with anyone.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.