ABC Computers (now Innovia Consulting) was announced as the 2005 Business of the Year during the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet and awards ceremony.
By ANGIE LANDSVERK, Post Staff Writer, Waupaca County Post
Donovan Lane has seen his share of changes in the years he has worked in the technology field.
But the two things that have remained a constant with him and his business are the commitment to customer service and the importance of community involvement.
Lane is the owner of ABC Computers - a business that last November moved from its location in downtown Waupaca to a completely new building in the city's industrial park where the bypass will be constructed.
Another year of sales increases and the continual increase in employment were among the things cited on the form in which ABC Computers was nominated for Business of the Year.
ABC Computers was announced as the 2005 Business of the Year during the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet and awards ceremony.
The ceremony was held Tuesday night at Foxfire.
Lane feels humbled by having his business being named Business of the Year.
"To us, it's a gradual thing," he said. "Looking back to what's been accomplished in the last year, and to be Business of the Year - it's just an awesome award.
It was Nov. 1 that ABC Computers moved into its new location.
With approximately 15,000 square feet of space, the business is about four times the size it was at its previous location, with room to grow.
Located on a five-acre site, Lane said his employees can look out their windows and see the outdoors. They will even be able to walk to the Waupaca River and sit there during lunch.
With 28 employees, ABC Computers has gradually grown through the years.
The staff includes enterprise resource planning professionals who work with accounting software for manufacturing and distributing companies and a group of networking employees who fix things and do designing.
The two different aspects of the business complement each other, and many of their customers have been with them for a long time.
Lane first began working in the field in 1983 when after graduating from Fox Valley Technical College with a degree in programming, he began working for Agribusiness Computers in Weyauwega.
From there, he worked for a small computer company called Microbusiness Systems before starting his own business - ABC Computers - in 1984.
"Our basic business philosophy of what we do hasn't changed in our 20 years in business," Lane said. "Back then, we had a business of one-stop shopping - a total solution provider to assist in office equipment and the hardware that went along with it."
What has been fun for him through the years is working with new technology.
There may be more new faces and technology at ABC Computers, but the philosophy of the business remains to support customers and fulfill their needs.
Last year, the company experienced a 23 percent sales growth increase and also saw an increase in the growth of its customers.
Last year, seven new employees were hired, with plans to hired an additional six full-time employees this year.
Lane said that what the 2005 Business of the Year Award means to them is "we have kept customers happy another year. There's always a karate kid out there ready to kick your ass. As a company, the rule of survival is service, service, service, service."
In addition to ABC Computers, Framing by Preston, Gusmer Enterprises, Hansen's Furniture & Appliance and Strongwood Log Home were nominated for 2005 Business of the Year.
Terri Schulz, who is the president of the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce, said the criteria considered includes economic enhancement, a demonstrated commitment to exemplified customer service, a Chamber member in business at least one year and community involvement.
"ABC is obviously a wonderful choice for the Business of the Year. They have shown substantial growth in the last several years, not only in sales but in an increase in employment," she said. "They have shown a strong commitment by building in the industrial park. Donovan has been active in the Chamber.
He is involved in his church and also strives for his employees to be involved in the community."
Lane sees community involvement as not only something that is fun but something that is ones responsibility.
ABC Computer's involvement in Waupaca's Hometown Days celebration is just one small piece of the puzzle, he said.
His employees do everything from get together and rake lawns during the county's Make A Difference Day to spend a day clearing the trails at Hartman Creek State Park.
Waupaca High School students have job shadowed employees at ABC Computers, and the business has also contributed to the new archery program at the high school.
He believes they are responsible for taking care of their community and that not only includes Waupaca but Rhinelander and La Crosse where people are also employed with the company.
"The best advertisement is taking care of people who can't take care of themselves," Lane said. "If you can take one or two kids and make a difference, that is what ABC's about. The neatest thing in the world is taking a kid and giving or teaching an ability to make a difference. When we focus on those things, we've already won."
