Winners trumping R.I.’s curse

You know what’s so exciting about this year’s honorees of PBN’s Manufacturing Awards program? They all are growing – revenue, employees and customers.

Whether they have created innovative products or services, have found new markets, are applying the latest thinking in management theory, or are investing in worker training and development, this year’s winners demonstrate every day that doing business in Rhode Island is not a death sentence.

Todd Blount, head of Blount Fine Foods and the winner for Strategic Leadership, for example, took over the family firm in 2001 and has methodically transformed it from its legacy as a maker of clam chowder (something it still does quite well, thank you very much) to a nationally recognized supplier and retailer of other soups and side dishes.

Our winners for overall excellence at different-size enterprises, Hope Valley Industries, Bouckaert Industrial Textiles and SES America Inc., internalize the needs of their customers and satisfy them.

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The winner for an Emerging Manufacturer, Ava Anderson Non Toxic, was founded by a teenager, now college student, based on her belief that beauty and household products should contain fewer dangerous chemicals. The company expects to at least double its revenue this year over last, and it would not surprise if it lands on Inc. magazine’s list of the nation’s fastest-growing companies.

We are once again thankful for the support for this program provided by our sponsors. Polaris MEP is the presenting sponsor once again, while our partner sponsors are Blum Shapiro; Bryant University’s John H. Chafee Center for International Business, Executive Development Center and the Graduate School of Business; Cox Business; Gallo/Thomas Insurance; and Hope Global. Media partner is AM790.

?Mark S. Murphy?Editor

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