For 90 years, Whitey's Ice Cream, a third-generation, family-run ice cream processor, has been a staple in the Quad Cities (Rock Island and Moline in Illinois and Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa) by offering premium ice cream, famous upside-down shakes and more "their way."

The maker of Italian ice thrives when each department operates at its peak and communicates with the others. Getting to that point, though, was not easy.

Teamwork is why this 103-year-old maker of Italian ice is succeeding. CEO Rich Trotter is all about the ‘we’ not the ‘I.’ He hires talented individuals, gives them a goal and steps out of the way.

What makes a consumer want to buy a cone of ice cream, a cup of gelato or even a scoop of frozen yogurt? Many can argue it’s a desire for something sweet, something to indulge in.