Report Exec, an incident reporting and safety management software company founded by a former Oak Creek police officer, has expanded its operations and relocated to a new office in Oak Creek, WI.
“Staying in the Oak Creek area was vitally important to the founder of Report Exec, Sean Mars,” explained company President Nick Kehoe. “Sean’s career began in Oak Creek as a police officer, so being able to bring this business into the city where it all started really just made a lot of sense.”
The company, which has developed an innovative application that results in more efficient and accurate public safety incident reports, has experienced significant growth in recent years and has outgrown its former office building in Franklin, WI. Report Exec grew by 27 percent last year and now has more than 1,200 customers worldwide, and remaining in the area was an important factor in the company’s search for a new home.
The new office building will provide valuable space to the software company, but also holds a special significance for Mars because it was once home the Oak Creek Police Department, where Mars began his career before starting the software company in 1995.
“Returning to this building means everything to him. To come back to where it all started is very special,” explained Kehoe.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is supporting the expansion by providing up to $170,000 in state tax credits over the next three years. Report Exec (formerly Competitive Edge Software) plans to create 30 new jobs during that time, and the actual amount of tax credits the company receives is contingent upon the number of jobs created.
“Report Exec’s story underscores WEDC’s commitment to providing Wisconsin entrepreneurs with the resources they need to launch and grow their businesses,” said Tricia Braun, deputy secretary and chief operating officer of WEDC. “Our investments in Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem help set the trajectory for startups to scale new heights similar to what Report Exec has achieved.”
WEDC has a wide range of entrepreneurship resources, which includes support for startup accelerators, seed capital funds, investment tax credits and technology development loans. In addition, WEDC supports and engages an existing statewide network of partners that offers business training, mentorship and financing to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Those efforts, combined with the talent and persistence inherent in the state’s entrepreneurs, have played a role in Wisconsin having one of the highest startup success rates in the nation.
“Thanks to a partnership with WEDC, Report Exec was able to purchase this new office building and remain in southern Milwaukee County,” Kehoe said. “We’re proud to contribute to job growth in the region and keep high-growth tech industry jobs in Wisconsin.”
Relocating or Expanding Your Business In Wisconsin
Considering Wisconsin for your company’s relocation or expansion project? Check out Business Facilities’ Wisconsin Incentives and Workforce Development Guide.