MEP News

Winners of MEP National Conference Awards Announced

The 3rd Annual MEP National Conference Awards Ceremony was held on Tuesday, April 29th in Orlando, Florida. The Awards honor MEP staff members and partners who have demonstrated exemplary teamwork, commitment to mission and passion for their work. More than 75 people were nominated in five categories, including Newcomer of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Champion of the Year, Practioner of the Year and Unsung Hero of the Year.

Members of the Awards Selection Committee included: Dave Snow (chair), Indiana Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Corrinne Dupuy, Manufacturing Partnership of Louisiana; John Vicklund, Washington Manufacturing Services; and Bob Weinstein, Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center.

MEP National Conference Awards Selection Committee

 

MEP Champion of the Year: Judy Wlodarczyk

With over a decade of continuous support of the MEP mission, Judy Wlodarczyk's dedication to training and services that defend the environment has always been at the forefront of her efforts. She has worked with companies to embrace green practices in order to satisfy customers, comply with regulations and promote good business. Judy works hard to promote environmental protection while helping Connecticut businesses save money and remain strong.

MEP Champion of the Year, Judy Wlodarczyk (center)

MEP Innovators of the Year: The Chicago Manufacturing Center Waste to Profit Team

The Chicago Waste to Profit Team has successfully implemented this pilot project in the Chicago region. The program creates opportunities to transform the waste of one company into input for another company and in turn creates economic value. The Chicago Waste to Profit Network not only achieved the results that were set for the program, but did so in record time.

Members of the team are: Libby Allen-Augustine, Mike Johnston and Karen Wan

MEP Innovators of the Year, Chicago's Waste to Profit Network Team

MEP Innovator of the Year: Jack Healy, Massachusetts MEP

Jack Healy, a passionate advocate for the manufacturing sector, recognized the critical shortage of trained computer numerically controlled machine operators in Massachusetts. He has helped fill hundreds of those vacant positions using the Mobile Outreach Skills Training Program's Mobile Training Unit, which provides vocational orientation to more than 1,000 students in Massachusetts and engages youth in the manufacturing sector. With Jack's help, manufacturers are able to fill high-demand positions that otherwise would remain vacant.

MEP Innovator of the Year, Jack Healy (left), with MEP Director Roger Kilmer

MEP Practitioners of the Year: The American Red Cross Team

This team of MEP professionals from New York and Virginia developed and delivered an extraordinary lean manufacturing national account project for the American Red Cross Biomedical Services Division. The project is an excellent example of the value of lean training, recognition of a nationwide opportunity, persistence in the face of initial rejection and teamwork among MEP centers and skilled strategic partners.

Members of the team are: Donald Albright, Ops Consulting Services; Bill Donohue, Virginia's Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Richard Krause, New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership; Michael Sisson, New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership; and Dean Young, Virginia's Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

MEP Practitioners of the Year, the American Red Cross Team

MEP Practioner of the Year: David Zeese, Indiana MEP

David Zeese is a signicant contributor to the success of the Indiana MEP whose performance over the past year has substantially impacted the bottom-lines of clients, the MEP center and the state of Indiana. David's ability to coach and lead organizations through the change necessary to become Lean enterprises has resulted in approximately $21 million in economic impact improvements reported during the past year in the state.

Andrew Zeese (center), accepting the Practioner of the Year Award on his father's behalf

MEP Practioner of the Year: MEP of Mississippi Industrial Development Team

The Mississippi Industrial Development Team of Glenn Dennis and Clay Walden played a key role in the concurrent launching of a new manufacturing facility in rural north Mississippi and the introduction of two newly designed vehicles to be used in Iraq. Their work contributed to the creation of more than 500 new jobs, more than $800 million in total impact and more than 30 truck driver lives saved in Iraq.

MEP Practioners of the Year, the MEP of Mississippi Industrial Development Team

MEP Practioner of the Year: Rex Raiford, North Carolina MEP

Rex Raiford has shown great leadership and vision in producing outstanding results in both sales and economic impact to his clients and the state of North Carolina. He is recognized throughout the region as a key team member and advisor, and has been appointed to a regional industrial board tasked with generating economic growth.

MEP Practioner of the Year, Rex Raiford (center)

MEP Newcomer of the Year: Cecile Hebert, MEP of Louisiana

Since joining the MEP of Louisiana in January 2007, Cecile Hebert has championed the strategic plan in marketing and other areas. She has shown tremendous commitment to the MEP system and to helping Louisiana manufacturers succeed.

MEP Newcomer of the Year, Cecile Hebert (center)

MEP Newcomer of the Year: Audrey Smallwood, Alabama Technology

Audrey Smallwood has brought initiative, enthusiasm, professionalism, commitment and direction to the MEP Hurricane Relief Project. She has played a key role in advancing the growth of the Gulf States Shipbuilder Consortium, a major goal of the Hurricane Relief Project. The Consortium has expanded from an initial 6 members to 24 members in just one year and includes 13 shipbuilders from three states.

MEP Newcomer of the Year, Audrey Smallwood (center)

MEP Newcomer of the Year: Joe Sepkovich, Indiana MEP

Joe Sepkovich is an important asset to the success of the Indiana MEP center. He is attentive to the needs of his clients, a strong advocate for and representative of MEP, and a superior project manager. He leads the Indiana MEP in contract value with six months remaining in his performance year and has exceeded his goals by 70 percent.

MEP Newcomer of the Year, Joe Sepkovich (center)

MEP Unsung Hero of the Year: Holly Ciecierski, CONNSTEP

Holly Ciecierski's long-term dedication to CONNSTEP and the MEP mission is invaluable. She has shown great ability in not only making the center's administrative procedures more efficient, but in effectively building a cohesive group among her peers.

MEP Unsung Hero of the Year, Holly Cierierski (center)

MEP Unsung Hero of the Year: KeAnne Hoeg, North Carolina MEP

KeAnne Hoeg plays a key role in attracting new customers to the products and services offered by the center. She has demonstrated a knack for producing the right content in the right format for a myriad of client needs. She truly goes above and beyond the call of duty.

MEP Unsung Hero of the Year, KeAnne Hoeg (center)

MEP Unsung Hero of the Year: Kristin Kautz, Oregon MEP

Kristin Kautz is the administrator for the Lean Manufacturing Training for Food Processros with Limited English Speaking Work - High Growth Job Training Iniitiative. She assumed a leadership role for a four-center group, facilitating the communication flow and coordination of the training materials and approach.

MEP Unsung Hero of the Year, Kristin Kautz (center)