HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-11-23, Page 19Wednesday, November 23, 2016 • Huron Expositor 19
A night of excellence as the HMA Awards came to Seaforth
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
Upon arrival, the red carpet
welcoming the visitors with
matching velvet -looking
chairs and classy wine bottles
atop fancy black table cloths
begged the question - was this
a wedding reception? Not at
all, it was the 2016 Huron
Manufacturing Awards and
Jan Hawley said the night was
nothing short of magical.
The countywide endeav-
our commenced at the Sea -
forth District and Commu-
nity Centre, where the doors
were opened to somewhere
in the region of 280 people
ranging from several mayors,
local business people as well
as anyone else who had a
passion for manufacturing.
"Many hours of planning
went into this event, and as
the Chair of HMA Awards
Gala, I couldn't have asked
for a more perfect night,"
stated Hawley, Huron East's
economic officer while also
adding that the event took
about two and half months
of planning.
"There was synergy in the
room. This event was able to
showcase manufacturing in
Huron County at its very best:'
The HMA as an organiza-
tion launched in 1998, with a
core group of manufacturing
and municipal frontrunners
that at the time were known
as the Huron Manufacturing
Group.
The HMA Awards acceler-
ates and demonstrates lead-
ership to strong manufactur-
ing companies in the area.
The primary goal is to
endorse growth and cele-
brate achievements, which is
a strong statement the HMA
Awards live by.
Cardiff's Catering from
Brussels provided an elegant
buffet with specially cooked
salmon, succulent beef and
pork, along with numerous
specialty salads.
Cameras were directed at
the stage where they were
hooked up to two massive
screens playing from projec-
tors so the people in the back
were able to see the speakers
or awards being presented to
the winners. Each winner of an
award also received a green
and blue scroll of congratula-
tions from MPP of Huron -
Bruce Lisa Thompson and
Huron -Bruce MP Ben Lobb.
For each applicant to win
an award, two benchmarks
had to be met. The nominat-
ing committee examined the
submissions, which were then
passed down to the selection
committee. They had the
difficult task of selecting the
most worthy applicant.
The winners awarded on
the night of the gala:
1) Youth Integration
Award was a tie between:
• Maelstrom Winery
• Seaforth Elevators &
Expediting / Vanastra
Packaging
2) Innovative Manufactur-
ing Award:
• The Garlic Box Inc.
3) Innovative Product
Award:
• Marcrest Manufacturing
"Bale Baron"
4) Corporate Citizenship
Award was a tie between:
• Epps Products
• Sun -North Systems Ltd.
5) Outstanding Associate
Member Award:
• Municipality of Huron
East
6) Employer of the Year
Award:
• CapProducts Ltd.
7) Health & Safety Award:
• Hayter>s Farm
8) Tech Teacher of the
Year Award:
• Terry Zachary, Central
Huron Secondary School
9) Exporter of the Year
Award:
• General Coach Canada
10) Manufacturer of the
Year:
• General Coach Canada
Shaun Gregory
Rob Scarrow accepted the Corporate Citizenship Award on behalf Jeff Hearn from Epps Products holds the Corporate Citizenship
of Sun -North. Systems Award his company tied for first with Sun -North Systems.
The Garlic Box Innovative Manufacturing represented by Jackie
Rowe. She shows the Innovative Manufacturing Award
Maelstrom Winery tied for the Youth Integration
Award.
Shannon Dale- accepting a scholarship award for her brother Murray Dale, second from left- Alexis
Edward. (scholarship award), second from right- Jeff Plaetzer. (scholarship award) and far right -
Nic Zwep (SHSM scholarship award).
Lisa Thompson MPP of Huron -Bruce
congratulated the winners at the HMA Awards in
Seaforth last week.