2012 Outstanding Business of the Year Award
Named after former Governor Deane C Davis (1900-1990) and co-sponsored by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and VermontBiz, the award is given to the Vermont company that embraces the unshakeable values that Davis brought to his office: enhancing the economy and championing the environment with the help of business and satisfied employees. Governor Deane C….
About this Event
Named after former Governor Deane C Davis (1900-1990) and co-sponsored by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and VermontBiz, the award is given to the Vermont company that embraces the unshakeable values that Davis brought to his office: enhancing the economy and championing the environment with the help of business and satisfied employees.
Governor Deane C. Davis (1900 – 1990)
In 1968, at the age of 68, when most people look forward to enjoyment of retirement, Deane C. Davis was elected governor. Governor Davis brought considerable experience to the governor’s office (1969-1973), gleaned over many years as a lawyer, corporate officer and company president. He was a strong advocate of a sound economy based in a protected environment.
Governor Davis was known as the “Environmental Governor” because of his strong support for Act 250, which was enacted during his administration. He also championed a vigorous economic development program that resulted in the creation of the highly successful regional economic development corporations.
Criteria
The Standards of Excellence are the criteria that will be used in judging the nominees for the Outstanding Business of the Year Award. The following questions should be used as guidelines and examples for companies as they prepare their submissions for nomination. Please note, this award is designated to a for-profit business as the judging committee will take the growth of sales into consideration.
Demonstrated success by:
* Continued growth in number of employees and/or sales.
Does the company have a clear mission statement that allows sustainable growth for itself and its employees? Does the company’s goals and objectives create incentive for sustained growth? Does the company’s marketing strategy keep up with a constantly changing market place?
* Commitment of company resources, including employees to community projects.
Does the company have a community relations function at its corporate level? Does the company encourage employees to participate in community projects? Are company officers involved in community projects?
* Recognition of the environment as a natural and economic resource for Vermont.
Does company policy incorporate Vermont’s natural environment in the production or marketing of its product(s)? Is the company actively involved in the development of local, regional or state natural and economic environmental policies?
* Creation of a positive work environment for all employees.
Does the company involve its employees in operational policy creation? Does the company create incentives for employee participation in company and community projects? Does the company’s human resources policies provide for meaningful and continuing employee evaluation?
Standards of Excellence:
The Outstanding Business of the Year Award is the prestigious recognition of a company in Vermont who has met the highest standards of excellence in the past year to improving its sales, the work environment for its employees, and its contribution of its resources to its community.
The honoree has demonstrated success through:
- Continued growth in number of employees or sales
- Commitment of company resources, including employees to community projects
- Recognition of the environment as a natural and economic resource for Vermont
- Creation of a positive work environment for all employees
The economic well-being of Vermont rests squarely on the success of its businesses, large and small, which provide jobs, products, and services to consumers in Vermont, across the United States and around the world. Many companies in Vermont fully exemplify the Outstanding Vermont Business Standards of Excellence. They have used these standards as a guideline to improve their business, their employees and their community. These standards are relevant to all businesses, small and large.
Meeting the highest standards of excellence is the direct cause of the success of any business. Even if the market is ready and consumers are willing, the ability to attain the highest standards of excellence combined with a clear, definable mission statement is vital to any company’s longevity.
Eligibility:
To be eligible the nominated business must have its corporate headquarters in Vermont for at least 10 years. Subsidiaries of international corporations may also be nominated if their U.S. headquarters are based in Vermont and if they operate largely autonomously. Please note, this award is designated to a for-profit business as the judging committee will take the growth of sales into consideration.
General Information:
Anyone may nominate a business for the Outstanding Business of the Year Award. The nomination may be made by the business itself, a government agency, or interested individuals.
The screening committee may request additional information from nominators, references or the company itself for the judge’s consideration. All entries and supplementary materials will become the property of the VermontBiz and will not be returned. Decisions of the judging committee are final.
Because the Outstanding Business of the Year Award is designed to recognize the total commitment of a company, nominations should describe the entire scope of the company’s mission.
Accompanying Materials:
The online nomination form allows you to submit up to three supporting documents to your online nomination. Supporting documents are optional. Please submit as much background material as you feel necessary to support the statement. Additional materials may include, but are not limited to samples of company policies, mission statements, company annual reports, employee newsletters, program evaluation forms. If you are unable to submit accompanying materials online you may mail them to: VermontBiz, 365 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403.
