It’s easy to put blinders on in day-to-day business, focused on developing the equipment that’s going to power the future of automotive repair and servicing. And when it comes to battery equipment, no one has done it better than Midtronics for the past four decades. However, that’s not the only goal at Midtronics.
With 40 years of history in Illinois, Midtronics is not just the pre-eminent name in battery diagnostics and testing equipment, but a very present name in the community. Coming from humble beginnings, founder and CEO Steve McShane and his family are committed to giving back in a range of ways.
The McShane Family Foundation Established
Getting a start proved challenging for the company with many doors slammed in Steve’s face, but his determination and drive paid off. Midtronics has been successful, and in its growth to this point, the McShanes have proven to be excellent stewards of their financial rewards.
In 2006, the McShane Family Foundation was created by Steve, Kathy, and their daughter Erin. Steve makes clear the purpose of the foundation: “to support qualified nonprofit organizations whose objectives and philosophies agree with our desire to give back to the community.” And in the subsequent 18 years, they’ve been hard at work making the foundation’s goals come to life, preserve life, and most of all, provide life skills.
Education Initiatives
Growing up in the Midwest, Steve and his family have a heart for helping local youth and young adults succeed – especially in an area that has a history of falling behind the curve.
Reading In Motion
One of the most worthy causes the foundation contributes toward is literacy among youth in Chicago. Steve says, “As is generally known, reading competency among public school students in Chicago is far below acceptable levels. An organization named Reading in Motion developed an educational approach that uses music and the arts to teach reading. Kindergarteners and first graders learn the letters and phonetic reading methods through acting and singing.
“This approach was so successful that RIM has demonstrated substantial improvements in student reading comprehension and documented them in research reports. For many years our foundation supported this organization.”
Catholic Education Foundation
The public education system in certain areas in Illinois is overwhelmed, and some children unfortunately fall behind or fall through the cracks. For those who the public school systems aren’t able to serve well and can’t pay the cost of private tuition, the McShane Family Foundation is a proud partner. They support the Catholic Diocese of Joliet’s Catholic Education Foundation to ensure these students can continue to learn.
Steve remarks about the endeavor, “The McShane Family Foundation partners with the CEF to support need-based scholarships for underprivileged students from the Hispanic community which make up a large percentage of the diocese population. We set up a scholarship fund to ensure that these students would be able to register at a private school in the diocese each school year. This endeavor supports the bishop’s outreach program and makes quality education alternatives more widely available to a community that would otherwise be relegated to second-rate public schools.
De La Salle Collegiate’s STEM Programs
Growing up in the Detroit area, Steve attended De La Salle Collegiate, clearly recollecting fondly his time there. One of the family foundation’s initiatives includes funding programs in the school that promote innovative skills.
“We are providing the funds and sharing our name to the development of a facility for science laboratories, lecture rooms, display areas, and equipment for a new science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) center. The STEM innovation center will use state-of-the-art architecture with a two-story addition to their current facility with natural light and amenities to give students the ability to work as teams in an experiential environment.
“Along with the recruitment of high-caliber leadership and educators, we are dedicated to making De La Salle, my alma mater, one of Michigan’s premier high schools for STEM education.”
Renovations at University of Detroit Mercy
As the University of Detroit Mercy – Steve’s alma mater – undergoes constant upgrades, including renovations to a wing of the engineering laboratory, the McShane Family Foundation is contributing financially. The school is developing space for students to “work on products, produce hardware prototypes, and bring to life the product of their engineering coursework”.
“It gives me a feeling of satisfaction to be able to help this great Detroit university – that meant so much to my technical education – move forward and continue to provide first-class education to today’s students.”
A Better Chicago
Another organization that the McShanes are invested in personally and financially is A Better Chicago, run by former venture capitalists. Steve says, “One goal of what they call “venture philanthropy” is to transform education by creating high-performing educational opportunities for low-income Chicagoans. A Better Chicago supports other organizations with funding, consulting services and other education-based initiatives, including charter schools and remedial training.”
Saving Land for the Future
Along with education initiatives, the McShane Family Foundation is devoted to keeping vast expanses of American landscape wild, free, and pristine for future generations. Since before Midtronics’ inception, the family had purchased properties in northern Michigan with the intention to steward the land and the water that runs through it. They have 140 acres in Kalkaska County, 80 acres on the Cedar River, and another 70 acres in Antrim County. They’ve chosen the Grand Traverse Conservancy to safeguard the Cedar River and Pierson Creek properties.
Along with these wild tracts, Steve and his family enjoy a log home on Glen Lake, surrounded by 71 acres. A place to rejuvenate and connect with nature – and especially each other – this is their “hilly haven”. Placed in the Leelanau Conservancy, it’s going to be protected for the future as well.
Midtronics and the Community into the Future
With many achievements and initiatives already in place, the McShanes and Midtronics are looking forward to more than just being the most recognized name in battery diagnostic, servicing, and testing equipment. Where success is found in business, the community reaps the rewards as well.
