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n April 15th, Governor Sonny Perdue awarded “the manufacturing Oscar for Georgia’s best in class” at the 10th anniversary celebration of Manufacturing Appreciation Week. More than 1400 community and business leaders gathered at the Cobb Galleria for the Governor’s Awards Luncheon, which was sponsored by the DTAE and the Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism.

“I think it’s a perfect time to honor your achievements,” Gov. Perdue told the 114 Manufacturer of the Year nominees in his keynote speech at the awards ceremony. “Your dedication to quality, innovation and productivity continue to be at the heart of Georgia’s economy.”

This year’s winners were Woodbury Box Co. Inc. in Thomaston in the small manufacturer category; Heatcraft Refrigeration Products in Tifton in the medium manufacturer category; and the NACOM Corp. in Griffin in the large manufacturer category.

Woodbury Box CEO Susan Rudder Hall praised Quick Start’s customized training for assisting the company, which relocated to Thomaston from Woodbury, Ga., in 1994. “I can’t say enough about Quick Start,” said Hall, who oversees 47 associates with a payroll of more than $1.5 million. “Your quick response and technical help were excellent.”

Steve Dyer, director of operations for Heatcraft’s Tifton facility, utilized the help of state agencies to maintain Heatcraft’s competitive edge. “It’s only through the continued cooperation of local, state and federal agencies,” noted Dyer, “that U.S. manufacturing will regain its competitive edge and maintain that edge.” Heatcraft’s 29-year-old Tifton facility draws 250 full-time employees from eight counties in South Central Georgia and produced more than $490 million in product in 2003.

NACOM VP and General Manager John Olson extolled education as the key to success. “NACOM has encouraged our associates to invest their time into education,” said Olson. “With our associates’ newfound skills, NACOM’s been able to achieve new records in quality and productivity and customer delight.” There are more than 800 associates at NACOM’s nine-year-old Griffin plant, which had annual revenues of $161 million last year.

In addition to the manufacturing winners, nine students from across the state won scholarships in the student design contest, which is intended to increase awareness of the importance of manufacturing among Georgia’s schoolchildren. More than 3,000 students submitted design entries featuring Georgia manufacturers and their products in the three design categories of placemat, poster and T-shirt.

“It’s exciting to meet the Governor,” said elementary school placemat design contest winner Tyler Van Dusen, who was awarded a $500 scholarship at the luncheon along with middle school poster design contest winner Jenny Park and high school T-shirt design contest winner Cristian Cuautle. Second place winners An-Thien Huu Nguyen, Kelvin Jordan Jr. and Brittney Denton won $300 scholarships. Third place winners Brittany Ricks, Randy Leon Baisden and Vaneka Nesby were awarded $100 scholarships.