DCEDC Names Peninsula Publishing’s David Eliot, Madeline Harrison its Entrepreneurs of the Year

The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) announced that David Eliot and Madeline Harrison, owners of Peninsula Publishing & Distribution, are the winners of the annual Door County Entrepreneurs of the Year Award Thursday, April 7.

The announcement was made during the DCEDC annual investors meeting at Stone Harbor Resort & Conference Center in Sturgeon Bay.

Peninsula Publishing & Distribution encompasses the Peninsula Pulse newspaper, Door County Living magazine, Paper Boy distribution and Peninsula Filmworks and is dedicated to the creation of unique, original and locally focused content.

• The Peninsula Pulse debuted with 1,000 copies on May 24, 1996 as an eight-page arts and entertainment periodical. Since that time, the paper has grown to a circulation of more than 18,000 in peak season, with almost 100 pages and three sections.
• Door County Living was launched in 2003 as a free magazine telling the stories of Door County culture and lifestyle. Today, Door County Living is the county’s largest magazine, published five times annually, with an average of 110 pages in each issue.
• Paper Boy was born in 2005 from the need to distribute the Peninsula Pulse and Door County Living to all of Door County. The service now boasts more than 140 rack card customers and 200+ racks of many styles and sizes.
• Their most recent business addition, Peninsula Filmworks, was launched in 2015, providing an opportunity to expose millions more people through the evolution of video on the web to the beauty of the peninsula and the quality of its people.

The consistent growth of Peninsula Publishing & Distribution during the last 20 years has directly translated into the creation of a considerable number of professional, year-round jobs on the peninsula. Between their four separate but related business entities, the company’s total combined annual revenue makes theirs one of Door County’s more successful homegrown businesses.

Leading by example, Eliot and Harrison have proven to be exceptional corporate citizens. Organizations they serve and support include the Door County Community Foundation, the Door County Visitor Bureau, the Door Community Auditorium, the Women’s Fund of Door County and the Sue Baldwin Fund.

They have set an expectation that their entire team engage in Door County as active citizens, participating in both volunteer and civic life. The company owners have sponsored and helped establish several new and highly successful local festivals and events, including the Door County Half Marathon, Beer Festival, Pond Hockey Tournament and Peninsula Century bike rides.

“It is our pleasure to recognize Dave and Madeline with the Entrepreneur of the Year award,” said DCEDC Executive Director Bill Chaudoir. “They have built a diverse multimedia company in Door County that is focused on celebrating our unique community. We have been thrilled to watch their company’s growth and we wish them nothing but continued success.”

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award celebrates those individuals who have taken the initiative to start and grow a successful small business in Door County. Eligible businesses include those with fewer than 50 full time employees, exhibiting exciting growth potential and that have at least three years of successful business experience. Last year’s winner was the Lautenbach family, owners of Orchard Country Winery & Market.

Therma-Tron-X, Inc. was named the winner of the Door County Industry of the Year Award.