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SICO has a long history of successfully navigating the peaks and valleys of the seasonal education market. Chris explains,“ To better manage seasonality and strengthen our ability to reinvest in the business, we recognized the need for a more flexible and sustainable operating model. Our transformation has been implemented in three phases: machine shop, welding, and general plant operations. The first two phases are complete, and we are on track to complete the final phase by the end of 2026. The benefits are already evident. The new model has improved flexibility and efficiency while enabling SICO to reinvest in our facilities, equipment, and technology. As a result, we are a stronger, more agile company today, better positioned to support our customers, invest in our business, and build for the future.”
Alongside enhancing its own operations, SICO has been focused on giving back to the communities its products have served for more than seven decades. As such, the company set up a one-time grant to provide the recipient with a free cafeteria, an initiative Chris is keen to discuss in more detail.“ To mark our 75th anniversary, we decided to donate $ 1000 for every year we have been in business, which comes to a total of $ 75,000 to be used to add to, replace or upgrade existing tables currently being used. We wanted to make sure that all of this was done properly, so we did some research and invited grant proposals from legitimate 501( c)( 3) schools to ensure the donation was structured appropriately,” Chris informs. After reviewing applications from a wide range of schools, with a focus on public and unfunded private education, SICO eventually selected a local school called ISLA( International Spanish Language Academy), based in the Twin Cities.
“ The school is incredibly appreciative and as excited about this grant as are we. They produced a wonderful video and put so much effort into it to be able to secure the grant,
we could tell they took it very seriously and it truly mattered to them. Even the application they submitted was outstanding, they wrote thoughtful paragraphs rather than one-sentence answers. When we went to tour the school, it was immediately clear just how much they needed new tables, as there were broken tables, ones with holes in them and those that wobbled dangerously, and benches with sharp edges that children were sitting on every day at lunch. We are planning to deliver and install everything they need in October. It will be an exciting day and we are looking forward to being able to help them,” he concludes.
Following the path laid out by both his father and grandfather, Chris is honoring their legacy by remaining true to what made the company so successful in the first place. A culture that puts people first. ■
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