Cox Interior of Campbellsville, Linak of Louisville and Wagstaff of Hebron have each won 2007
The awards were presented November 2 at KAM’s annual awards luncheon and annual meeting in
Cox Interior won in the “large business” category; Linak won in the “mid-size business” category; and Wagstaff won in the “small business” category. Each was selected based on the following criteria:
- Innovative and entrepreneurial leadership with regard to products, production method, or services;
- Recognized leadership in making a key contribution to the quality of life in the Commonwealth and the community;
- Active involvement in organizations that advance industry and manufacturing
Employee nominees were judged based on four criteria: innovation, teamwork, community service and leadership.
The independent, 2007 awards selection committee consisted of Vickie C. Ladt (chair), president of Ladt Consulting Services Inc. of Paducah; David Ledford, president of Boneal Inc. of Means; Daryl Love, community relations manager for Ashland Inc.; Gary Stewart, partner with Crowe Chizek, Louisville; Becky Naugle, director of the Kentucky Small Business Center of Lexington; Rich Cleary, member in charge of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald; and Frank Salisbury, director of advancement for Ashland Community & Technical College, Ashland.
“We were pleased with the number of outstanding award nominations, giving further proof of the superiority of
“On behalf of Greenebaum Doll and McDonald, our firm is very proud to be the presenting sponsor of these awards and a major supporter of the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers,” says Cleary. “We strongly believe the future of
About Cox Interior,
With annual sales revenues of more than $100 million, Campbellsville-based and family/employee-owned Cox Interior was founded in 1983. The company has since evolved into an industry leader in product-offering, manufacturing and business-management.
A recipient of the 2006 Manufacturer of the Year Award from the Campbellsville-Taylor County Chamber of Commerce, Cox produces high-quality interior/exterior trim and doors, staircase components and mantels from locally grown hardwoods.
The company strives to recycle 100 percent of its wood-waste byproducts in alternative markets, such as animal bedding and boiler fuel. Cox substantially cut its own energy consumption through the purchase of a waste-to-energy boiler, selling excess power back to the East Kentucky Power Grid.
With approximately 900
Cox further demonstrates its community commitment through support and participation in a range of initiatives, including scholarship pageants, youth league sports and school activities. An employee-created food bank, funded by voluntary payroll deduction, averages from $1,200 to $1,500 a month toward meals for some of Cox’s less fortunate neighbors, A Friends Helping Friends fund supports employees experiencing emergency situations, and Cox’s wellness program pays part of employees’ membership fees at a local fitness center. Cox Interior is also among
Cox Interior is a founding member of the Kentucky Wood Manufacturers Association and a member of the Wood Components Manufacturing Association (WCMA), whose primary focus is leveling the playing field for American companies competing in the global market.
About LINAK U.S. Inc.,
From its North and South American headquarters in
LINAK, recipient of the 2007 Kentucky World Trade Association’s Success Award for international sales growth, is on track to double its sales dollar volume from $73 million to $150 million by 2010/2011.
The company recently completed a 76,000-square-foot expansion, to accommodate new engineers, customer service personnel and sales/marketing team members. LINAK enjoys an employee-absenteeism rate of less than 1 percent, a testament to employee satisfaction and LINAK’s dedication to a healthy, productive workforce.
The company’s mission, to “provide products that improve people’s quality of life and working environment,” extends to the community as well. LINAK and its employees support a range of community-enhancement initiatives, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Special Olympics, Kentucky Harvest and youth sports activities, including PRP softball, the Louisville Hurricanes and Valley Sports Cubs Baseball. LINAK sponsored 30 teams in the 2007 Derby Festival mini-Marathon, which helps raise awareness and funds for local and national charities. For the past five years, the entire company has pulled together to brighten the holidays for some of its youngest neighbors, participating in Toys for Tots and “adopt-a-child” holiday programs by the Kosair Children’s Hospital and Louisville Diversified Services.
LINAK’s professional affiliations include KAM, the Executive Committee of the Manufacturing Network of Greater Louisville (quarterly sponsoring three-day Kaizen events), the Motion Control Association and the American Society for Quality.
About Wagstaff Inc.,
As part of the Wagstaff family, a worldwide leader in the aluminum-casting industry, Wagstaff Hebron provides new parts for Wagstaff-manufactured equipment, as well as replacement components and repair parts for the equipment’s consumable tooling. The company employs about 35 individuals and supplies customers in 54 countries.
Wagstaff is committed to developing new and improved components and processes at reduced costs. A recent example of the company’s success is a one-piece water screen designed to replace a two-part product from
A “work harder at working smarter” mindset among Wagstaff employees has led to numerous innovations, resulting in a more competitive standing in the global economy. Wagstaff is an ISO 9000 organization, recently celebrating its second-year external audit with no findings.
The company and its employees demonstrate community commitment in numerous ways, including support of local colleges and charitable events, school and athletic functions and scouting activities. Employees represent the company as volunteers for schools boards, college adviser and local professional groups and other initiatives related to their fields of work. Wagstaff also supports the Kentucky School Boards Association Education Foundation and the work group that developed the new
Wagstaff is a member of KAM and the Northern Kentucky Chamber and provides support to
About Scotty Lippert Jr.,
Scotty Lippert is a planned maintenance specialist, a lubrication systems leader and 21-year employee of Clopay Plastic Products of Augusta, Ky.
He ranks among only 745 people worldwide to achieve Machinery Lubrication Technician Certification and has served as an extrusion operator, team leader, supervisor and maintenance technician over the course of his Clopay career. Lippert now fulfills a range of responsibilities, from planning, scheduling and supervising shutdowns to setting lubrication best-practices standards.
Lippert helped design and construct a lube room judged best in the world by a panel of national and international lubrication engineers. He also helped develop world-class lubrication systems that earned two global awards and that since have been duplicated by many other companies.
Clopay is the first company to earn the John R. Battle Award for Excellence in Machinery Lubrication and the only company to win both the
He also has assisted a number of Fortune 500 companies in constructing lube rooms, and concepts of lubrication best practices implemented at Clopay are being utilized by the U.S. Navy. Company representatives from throughout the country and six other nations have met with Lippert to learn about Clopay’s lubrication program, and he has earned numerous awards and honors related to his expertise as well.
Lippert supports his community as a county magistrate, donating half of those earnings to charity. He and his wife of 33 years have three children and five grandchildren. In his spare time, Lippert enjoys writing, making presentations, farming, reading and “messing around” with his completely restored 1969 Chevelle SS 396.
About the
Established in 1911, KAM is the commonwealth’s only manufacturing trade association. Its mission is to raise the prosperity of all Kentuckians by protecting and growing our state’s economic engine: manufacturing. KAM proactively works with elected officials, policymakers, chambers of commerce, other associations, economic development experts, the news media, the general public and its own members to drive results through seven branded initiatives. To learn more, visit www.KAManufacturers.com.
