In 14 years, more than 431 jobs have been created across 147 protg companies

The Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protg Program this week celebrated 14 years of business growth by recognizing the most recent session of program participants with a celebration event.

The entrepreneurs gathered at Lambeau Field to honor the program that pairs established mentor companies with growing protg companies throughout Wisconsin.

The program matches established mentor companies that can provide technical, managerial, financial or other guidance with protgs that are seeking to improve their competitive standing. The partnerships aim to foster business growth, economic development and job creation in Wisconsin. Created in part to match up minority-owned, veteran-owned, or woman-owned businesses with experienced mentor companies, such businesses account for86 percentof the participating protg businesses.

The celebration also named this year's Most Valuable Mentor, Most Valuable Protg and Comeback Player of the Year. Matthew Timler with Plug Light Bulb Electrical Services was named the Most Valuable Protg and John Bozec from Schneider National was named Most Valuable Mentor.Daniel Doyen with D&T Construction was honored as Comeback Player of the Year.

This year, the Mentor-Protg Program also debuted a new award named after Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy, the "Mark Murphy Hall of Fame Award." The award will be presented in future years to previous program participants or contributors who have made an outstanding contribution to the program or the local business community. The inaugural award was presented on Wednesday to Murphy in honor of his support for the program during his tenure.

In the 14 years of the program, more than 431 full and part-time jobs have been created across the 147 protg companies in 46 different Wisconsin communities. Additionally, participants have increased their annual revenue by a combined $107.3 million.

The partnerships receiving recognition for the 14th session are:

• Barb LaMue from New North mentored Stephanie Krubsack with Purevant Living
• John Bozec from Schneider National mentored Melinda Stuart with Smart Moves
• Gary Vaughan from Guident Business Solutions mentored Connie Vargas with Barlash
• Refilwe Magasa-Bockhort and LaTonya Fourt-Lyles from Northwestern Mutual mentored Daniel Doyen with D&T Construction
• Mike Cornell from Arch Solar mentored Matthew Timler with Plug Light Bulb Electrical Services
• Gary Vaughn from Guident Business Solutions mentored David Sun with SY Visual Solutions
• Jerry Mader from RAM Business Advisors mentored Daniel Gould with Uncommon Grounds Specialty Coffee Roaster