Confidential Information:
In order for the Selection Committee to properly evaluate each application, it is helpful for us to have relevant information requested (sales figures and employee count). This information is CONFIDENTIAL and will not be shared with anyone other than the Selection Committee. Copies will be destroyed following the selection. Please include this information with your application.
OUTSTANDING BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS
1990 WALLACE ENTERPRISES
1991 C & S WHOLESALEGROCERS
1992 MCKENZIE MEATS
1993 PERRY RESTAURANT GROUP
1994 GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS
1995 VERMONT HEATING & VENTILATING
1996 MACKMOLDING COMPANY
1997 SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH RESORT
1998 VERMONT COUNTRY STORE
1999 CABOT CREAMERY
2000 WAITSFIELD CHAMPLAIN VALLEY TELECOM
2001 WILD APPLE GRAPHICS
2002 NRG SYSTEMS
2003 HUBBARDTON FORGE
2004 IDX
2005 KING ARTHUR FLOUR
2006 RSG
2007 SYMQUEST GROUP INC
2008 NATIONAL LIFE GROUP
2009 BIOTEK INSTRUMENTS INC
2010 SMALL DOG ELECTRONICS
2011 FOLEY FAMILY OF COMPANIES
Winners
GW Plastics Named 2012 Outstanding Business of the Year
With its World Headquarters located in Bethel, Vermont GW Plastics has built a reputation as one of Vermont’s most respected employers and successful manufacturers. Recognized as a global industry leader in plastics manufacturing, GW’s focus is on high technology injection molding, tooling and contract manufacturing of precision thermoplastic and silicone components and assemblies for the world’s most successful companies.
GW Plastics was founded in Bethel, Vermont in 1955 by two early Plastics Pioneers, John Galvin and Odin Westgaard. After building GW into a successful business, they sold the company to Carborundum Corporation in 1973. Following a series of large-company M&A transactions in the 1980s, GW ultimately found itself owned by Standard Oil of Ohio which was later purchased by British Petroleum. In 1983, after years of large company neglect, a group of company managers and investors led by Vermont resident and plastics industry veteran Frederic (Fred) Riehl, purchased GW Plastics from BP and returned the company back to its Vermont roots. Had Fred Riehl and others not taken the personal financial risk to purchase GW it is unlikely the company would have remained a viable enterprise in Vermont. In 1998, Brenan (Ben) Riehl, who joined GW after a career with General Electric Plastics, became the President and CEO of GW assuring a smooth leadership transition, and ongoing commitment to Vermont.
During the last two decades, the company has expanded four times in Vermont, investing tens of millions of dollars in equipment, facilities and training while doubling its Vermont employment to more than 300 associates with over 900 associates worldwide. At the same time, GW expanded its market reach both nationally and globally with locations in the United States, Latin America and Asia while earning the trust of market leaders including Abbott Labs; Boston Scientific; Covidien, Idexx; Johnson & Johnson; Philips Healthcare; Robert Bosch and Takata.
GW is proud of the fact that it has been in the forefront of new technology development and manufacturing for transformational healthcare and automotive products such as minimally invasive medical devices and safety restraint systems.
In 2012, GW Plastics reaffirmed its commitment to Vermont, with a $3,500,000 state-of-the art addition to its Royalton, VT Silicones operation in response to increased customer demand. GW expects this expansion to result in high tech job opportunities for Vermonters. At the same time, GW partnered with a number of leading global medical device companies successfully launching several innovative, multi-million dollar programs in its Bethel and Royalton, Vermont locations positioning the company for continued growth in 2013.
Through standardization of facilities, equipment and quality systems at all locations worldwide, GW Plastics offers customers unsurpassed process consistency and cost-efficiency. GW Plastics’ professional leadership team, continuity of ownership and long-tenured work force has built a world class company based on consistent performance, long term customer relationships, financial stewardship and workplace satisfaction.
GW Plastics takes its commitment to environmental sustainability seriously. Intrinsic benefits, as well as real financial savings, have led GW to embrace sound environmental stewardship in all of its locations. GW Plastics has completed a number of successful sustainability initiatives in the areas of Energy Reduction, Water Use Reduction and Waste Reduction and is a member of the Green Suppliers Network, a federally funded program to facilitate the establishment and implementation of “Lean and Clean” manufacturing techniques for manufacturers.
Commitment to quality, environmental responsibility, and employee growth, makes GW Plastics a leader in its industry. These ideals not only match the criteria for the Deane C. Davis Outstanding Vermont Business award but outline the principals of the company’s mission statement. Their dedication makes GW Plastics a fierce competitor in the race for this award.
