MONTGOMERY, AL. – The Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network today announced the finalists and winners of the 2014 Manufacturer of the Year Awards during a luncheon ceremony at the Alabama Activity Center. Begun in 2000, the BCA and ATN awards ceremony has attracted Alabama dignitaries and manufacturing leaders to honor companies that are committed to improve Alabama’s economy.

The 2014 Awards keynote speaker is Jason Hoff, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International. 

The awards program recognizes Alabama’s manufacturing enterprises that exhibit excellence in leadership, performance, profitability, and work force relations. Winning manufacturers are selected by an independent panel of judges who look for demonstrations of superior performance in customer focus, employee commitment, operating excellence, continuous improvement, profitable growth, and investment in training and retraining.

“Now in its 15th year, the Business Council of Alabama is honored to salute Alabama’s best manufacturers for their valuable participation in not only the state’s economy but also the economies of their employees and the suppliers who do business with them,” said William J. Canary, President and CEO of the BCA. “Begun 15 years ago, the Manufacturer of the Year Awards continues to be a premier event for the BCA, the Alabama Technology Network, the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, and the National Association of Manufacturers. The BCA is proud to be the exclusive affiliate in Alabama to the NAM and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”

Finalists for the Manufacturer of the Year were Back Forty Beer Co. of Gadsden; Belle Chevre of Elkmont; BP America Inc. of Decatur; Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. of Gadsden; Gulf Packaging of Bay Minette; Prystup Packaging Products Inc. of Livingston; Segers Aero Corp. of Fairhope; and, SPOC Automation of Trussville.

“It’s an honor to be named a finalist by Business Council of Alabama and Alabama Technology Network for this esteemed industry recognition,” said Bobby Mason, President of SPOC Automation. “These awards are a testament to SPOC Automation’s commitment to quality people building and engineering superior products for our industry. We are blessed to have a team of people who make our business very successful.”

BCA, ATN Announce Alabama’s Top Manufacturers for 2014 (Full story)

The Alabama Technology Network of the Alabama Community College System links two-year colleges, the University of Alabama System, Auburn University and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama to solve the needs of industry. Each ATN regional center tailors its services to meet local needs, providing innovative and cost-effective solutions to enable Alabama’s existing industry to be globally competitive. The network is Alabama’s affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which provides hands-on assistance and training to smaller manufacturers.

The Business Council of Alabama is Alabama’s foremost voice for business. The BCA is a non-partisan statewide business association representing the interests and concerns of nearly one million working Alabamians through its member companies and its partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama. BCA is Alabama’s exclusive affiliate to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.