BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
The Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) held their 35th Annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year (MOTY) Awards last Thursday, Feb. 22, at a black-tie banquet that honored all 36 finalists from around the state and recognized manufacturers for outstanding achievements.
Locally, Weinbrenner Shoe Company, which was in the running and a named finalist in the Large Manufacturer category (based on company size, 250-499 employees), didn’t take the Grand Award as Wisconsin Large Manufacturer of the Year, given for “impeccable performance,” according to a press release from the WMC. However, another northcentral Wisconsin finalist, VOLM Companies Inc. from Antigo took the honors this year as Wisconsin Large Manufacturer of the Year.
However, Weinbrenner was one of five recipients for Special Awards given out at the ceremony, “given to companies who demonstrated a unique quality the judges thought to be notable,” two of which went to northcentral Wisconsin businesses. Weinbrenner Shoe Company of Merrill was recognized with a Special Award for Time Tested American Craftsmanship, and Lemke Industrial Machine LLC of Marathon was recognized with a Special Award for Going the Extra Mile.
The MOTY Awards program seeks to recognize Wisconsin companies that are dedicated to quality careers, good business practices, financial growth, innovative processes, and reinvestment into local communities, a press release from the WMC said, citing all they do to grow the state’s economy. “Companies were evaluated on many key benchmarks, including financial growth, technological advances, product development, environmental solutions and sustainability, operational excellence and continuous improvement, commitment to employees, and effective research and development. Award winners were selected by an independent panel of judges,” the release said.
Manufacturing is the state’s top industry, employing nearly half a million Wisconsin residents and producing more than $70 billion in economic output each year.
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