The Times Advocate, 2007-11-14, Page 18Crossroads
18
Times -Advocate
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Huron Manufacturing Excellence Awards honours local businesses
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — The Second Annual
Manufacturing Excellence Awards Gala
Celebration Dinner was Nov. 8 at the
South Huron Recreation Centre, honour-
ing businesses in Huron County.
Several local businesses brought home
awards, including Hensall's Iceculture
Inc. who earned three awards, including
the highest honour — Huron County
Manufacturer of the Year Award.
The award, presented by Huron
County Warden Deb Shewfelt, recog-
nized the strides Iceculture is making in
its industry, putting Huron on the map.
A news release from the Huron
Manufacturing Association states,
"Their new, Artistic Ice Design
Sculptures line opened up significant
market opportunities and enabled them
to produce superior quality consistent
ice designs for customers like Disney
and Warner Bros at very competitive
prices." It also notes the ice bars and
lounges which Iceculture have con-
structed in places like Dubai and Cape
Town (South Africa).
Iceculture also received awards for
Youth Integration and Training and the
Innovative Product Award.
Thirteen awards were presented in
seven different categories throughout
the night.
Other local winners featured, Hung N.
Vo of Huron Park's Beyond the Screen
Door Inc., receiving the Junior
Manufacturer of the Year award;
Goderich Aircraft Inc. of Huron Park,
receiving a Youth Integration and
Training Award; Exi-Plast Ltd. of Huron
Park, receiving an Innovative
Manufacturing Award and Dashwood
Industries Ltd. of Centralia, receiving a
Corporate Citizenship Award.
The first ever Huron Manufacturing
Awards (HMA) Heartland Credit Union
Apprenticeship Scholarships were also
handed out to four different students.
Winning the scholarships were three
people from South Huron — Matthew
Johns, James Debus and Gerard
Zielman, along with Lucknow resident
Jackie Miltenburg. Each scholarship was
$1,000, helping out with expenses like
tools and studies.
A Chairman's Award for Leadership
was also presented to R.E. Dick Lehnen
who was recognized for his support to
the manufacturing community in the
Goderich area.
"Through leadership and passion Dick
and the Huron Tract group took aban-
doned industrial buildings and filled it
with manufacturing companies,"
according to the news release.
HMA co-ordinator Monica Walker -
Bolton was pleased with the turnout,
explaining that although she didn't
know how many businesses were in
attendance, "There were 260 people.
Last year there were about 160 people.
It's just amazing."
Walker -Bolton also explained the rea-
son why the awards were held, saying
they are there to support local manufac-
turers while promoting economic devel-
opment in Huron County.
An award was also added this year,
the Junior Manufacturer of the Year
Award which recognizes a younger per-
son in the industry hoping to break
through.
Entertainment was provided by Katie
Durst of Goderich & the Quarter Mile
Lane.
For more information on the HMA visit
www.huronmanufacturing. on. ca
Highest honour — Several awards were presented Nov. 8 at the Second
Annual Manufacturing Excellence Awards Gala Celebration Dinner.Above from
left Heidi and Sam Bayley of Hensall's Iceculture Inc. were recognized with three
awards, including the highlighted award of the night — Manufacturer of the
Year.(photo/Nina Van Lieshout)
Local accomplishments — Above Exi-Plast Custom Moulding Ltd. of Huron
Park won an Innovative Manufacturing Award. From left are Mike Gordon, presi-
dent and CEO Frank Zawalsky, Marianne Benson, Dan Zawalsky,Terry Sweiger and
Ken Stewart. Below Dashwood Industries Ltd. of Centralia won a Corporate
Citizenship Award. Front from left are Valerie Parsons, Sharon Miller, Lisa Taylor
and George Palsa; back row are Emery Huszka, Gary Burrows, director of manu-
facturing Brad Duguay and George Kuranyi. (photos/Nina Van Lieshout)
Youth awards — Above left Pawel Pach of Goderich Aircraft Inc. in Huron Park
won aYouth Integration and Training Award.Above right from left Hung N.Vo of
Beyond the Screen Door Inc. in Huron Park accepts the Junior Manufacturer
Award from HMA chairman Chris Meier. Below from left Heartland Credit Union
vice-chairman Gary Jewitt presents South Huron's James Debus, Lucknow's Jackie
Miltenburg and South Huron residents Matthew Johns and Gerard Zielman with
HMA- Heartland Apprenticeship Scholarships. (Above left photo/Nina Van Lieshout;
above right photo/submitted; below photo/Nina Van Lieshout)