Of the 47 state businesses that were honored by the Manufacturer and Business Association, five accepted their anniversary awards at a reception held at the Holiday Inn Wednesday night.
Founded in 1905, the Manufacturer and Business Association is a not-for-profit employers association whose focus is to help businesses succeed. It partners with more than 4,700 business in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.
"The companies that are here this evening and the companies that we are recognizing have been in business for a minimum of 20 years. We have one organization that is actually celebrating 110 years in business," said John Krahe, association vice president.
The recipients were given plagues to honor their accomplishments. Of the five businesses that accepted their awards, four were from the area, with one traveling from Clearfield.
Hess and Fisher Engineers not only traveled the farthest distance but also has been in business the longest, beginning in 1909.
"These companies are a testament to the foundation of our economy, our businesses, our people and our intense determination to succeed - that is not only strong, but uniquely American," said Lori Joint, account executive with Business Magazine, a publication of the Manufacturer and Business Association.
The award recipients were Ed Alberts of Ralph S. Roberts Co. Inc., Allen Ertel of Firetree Ltd., Robert Forse of Woodlands Bank, Rick Bastian of Williamsport Dies and Cut, and Tom Kulakowski of Hess and Fisher Engineers Inc. Roberts is from Montoursville and Kulakowski is from Clearfield, while the other three are Williamsport businesses.
"In addition to the business founders and the business owners, we also want to recognize all of the employees that delivered on these entrepreneurs' ideas and created a situation where they were able to deliver and exceed the customers' expectations," Krahe said.
In September, the Manufacturers' Association of Central Pennsylvania and the Manufacturer and Business Association merged. Although the awards ceremony is something that the Manufacturer and Business Association always has done, it is not something in which its central Pennsylvania counterpart has taken part.
"When we came together in September, they shared a lot of things that they had done with us and we shared a lot of things with them that we did over the years. This anniversary awards is one that we have been doing for years," Krahe said.
Prior to the two associations joining forces, all of the Manufacturer and Business Association's territory was focused in the northwest and western part of the state to the Ohio state line.
