The Times Advocate, 2008-11-12, Page 3Wednesday, November 12, 2008 Times -Advocate
Metzger Meats is HMA Manufacturer of the Year
GODERICH Several local
businesses were the recipients of
awards at the third annual Huron
Manufacturing Association (HMA)
Excellence Awards Nov 5 in God-
erich, including Manufacturer of
the Year to Hensall s Metzger Meat
Products.
Other local award winners in-
cluded Kenpal Inc. of South Hu-
ron, Andex Metal Products in
Exeter, Iceculture of Hensall, Exi-
plast Custom Moulding Inc. of
Huron Park, Syfilco Ltd., Hi -Tech
Industrial Machine and Latec In-
struments Inc. of Exeter.
HMA event chairperson Chris
Meir stated the purpose of the
event was to recognize, celebrate
and reward the achievements of
Huron manufacturers towards
their drive to best practice and in-
novative manufacturing.
Hosted by the County of Huron
and United Communities Credit
Union, over 250 people attended
representing manufacturing, mu-
nicipalities and local business.
Awards were presented to man-
ufacturers based on company size
including under 20 employees,
20-75 employees or over 75 em-
ployees.
Keynote speaker Ian Howcroft,
vice-president (Ontario Division)
of Canadian Manufacturers and
Exporters (CME), discussed the
importance of support for the man-
ufacturing sector in trying times.
Huron County Warden John
Bezaire presented the Manufac-
turer of the Year award to Matt
Metzger on behalf of Metzger Meat
Products.
Metzger Meats was also the win-
ner of the Innovative Manufactur-
ing Award and they were also con-
sidered by the selection committee
for the Innovative Product Award
and Employer of the Year.
Manufacturing ready to eat meat
products for the Ontario market,
Metzger s was recognized by the
HMA for the process improve-
ments the company has imple-
mented as part of its business ex-
pansion.
The expansion was designed
with food safety, productivity and
worker ergonomics in mind.
Issues like product flow, people
flow and process controls were
addressed while allowing the flex-
ibility to take on new products and
stay competitive in the market-
place.
The new production was built in
such a way that there is continuous
refrigerated flow from start to fin-
ish. Ergonomic design was incor-
porated throughout to eliminate
heavy lifting and handling of the
meat by people.
Every step of production is elec-
tronically monitored for cooling,
cooking and production to elimi-
nate errors and manipulation of
records.
New measures and equipment
were added to enhance effective-
ness of sanitation, product testing
and food safety. Company revenue
has tripled in the past six years.
Celebrating youth entrepreneur-
ship, Alison Lobb, manager of the
Small Business Enterprise Centre
presented awards to the mentors
and participants in the Summer
Company Project which saw com-
panies involve young people in
their work force.
Receiving awards were Hi -Tech
Industrial Machine, Iceculture and
Andex Metal Products.
The Junior Manufacturer of the
Year, awarded to an individual
under 30 who made a significant
contribution to his workplace, was
Nathan Gingerich of Iceculture.
Winners of the Employer of the
Year awards which were nominat-
ed by their own employees, were
Exi-plast, Syfilco and Andex.
Latec Instruments was celebrated
for their LevelMaster Ice / Olympia
LVR, a laser device for Olympia
and Zamboni ice resurfacing ma-
chines in arenas.
Lianti Muller, of Huron Solutions
received the Outstanding Associ-
ate Member Award.
HMA board chairperson Chris
Meir made a special tribute to
Dick Lehnen, the 2007 Leadership
Award winner, who passed away
this year after a battle with cancer.
Meir also congratulated Chuck
Deserving winner Huron CountyWarden John Bezaire
(right) presents the Huron Manufacturing Association (HMA)
Manufacturer of the year Award to Hensall s Matt Metzger on
behalf of Metzger Meat Products in Hensall.The award was pre-
sented Nov. 5 in Goderich at the third annual Huron Manufactur-
ing Awards dinner. (photo/L. Michael Roberts)
Wickham of EPCOR for winning
the 2008 Chairman s Leadership
award.
The United Communities Credit
Union helped to present the HMA /
United Apprenticeship Scholar-
ship awards awarded to appren-
tices Daryl Demaray from the Mas-
ter s Touch, Sandy Graham from
Heritage Builders, Scott Pfaff with
Appreciation shown for local doctors
Appreciation day The South Huron Medical Recruitment and Reten-
tion Committee travelled throughout the area last Thursday, visiting local
health care professionals and thanking them for their work. Pictured in front
from left are South Huron Hospital chief of staff Dr. Ming Lam, Dr. Mario
Bueno and committee member Mary Peterson; in back from left are commit-
tee member Fred Simmons, Dr. Ken Milne and committee members Joanne
Bowen, Laura Overholt and Wayne Deluca. (photo/Scott Nixon)
EXETER Have you thanked your
physician recently? That s what the
South Huron Medical Recruitment and
Retention Committee did last week
when they visited all the clinics in the
area, including South Huron Hospital,
showing their appreciation for health
care professionals.
The South Huron Medical Recruitment
and Retention Committee was formed
in 2005 and includes a core group of five
people, including chairperson Wayne
Deluca, Fred Simmons, Laura Overholt,
Joanne Bowen and Mary Peterson.
The visits last week to health care pro-
fessionals were part of the committee s
efforts to show they are appreciated.
In addition to attending medical job
recruiting fairs, the committee is under-
taking other various activities this year
to show appreciation for the physicians,
who contribute every day to maintain
our health.
Initiatives include working with the
Schulich School of Medicine and Den-
tistry at the University of Western Ontar-
io to introduce undergraduate medical
students to health care in South Huron
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each year during "Discovery Week."
Another initiative is MedQuest. Dur-
ing July and August, three undergradu-
ate medical students from the Schulich
School of Medicine and Dentistry spend
six weeks in communities in Huron
County. Supervised by local physicians,
they have the opportunity to work along-
side physicians in their offices. They also
plan a one-week camp for local area high
school students to learn about health
care opportunities.
The committee also participates in ca-
reer fairs for physicians, nurses and al-
lied health care professionals to raise
awareness of the opportunities in South
Huron for graduates.
Potential physicians have been intro-
duced to the hospital and the community
by committee members
which has led to the
successful recruitment
of several new physi-
cians during the past
few years.
Deluca told the Times -
Advocate that at every
recruitment fair the
committee has attend-
ed, they ve had a doc-
tor volunteer to go with
them and help. He said
when it comes to doctor
recruitment, Exeter is at
an advantage because
of its proximity to Lon-
don. Doctors who want
to live in the city can
still commute to Exeter.
Bilcke Electric and Jeff Mathonia of
South Huron Automotive.
Each received $1,000 towards
their education costs.
The HMA and United Communi-
ties Credit Union established these
awards in 2007 to help promote
skilled -trades training in Huron
County.
Crediton Road closure
CREDITON Effective Nov. 10, Crediton Road
is closed at the bridge for the next 10 weeks.
The closure is the result of repairs to the bridge
and will see Crediton Road closed between Parr
Line and Ausable Line. The road is expected to re-
open Jan. 16.
Detour roads will include Parr Line, Mount Car-
mel Drive and Airport Line.
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