Dream; Reality; Vision.
“The Blackhawk Co.,
Inc.” grew out of founder,
Greg Hammes’ dream to
supply Wisconsin’s campuses
with quality furniture and
shelving. From humble beginnings
in 1972 at Greg’s home
on Wisconsin Avenue in Jefferson,
WI, Blackhawk grew and soon
moved to a newly constructed
building on Puerner Street.The
dream was shattered in 1977
with Greg’s death in
a plane crash.
To keep the small, successful
enterprise alive, his estate
searched for a successor.
Merle Lucas bought Blackhawk
and continued the same furniture
lines, sold under University
of Wisconsin System contracts.
Greg had provided the dream,
but Merle supplied reality
to put Blackhawk on a solid
footing. He began to enhance
business by branching into
new areas, including metal
chairs and computer workstations.
Merle and a secretary operated
Blackhawk until 1991. During
peak times he hired help to
assist in delivering and installing.
One person was Randy Kessenich.
When Merle decided to retire,
he sold the business to Randy.
During his years with Merle,
Randy had honed his mechanical
skills. Now he hired people
to assist with deliveries and
trained them to continue in
his excellent methods of installing.
Initially, Randy and a secretary
operated the office. Desiring
to improve procedures, his
wife Karen, having an accounting
background, joined the operation.
The Kessenich’s innovations
drove Blackhawk’s business
volume to ever increasing levels,
particularly in furniture offered
under UW System contracts.
Prestigious wood furniture
and durable steel furniture
was sold at economical prices
under unique agreements between
manufacturers, factory representatives
and Blackhawk.
Blackhawk incorporated in
1996 as Blackhawk Co., Inc.,
to better serve its customers.
Blackhawk had outgrown its
quarters and in November of
1997 moved to a new office/warehouse
complex in Deerfield, Wisconsin.
With room for everything under
one roof, plus space to expand,
Blackhawk was prepared for
the new millennium.
During the year 2000, plans
were made to transfer Blackhawk’s
ownership to Joel Lifschutz,
a long time employee, and his
wife, Lana.
The Kessenich’s had
started new ventures and the
Lifschutz’ had been considering
ownership of Blackhawk for
a long time. Effective January
2, 2001, the transfer was official.
A dream, turned reality, has
now become a vision. Little
did Greg Hammes suspect that
his fledgling company named
after a Native American, would
expand to the size it is today,
and become owned by one of
Native American heritage, Lana
Colburn-Lifschutz! Blackhawk
has been qualified for certification
as an MBE (Minority Business
Enterprise) and woman-owned
dealer, giving its customers
new avenues for purchasing
quality products and services.
As technology
progresses and you improve
the way you operate, Blackhawk’s
visionary thinking will keep
pace with, and anticipate change;
remaining at the forefront
in helping you with your needs.
The vision continues… |
