News Release: 11/3/2016
Local Business Wins the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers Manufacturer of the Year Award in the Small Business Category
In an Awards Luncheon on October 28, the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM) announced the winners of its 16th annual Manufacturer & Employee of the Year Awards at the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville.
Ferm Solutions and Wilderness Trail Distillery, of Danville, KY, won in the Small Business Category; LINAK U.S. won in the Mid-Size Business Category; and Domtar Hawesville Mill won in the Large 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; and
§ Active involvement in organizations that advance industry and manufacturing.
Tami Hatfield, Ford Motor Company, was selected as the 2016 Employee of the Year.
The independent 2016 Awards Selection Committee consisted of:
§ Rich Cleary (Committee Chair), Member - Frost Brown Todd LLC, Louisville
§ Dr. Paul Schreffler, Vice Chancellor for Economic Development and Workforce Solutions - Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Versailles
§ Steve Kerrick, Partner - Mountjoy Chilton Medley, LLP, Louisville
§ Ray Leathers, President & CEO - Roll Forming Corporation, Shelbyville
§ Becky Naugle, State Director - Kentucky Small Business Development Center, Lexington
§ Gary Stewart, Retired CPA, Louisville
§ Tim Whitaker, Environmental Compliance Manager - Ashland, Inc., Calvert City
§ Wade Williams, VP Manufacturing, Business Retention & Expansion - Northern Kentucky Tri-ED, Covington.
Ferm Solutions is a Danville-based research, product development, engineering and technical service provider to the ethanol and distilled spirits industries; and Wilderness Trail Distillery is a premium craft distillery that produces high quality spirits, such as Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, Vodka and a unique rum from Kentucky sorghum molasses. Both, led by co-owners Shane Baker and Dr. Patrick Heist, have been a significant influence in their community of Danville.
Ferm Solutions has consistently been recognized as an innovator in the fermentation and in-depth distilling industry as well as introducing environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient processes into their facility. In addition to running Ferm Solutions and Wilderness Trail Distillery, owners Shane Baker and Pat Heist teach beer, wine, and distilled spirits curricula at several area colleges. They also collaborate on many STEM initiatives in Boyle and surrounding counties, giving students and teachers hands-on laboratory experiences.
Wilderness Trail Distillery has become a major tourist attraction in Danville and has a reputation for innovation and quality, producing the world’s only award-winning sorghum-based rum made from Kentucky Sorghum molasses. Additionally, Wilderness Trail Distillery is a leader in environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes--utilizing the first clean-steam boiler, implementing closed-loop processes to become a zero-discharge facility, and by using existing processes to provide cooling to their entire facility without additional energy usage.
Ferm Solutions and Wilderness Trail Distillery’s continued leadership in innovation, commitment to their community, and responsibility for corporate advocacy makes them the perfect selection for the 2016 Manufacturer of the Year Award in the small business category.
President Shane Baker shared, “It is a great honor to receive the prestigious Manufacturer of the Year Award from the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers and to be recognized alongside other great companies. It is a major milestone for our small family owned company and we believe it demonstrates the pride and abilities within our team and support from our community.”
The nomination was submitted by Paula Fowler, Executive Director of the Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce. This was her second nomination with her first, Denyo Manufacturing Corporation, also winning in this category in 2012.
For video footage on Ferm Solutions and Wilderness Trail Distillery, go to http://www.kam.us.com/events/2016-manufacturer-employee-of-the-year-awards
