Michigan Business Beat | John J. Walsh, Michigan Manufacturers Association - MFG Excellence Awards!

Michigan Business Network

Chris Holman welcomes back John J. Walsh, President & CEO, MMA, Michigan Manufacturers Association, Lansing, MI. He had several things he wanted to find out during this conversation. Welcome back John, remind the Michigan business community about MMA? One of your highlights of the year is coming up this week, 2024 MFG Excellence Awards, tell us about that? Eleven different awards are up for grabs, share a bit of the highlights from those categories? Some winners have been named, while three categories have the winner announced tomorrow night, share a little more about: Community Impact, Innovation Excellence, and Sustainability? What is the Coolest Thing competition? Have any of the previous Coolest Thing winners gone on to bigger things after winning? The MMA also shared a press release at the time of the original awardee announcement last month. LANSING (Oct. 10, 2024) —Manufacturers, industry leaders and media gathered at the Lansing headquarters of the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) to reveal and recognize the most innovative leaders and cutting-edge products of Michigan’s manufacturing sector for the 2024 Manufacturing Excellence Awards. Michigan’s manufacturing industry is a vital force in the state’s economy, with more than 12,000 manufacturers employing 610,000 people — nearly 15 percent of the state’s total workforce — and contributing 19.38 percent of Michigan’s total economic output. Established by the MMA, the annual Manufacturing Excellence Awards program celebrates what makes Michigan manufacturing the best in the world. This prestigious event shines a spotlight on the individuals, organizations and products that drive our economy and improve our daily lives. View the event highlights and see manufacturing leaders in action as they celebrate Manufacturers achievements. Key leaders within Michigan’s manufacturing community remarked on contributions by the industry to Michigan’s economy, communities and society at the event. Nathan Cox, President of Cox Machine LLC., in Traverse City was named the 2024 John G. Thodis Michigan Manufacturer of the Year – Small Tier. He emphasized the company’s commitment to both its people and the local community as critical to success and being named this year’s winner. “At Cox Machine, we prioritize our people and our impact on the local community and in Michigan. This award reflects our commitment to a healthy work environment and social responsibility, values that drive our success alongside our technical expertise,” said Cox. John Macchia Jr., CEO of Advance Turning and Manufacturing Inc., was recognized as the 2024 John G. Thodis Michigan Manufacturer of the Year – Large Tier. “I’m incredibly proud of our amazing team at Advance Turning, who make coming to work a rewarding experience every day. This recognition belongs to all of us, and I’m grateful to everyone for making this achievement possible,” said Macchia. Alyssa Tracey, Director of International Trade at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), spoke of the significance of the Michigan Manufactured Export of the Year Award, which highlights Michigan manufacturers excelling on the global stage. She emphasized the importance of international trade for expanding the state’s manufacturing footprint and creating new opportunities. Jonathan Hamilton, Director of Research and Development at Gantec in Midland and the winner of the Michigan Manufactured Export of the Year Award powered by MEDC for their Biodapt® product, spoke on Gantec’s global reach and the critical support they’ve received from various agencies in their efforts to expand. Lynn Lyman, Marketing Manager at Trijicon, Inc. located in Wixom, spoke about the pride the Trijicon team feels in being recognized as a top three finalist for the 2024 Coolest Thing Made in Michigan powered by Endeavor IT. The blog article will share the full details. www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/