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10/5/2009
October 5, 2009 -
Volusia Manufacturers Association (VMA) is hosting its 29th Annual
Awards Banquet this month. Each year the Volusia Manufacturers
Association honors the best of the best of its Volusia and Flagler
County Manufacturer and Associate Members. This year the event will be
held on October 22, 2009, from 5:30 – 8:00 P.M. at the Sunset Harbor
Yacht Club in Daytona Beach, Florida. Music will be performed by A
Family Affair.
Awards are presented each year for its Manufacturing Member that best
represents Manufacturer of the Year. This year the Lou Fifer
“Manufacturer of the Year” Award will be presented to AO Precision
Manufacturing, LLC. AO Precision Manufacturing of
Daytona Beach, FL, has been manufacturing products supporting M-16/
commercial and government firearms and kit programs, and various
defense support parts related to firearms business. Its 42,000
square-foot facility is fully equipped and is capable of designing and
constructing all varieties of special tooling, fixturing, and gauges
needed for all degrees of complex products.
Awards are presented to the manufacturing members that have the “Best
Practices” exemplifying exceptional practices in a particular business
area and may involve any aspect of a manufacturer’s business endeavor.
This year for the first time there will be two awards, two new
categories, for this Best Practices award. Hudson Technologies is
the winner of the Best Practices for Going Green, completing a
two-year, $ 2 million conversion of its 115,000 square-foot facility,
promoting an environmentally-sound, aqueous cleaning system. They
converted to greener lubricants as part of its new cleaning operation.
Jayne Fifer, President/CEO of the VMA said, “Hudson Technologies worked
hard to eliminate trichloroethylene which is an ozone depleting
solvent, making strides to make their work environment safe for their
employees, to make the community cleaner, and overall to make a better
impact for our world.”
Second Award for “Best Practices” goes to Hudson Technologies for its
Wellness Program. Hudson Technologies offers over 15,000 engineered
medical, aerospace/aviation, and industrial/commercial products and
employees 200 people. Hudson Technologies identified the need and
benefits for wellness for its employees and worked hard to implement
incentives to promote wellness. Hudson Technologies was committed to
implementation and reviews their policy for effectiveness of process
measures and outcome measures. VMA recognizes Hudson Technologies as
“Best Practices” for ensuring that they not only make great product,
but that they keep their employees healthy, too.
VMA recognizes from its manufacturing members that company with the
most expertise in the international market in its “Exporter of the
Year” Award. For the second year, the Manufacturer Exporter of the Year
Winner is Germfree Laboratories, Inc.
of Ormond Beach, Florida. Germfree Laboratories specializes in the
production of all-stainless steel unidirectional laminar flow equipment
for hospital, pharmacy, and oncology use, manufacturing a full line of
compliant barrier isolators, as well as horizontal and vertical laminar
airflow hoods and chemo hoods for over 45 years. Germfree’s equipment
has been purchased by more than 5000 institutions and companies in the
US and 60 other countries worldwide, with some of their equipment even
taking a trip into space. Germfree Laboratories’ stainless steel
biological safety cabinets are located in more hospital pharmacies,
home healthcare agencies, educational institutions, and oncology
offices than those of any other hood manufacturer.
VMA’s “Lois Fifer Friend of Industry Award” is awarded to a
non-manufacturing member who demonstrates high levels of excellence
towards support of the VMA and the manufacturing industry in the
Volusia and Flagler Counties. This year’s recipient of the Lois Fifer
Friend of the Industry Award is Leslie Castillo-Solis of Kelly Services
in Daytona Beach, Florida. Kelly Services, Inc. is a Fortune 500
company headquartered in Troy, Michigan, offering staffing solutions
that include temporary staffing services, staff leasing, outsourcing,
vendor on-site, and full-time placement. Ms. Castillo-Solis has been an
active member of VMA since joining, participating in Committees and
serving on the VMA Board, chairing the Sales and Marketing Committee
from 2007-2008. “Her passionate commitment to the VMA over the years
has made a significant impact, and she truly deserves this award,” says
Fifer.
“Karl Schiller Memorial Member of the Year” is awarded to the VMA
Member who has contributed the most to the growth of the VMA and
manufacturing in general in Volusia and Flagler Counties. The 2009
winner of the Karl Schiller Member of the Year Award is Roy Braddy of
Hudson Technologies. Roy Braddy is a VMA Board Member, heading the
Materials Division. It was his dream to develop the Materials Division,
and he has worked relentlessly to build it into the viable group it is
now, by supporting with increased programming for the materials,
purchasing, buyers/planners and order placer members. Mr. Braddy has
brought in speakers to discuss current inventory and purchasing topics
or issues and regulations to give the members a forum to expand their
knowledge and to help the members support each other.
Lastly, the “Manny” Award recognizes exceptional individuals for
life-long achievements in manufacturing in Volusia and Flagler
Counties. These individuals are entered into the VMA Hall of Fame. This
year’s winner of the “Manny” Award is Joseph N. Scott of Florida Power
and Light. Mr. Scott is the founder of the Volusia Manufacturers
Association and had the original idea that there needed to be a
singular voice for manufacturers in Volusia County back in 1980.
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is the largest electric utility
in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the
United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and
is a leading employer in the state with nearly 11,000 employees. Mr.
Scott currently heads one of the Northeast Florida FPL’s Retiree
Chapters. For the VMA, Mr. Scott was one of the first Charter Directors
who started the VMA, and in 1980 he served as the First Acting Chair.
These Charter Directors put together the policies that are still active
in the VMA today. The VMA was built to serve and promote the needs and
aspirations of the manufacturing community, and it is only appropriate
that Mr. Joe Scott receives the 2009 “Manny Award” for his
extraordinary achievements in manufacturing in Volusia and Flagler
counties.
The Volusia Manufacturers Association congratulates each and every
winner of this year’s Manufacturing Awards and appreciates their
commitment to the VMA and dedication to excellence in manufacturing.
The Volusia Manufacturers Association also recognizes the 2009 Awards
Banquet Sponsors as Magga Products, Volusia County Economic Development
Department, Bank of America,Florida Health Care Plans, FloMet LLC,
Florida MEP, University of Central Florida, The Center for Business
Excellence, and Staed Hotels.
For more information about attending the Volusia Manufacturers
Association 2009 Annual Awards Banquet, please contact Volusia
Manufacturers Association at www.vmaonline.com or Jayne Fifer at
386.673.0505.
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