Ingram's November 2022

Better Together Couples who chose each other as business partners

More than 25 years after its founding, ECCO Select continues to set a standard for consistent, rapid growth, working its way up the all-time honor roll of Ingram’s Corporate Report 100 with a 10th appear ance last year, with revenues topping $63 million. Jeanette and Kevin Prenger have been at it so long they’ve been able to bring their sons on board in key roles, making it a true family affair. How did they get to this point? “He knows whose boss (ha-ha),” Jea nette says. “Actually, we’re very different in how we approach problems and challeng es. He has accepted that I’m very compet itive in what I do, and he works well with my business style.” Kevin, with a wit drier than a magnum of Brut Zero, offers his formula for smooth collaboration: “ ‘Yes, dear, I do believe you’re right.’ And, then, I do what I want.” Kidding aside, the company has made its presence felt in IT services and staff ing under Jeanette’s watch as founder and CEO; Kevin’s duties come as vice president of facilities. “I am strategic, and he is more tactical,” she says. “I also tend to be intuitive and wanting to move quick For all the things that can compli cate any business partnership, the Fric tion knob can go to 11 if the first thing you see in the morning, and last thing at night, is your partner’s face. But there are couples who have found a way to mesh their respective talents and hitch them to a commercial enterprise that fires on all cylinders. If you ask them what makes it work and why, you get some answers that might be food for thought if your own partnership includes a spouse. How do we know? We asked a few of them. Jeanette and Kevin Prenger ECCO Select

ly—opposite of how he works.” There are no strict rules on when busi ness will be discussed, but there tends to be one on when it won’t be: “We work with our boys,” Jeanette says, “and the only time we don’t purposely talk about business is when it’s truly family time.” Says Kevin: “None. If we need to discuss, we do it when we have time.” That time can come at a premium when a CEO is as civically engaged as Jeanette is—she keeps one of the re gion’s most complete calendars with work with the Missouri Tourism Commis sion, the 15 and Mahomes Foundation, Ju

nior Achievement, the Police Foundation of Kansas City, the Taubman Center at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Business— and more. A lot more. It’s a level of engage ment that keeps both of them hopping. Wedded harmony and corporate suc cess are products of respecting each oth er’s swim lane within the business, and Jeanette’s advice to others trying to sort out such working relationships is simply to “understand your roles and respect your differences. Never go to bed mad at each other.” “Yes, dear,” Kevin wryly replies. “I do believe you’re right. …”

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Ingrams.com

November 2022