Southwest Michigan First honored more than 50 regional companies, organizations and individuals during its 2013 Catalyst Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Among these notable companies was Imperial distributed Arcadia Brewing Company, whose developments in Kalamazoo include a brand new, state of the art brewing facility in downtown Kalamazoo. Slated to open late fall, 2013, this new home to Arcadia will bring with it a number of jobs to our area.
Presented annually since 2005, this event is designed to recognize significant contributions by community partners that have resulted in economic growth and job creation in Southwest Michigan.
“The contributions made by these award-winning companies, organizations and individuals truly define Southwest Michigan’s economic growth and jobs creation efforts using a regional strategy,” said Ron Kitchens, chief executive officer of Southwest Michigan First. “We are pleased to present each of our 2013 winners with a Catalyst Award in recognition of being catalysts for leadership, change and growth in our region.”
The following companies received 2013 Catalyst Awards for jobs creation:
- AluTech
- American Axle & Manufacturing
- Arcadia Brewing Company
- Asama Coldwater Manufacturing
- Behnke Trucking and Warehousing
- Borgess Health
- Bowers Manufacturing Company
- Brembo North America
- Catalyst Development Company
- Cosma International
- Delta Industrial Valves
- Denso Manufacturing Michigan
- Dimplex Thermal Solutions
- EPI Marketing Services
- Fabri-Kal
- Faulkner Fabricators
- Geislinger
- Getman Corporation
- Gokoh Coldwater Incorporated
- Graphic Packaging International – Consumer Products Division
- Graphic Packaging International – Mill Division
- Hanson Mold
- Hark Orchids
- II Stanley Co.
- Janesville Acoustics
- Lovejoy
- MacAllister Machinery
- Mach Mold
- Marrone Bio Innovations
- Mastronardi Produce
- Mayer Tool & Engineering
- mophie
- Mueller Industries
- Musashi Auto Parts
- MVB Improvements
- Perrigo Company
- Riveer
- RSB Transmissions NA
- Schupan & Sons
- St. Joe Tool Company
- Summit Polymers
- TecNiq, Inc.
- TRMI
- T-Shirt Printing Plus
- W.E. Slitt
- Whirlpool Corporation
Southwest Michigan First also recognized contributions that moved our region and people toward greatness. Those who exemplified the ability to inspire others to lead, the desire to collaborate for greater good and the innate drive to make our communities worthy of generations to come were recipients of Community Partner of the Year awards. Honored for their dedication to making the local community a better place to live, work, play and innovate were:
| Partner for Jobs |
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| Philanthropic Impact |
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| Collaboration |
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| Educational Impact |
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| Mentor of the Year |
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| Community Capitalism |
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Each award winner was presented with the Catalyst, a beautiful hand-blown glass sculpture created exclusively for this event by local artist Judith Konesni of Tidal Wave Glass. This award is a symbol of the commitment to excellence demonstrated by each of this year’s winners.
For more information on the Catalyst Awards, please visit: www.southwestmichiganfirst.com/events/catalyst_awards.cfm


