The Lewandowski family has been in the promo products industry since the Roaring Twenties, when President David Lewandowski’s grandparents bought the company for $75. Rooted in an age of decadence, as well as the early stages of the Great Depression, Midwest Promotional Group (asi/270800) has since soared to heights Lindbergh could only dream of.

Initially, the firm was called Midwest Calendar Company and was based in Chicago. Lewandowski’s grandfather would sell calendars all day while his grandmother would be at home running the printing press. Then his father, Don, joined the business after serving as a Marine in the Korean War, and his wife, Kay, joined after she raised their children. The industry began to change as new product lines and trends were emerging. Corporate apparel’s popularity was rapidly growing, and Midwest capitalized by expanding its operations to Summit, IL, to allow for in-house production.

A new segment required new vision, and a fresh face was brought on board to lead the charge. In 1986, David joined the sales team. “It was never pushed upon me. It just always seemed to be what my calling was,” Lewandowski says. The third of four children, David spent summers working in the warehouse by the time he started fourth grade. “It was wonderful. I had money to buy baseball cards,” Lewandowski says.

As the company expanded, so did the family tree: David’s brother-in-law Rick assumed the role of executive vice president of sales, his brother-in-law Jeff became vice president of the Chicago division, and David’s sister Chris worked as an executive assistant. David studied business at John Carroll University, where he met his wife, Joni, who would go on to manage the company’s invoicing. David would take over the company in 2000, roughly the same time the name changed to the all-encompassing Midwest Promotional Group.

“We grew up with my grandparents and parents having strong family ties,” Lewandowski says. “We celebrate all holidays together and vacation together at least once a year. It’s always been about family. We’re just lucky enough to work at a successful company.”

¬With the addition of corporate online stores and fulfillment programs, Midwest had to move to a new facility in Burr Ridge, IL, in 2013. Since then, the company’s workforce has doubled, and revenue has continued to grow year-over-year. In 2016, sales were $12 million, up from $11 million the year prior.

“If we don’t continue to embrace and thrive with new technology, we will not make our 125th anniversary,” Lewandowski says. “We have to embrace technology and excel with it. While we do that, our number-one focus is the way we treat customers. It’s the only way we’ve been able to survive for 90 years.”

Lewandowski waxes poetic about the future because his son, David, will be joining the company this summer. The fourth-generation Lewandowski majored in finance and IT at Marquette University and will start out in sales. “I gently pushed him away from the business, but he really wanted to join. We’re very proud of him,” Lewandowski says.

Despite all the changes, one aspect of the company remains constant: Don, who, at 87 years old, serves as chairman of the board. Don’s 93-year-old sister Dolores still works with the company’s bank accounts. “They’re absolutely spectacular people – role models for us all,” Lewandowski says.