Honoring homegrown business success

CEDAR RAPIDS - Two Cedar Rapids businesses and a Hiawatha company were recognized for achieving milestones in service at Good Morning Cedar Rapids, an annual breakfast event held Thursday at the DoubleTree by Hilton.

Millhiser Smith Agency, 3100 Oakland Rd. NE in Cedar Rapids, was established in 1928 by Harold Millhiser. In 1947, shortly after the end of World War II, Forrest Smith became a partner and the Millhiser Smith Agency was formed.

Millhiser Smith employs 40 people and is one of the largest locally owned independent insurance agencies in Eastern Iowa.

Rinderknecht Associates, 1000 29th Ave. SW in Cedar Rapids, traces its history from 1880, when German cabinetmaker Theodore Stark settled in the community. Stark and his brother, Robert, contributed their talents to such community landmarks as the Paramount Theatre, St. Paul's Methodist Church and Franklin, McKinley and Roosevelt schools.

Richard Rinderknecht began working for the Theodore Stark Construction Stark Co. as a young man. In 1933 he partnered with the sons of Theodore and Robert to reorganize the business as the Stark Building Co.

In 1941 Rinderknecht bought the remaining family interests and formed the R.W. Rinderknecht Co. The company reorganized in 1971 as Rinderknecht Associates to allow increased ownership by key employees.

World Class Industries, 925 N. 15th Ave. in Hiawatha, provides supply chain solutions to original equipment manufacturers including contract subassembly, inventory purchasing, kitting, importing and warehousing of component parts. The privately owned company, which moved to Hiawatha in the early 1990s with five employees and $6 million in sales, has five locations in the United States and two international hubs in Germany and the United Kingdom.