Tourism business owners say collaboration and customer service are keys to decades of success
A family of International Falls entrepreneurs was recently honored for its contributions to the regional economy through the Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards.
The Mature Entrepreneur Award was given to Rainy Lake Houseboats, owned by Bill Dougherty Sr., June Dougherty, Bill Dougherty Jr., Cathie Dougherty and Tom Dougherty, all of International Falls.
The 19th annual awards, held at the DECC in Duluth on April 20, honored businesses and individuals for accomplishments in business that affect the regional economy.
The Mature Entrepreneur Award requires that the entrepreneur who receives the award has had the business for at least 15 years and has demonstrated initiative, success, and creativity in developing, growing and sustaining a business that continues to have an impact on the community or region.
“It’s very prestigious,” said Tom Dougherty of the Labovitz awards. “The people that were at the luncheon in Duluth, looking at the different businesses that were there ... looking around at who you were up against in the room.”
He added that his company has had business and personal relationships with other of the entrepreneurs who were nominated for awards, showing how the region’s businesses are interconnected.
Brothers Bill Jr. and Tom began working in the tourism industry from a young age and started at the family business shortly after Bill Sr. and June moved the family to International Falls in the late 1970s to work at a houseboat business.
“While we recognize the importance of large businesses in our local and regional economy, small businesses are the engine that truly drives the local and regional economy,” explained Jenny Dougherty, business counselor with the local Small Business Development Center. “We sometimes overlook the contributions small businesses make through job creation, investment and risk taking.”
Tom Dougherty said those who were nominated represented more than 500 employees at their collective companies.
Bill Dougherty Jr. said that it was “good service, customer relationships” that helped them last so long in a tough business.
“Our customers turn out to be friends,” he said. “That’s a critical part of the business.”
Word of mouth and person-to-person contact is one of the most important ways they continue to do business. A large percentage of their clients, at least 90 percent they figure, are from out of town.
“Rainy Lake Houseboats, like other tourism operators, are bringing people and dollars to our community from outside the area,” Jenny Dougherty said. “They are ambassadors for our area and they are good at it. Their ability to develop long-term relationships and offer an experience that assures return visits and private investment in our area says volumes about how important they are to our local economy.”
Visitors to the area, Bill Jr. and Tom note, not only bring dollars to Rainy Lake Houseboats, but support other area businesses as well during their vacations. And the Doughertys know that their relationships with other businesses have brought them customers as well.
Returning customers who fall in love with the area, and may even move here, are some of this region’s best advertising, they say.
2011 ‘Labo’ award winners
• Micro-Entrepreneur: Little Neetchers, Joy and Joshua Herbert, Duluth
• Emerging Entrepreneur: aimClear, Marty Weintraub, Duluth
• Established Entrepreneur: Scheuring Speed Sports, Steve Scheuring, Aurora
• Mature Entrepreneur: Rainy Lake Houseboats, Dougherty family, International Falls
• Innovation: New Vintage Amplifiers, LLC, Nic Patullo, Duluth
• David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership: Michael J. Lalich, director, Natural Resource Research Institute
• Entrepreneurial Vision: Mark R. Phillips, commissioner, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Holly C. Sampson, executive director, Duluth/Superior Area Community Foundation
