Bear Realty celebrates 100 years in business in Kenosha

Founded as a brokerage firm in Kenosha in 1924 as “I.J. Bear” by the eponymous I.J. Bear, the business was carried on by his son Manford Bear. Steve Mills Sr., who joined Bear in 1970, took over the business a decade later.

Now, under his son and current CEO S.R. Mills, Bear Realty has marked its 100 years in the communityi.

Mills celebrated the team and staff.

“It might be a little cliché, but it truly is the value of the people, the team members,” Mills said. “Businesses are complicated, and truly only as good as the individuals on the team.”

Keeping a team healthy required “recruiting great talent” that fit well into the company.

“We want to keep that culture, that small company culture even though we’re north of 180 team members right now,” Mills said.

The party was a way to both celebrate 100 years, as well as the many staff and team members both past and present who have kept Bear going.

“We wanted to make sure we did a great job acknowledging the team and all of the people that made Bear great before us, reflect on that, appreciate it to continue that and follow in their footsteps as best we can,” Mills said.

Looking to the future, Mills said that between 2020 and 2030, they plan to create 10,000 new homes, a feat he said they’re on track to achieve.

“That’s something we’re real passionate about,” Mills said.

He expressed thanks to the area public for supporting their business throughout the years, and said he looks forward to the next century of growth.

“We’re very appreciative to them, it takes a lot of clients and we appreciate all of the support over the years,” he said.