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Millcraft has always been part of Kay’s family. In 1920, three generations ago, her grandparents, Harold and Pauline Keil, started The Millcraft Paper Company. They gave Millcraft their business philosophy, which was an extension of their values and principles-- treating everyone with honesty and respect. In 1956, Harold Keil died, passing sole ownership to Pauline. This began Millcraft’s legacy of being a woman-owned company. Instilled with Harold Keil’s work ethic, Millcraft maintained his straight forward approach to conducting business as if customers were friends, because most of the time they were. In 1976, Millcraft was passed on
to Pauline’s daughter, Jane Keil McKinney. She had grown up with
Millcraft and understood it well. Though the times had changed,
Millcraft’s core values had not. |
Jane’s two daughters worked at Millcraft during their teenage years, learning the business from the bottom up as well as the top down. By then, Millcraft was firmly established with a sound reputation as a respected regional paper company.” Jane Keil owned Millcraft from
1976 until 1986 when she passed it on to her daughters Linda McKinney
Hart, Millcraft was growing in Columbus and Dayton, Ohio while both sisters, jointly owned it. As time progressed, it became clear to Linda, who lived out of state, that Millcraft management should remain in Cleveland. She sold her shares back to the company, leaving Katherine as majority shareholder and owner. In 2005, Millcraft was certified by the WBENC, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, as a woman-owned business. Recognized today, for what Millcraft has been for generations. |
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