Middle Georgia Technical College

MGTC Nominates Forty Valley's Step 2 for Manufacturer of the Year

Atlanta - Representatives from Step 2 in Fort Valley and Middle Georgia Technical College were among more than 1,300 Georgia captains of industry who gathered recently at the annual Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week (MAW) awards luncheon at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta. MAW recognizes excellence among Georgia manufacturers and their contribution to the state's economy.

Middle Georgia Technical College nominated the Step 2 Company, preschool and toddler toy manufacturer and marketer of quality plastic products for children, for Manufacturer of the Year award because of their commitment to quality and their relationship with the community.

"Step 2 is a great company and a great partner to Middle Georgia Technical College and the local area," said Jim Newton, vice president for Economic Development at MGTC. "This company produces top quality products and is a major employer in Peach County. With over 150 team members, they are definitely a great asset for the community."

Winners of the 2008 Georgia Manufacturer of the Year Award were Marietta's Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in the large employer category; Tallapoosa's Honda Precision Parts of Georgia in the medium category; and Spectral Response of Duluth, in the small category.

Keynote speaker Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle presented the awards. He was joined by Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Ken Stewart and Ron Jackson, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education, at the luncheon marking the culmination of Manufacturing Appreciation Week. The event was co-hosted by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education and the Georgia Department of Economic Development as an effort to recognize and pay tribute to manufacturing's role in Georgia's economy. The manufacturing sector employs more than 400,000 Georgians at nearly 10,000 facilities across the state, contributing more than $100 billion to its economy annually.

The three winning companies were nominated by business and civic leaders and chosen for their excellence and contributions to the state's economy and their respective local communities.

To encourage Georgia's students to appreciate manufacturing's role in the state's economy, a statewide art contest is included each year with scholarship prizes awarded to students for their designs of t-shirts, posters and placemats. First-place winners of $500 scholarships are: Kavian Harris of Americus, placemat; Jordan Ling of McDonough, t-shirt; and Logan Smith of Jeffersonville, poster. Second-place recipients were awarded $300 scholarships. They are: Katelynn Radford of Harrison, placemat; Nathan Nerswick of Watkinsville, t-shirt; and Melissa Howard of Covington, poster. In third place, Victoria Conaway of Blackshear, Heather Parris of Summerville, and Logan Griffis of Dixie each received a $100 scholarship in the placemat, t-shirt and poster categories, respectively.

This is the14th year celebrating Manufacturing Appreciation Week in Georgia. Sponsors include AT&T; BB&T; Georgia Power; the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute; Fullscope; Habif, Arogeti & Wynne; and Pattillo Construction.

For more information, visit www.georgiamaw.org.

Attending the event on behalf of Middle Georgia Technical College were (seated, l to r) Lee Slade, CEO of the Hawkinsville Chamber of Commerce/Pulaski United; Paul Hibbitts, chairman of the Board of Directors for MGTC; Paul Scott and Kelly Wolfe of Step 2. (Standing l to r) Ryan Waldrep of the Georgia Department of Economic Development; Ronnie Sanders of Flint Energies; Jim Newton, vice president for Economic Development at MGTC; and Stephen Williams, senior vice president at CB&T Bank.