[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 66 (Thursday, April 20, 2023)] [Senate] [Page S1291] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-20
Chamber: SENATE
Ms. ERNST: as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Schumacher Elevator Company of Denver, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. The company was founded by William and Bertha Schumacher in 1936 under the name Wm. Schumacher & Sons. That same year, William built the Schumacher Machine Shop in Denver, IA. With his son Elmer, they designed, built, and installed a custom lift for feed bags for a chicken hatchery in Waverly, IA. In the beginning of the company's history, they sold and manufactured many different types of elevators including lifting platforms, dumbwaiters, and freight elevators. In 1966, Elmer's son Marvin ``Marv'' joined the company as president and began to include passenger elevators in their line of products. A fourth generation of Schumacher, Jeff, joined the company in 1993 as the CFO and vice president of sales and administration. Jeff now serves as the CEO, and his parents Marv and Helen serve as the president and vice president of administration, respectively. Today, the company has enjoyed immense success and currently employs over 250 highly trained individuals throughout the Midwest and strives to be a premier independent elevator company in the United States. Schumacher Elevator Company currently manufactures and sells hydraulic, traction, personal, and manlift elevators while also providing installation, maintenance, and testing services. They also make custom elevators for customers, and they have the expertise to install elevators for new construction projects, modernize old elevator systems, repair broken elevators, and do preventative maintenance. In addition to quality, Schumacher Elevator Company is fast. The team can create an elevator from raw materials to a finished product just in 1 week. Schumacher Elevator Company is a staple of the Denver community. They offer two scholarships for students at the Denver High School: One is for a student that goes into the healthcare industry, and the other is for a student that goes into a technology field of study. In addition to this, the Marvin and Helen Schumacher Family Fund engages in philanthropic efforts throughout Iowa. The company encourages their employees to give back to the community, as well. Last December, a group of employees made a generous donation to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank that provided 4,000 meals to Iowans in need. Schumacher Elevator Company's commitment to being trailblazers in the elevator industry is clear. In 87 years, the Schumacher family has been able to provide the highest quality elevators to satisfied clients globally. I want to congratulate the entire team at Schumacher Elevator Company and commend them for their dedication to excellence in their work both locally in Iowa and around the world. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in Iowa.