"We are honored to be recognized in this way," says Pro-Team CEO Larry Shideler. "We value the efforts of our many employees and partners in enabling our growth and fulfilling our mission to be the world's premier vacuum cleaner maker."
The Idaho Private 75 Award was created five years ago as a joint project of U.S. Bank of Idaho, the accounting/consulting firm of Arthur Andersen, and The Idaho Statesman, the state's largest newspaper. It recognizes the top companies in that state. Now known as "The Vacuum Company," Pro-Team recently forged an alliance with Electrolux LLC to produce the Prolux line of upright vacuums, and available since July 2001. Pro-Team also released the RunningVac high-performance canister vacuum to the commercial market in 2001.
"In a state long known for its entrepreneurial spirit," said The Idaho Statesman president and publisher Margaret Buchanan, "these top private enterprises contribute much more than revenue. They carry Idaho into the future with a consistent emphasis on quality, personal service and leading-edge innovations. Their successes in an increasingly competitive global marketplace deserve this widespread recognition."
"Our mission for the new century is to carry our vacuum expertise into an ever-expanding line of high-end vacuums, including backpacks, canisters, hip-style and upright vacuums," says Shideler.