UMA Manufacturing Award Winner Announcement at the Annual Awards Banquet

UMA Manufacturing Award Winners Announcement at the Annual Awards Banquet

by Mikenley McQuiston, Marketing Manager

Manufacturing excellence does not fall short in Utah. In fact, manufacturing is a leading industry that fuels and grows Utah’s strong economy. The Utah Manufacturers Association (UMA) recognizes companies in Utah every year for their dedication and efforts toward enhancing the manufacturing community through company culture, leadership skills, environmental stewardship, and the ongoing expansion of developing new skills in the manufacturing process.

During the 117th Annual Awards Banquet, held by the UMA on November 12th, 2022, at The Little America Hotel, 21 astounding Utah manufacturing companies and individuals were recognized for their exceptional performance in the manufacturing industry. The companies and individuals listed below not only demonstrate excellence in their business practices but display an outstanding ability to drive the business economy, create a safe and healthy work environment for employees, and develop manufactured products through economically sound processes.

Manufacturer of the Year

Rockwell Ice Cream Company, South Jordan, Utah

Rockwell Ice Cream Company, South Jordan, Utah

Small Manufacturer: Rockwell Ice Cream Company and Startup Candy Company joined forces back in 2018. Rockwell Ice Cream is Utah’s greatest ice cream. Startup Candy is Utah’s oldest candy company. We produce and manufacture fresh, homemade, super-premium ice cream by hand every day. We also make Jumpo Pops on a wooden stick and other candies on the same equipment we have had for over a century now. We proudly produce both products here in Utah.

RAM Aviation, Space, and Defense, St. George, Utah

RAM Aviation, Space, and Defense, St. George, Utah

Medium Manufacturer: RAM Aviation, Space, and Defense employ 230 employees who design, manufacture, and test electro-mechanical actuation products for military, commercial aircraft, and spacecraft to control flight trajectory and aircraft performance. Our most sophisticated product was recently released, which includes 32 propulsion valves on every SpaceX Dragon Capsule, which control the trajectory of the spacecraft as it docks astronauts with the International Space Station.

Wilson Electronics, St. George, Utah

Wilson Electronics, St. George, Utah

Large Manufacturer: Wilson Electronics, LLC is located in Southern Utah and has been manufacturing cell phone signal boosters for the last 22 years but has been in the communication business for over 30. The mission of Wilson is to expand wireless network coverage to everyone, everywhere. Wilson Electronics manufactures both the weBoost and WilsonPro brands. WeBoost provides consumers with premium boosters that improve cell signal in homes, small businesses, and vehicles.

Bonnell Aluminum Clearfield, Clearfield, Utah

Bonnell Aluminum Clearfield, Clearfield, Utah

X-Large Manufacturer: Bonnell Aluminum Clearfield is one of the premier, single-source manufacturers of custom extruded aluminum in the United States. We have many notable accomplishments and awards. The following examples are key points that identify some of the reasons for consistent recognition, mainly because of exceptional best practices. Bonnell Aluminum Clearfield’s full-service, the start-to-finish process provides many options for customers.

USANA Health Sciences, West Valley, Utah

USANA Health Sciences, West Valley, Utah

XX-Large Manufacturer: Founded in 1992, by Microbiologist and Immunologist Dr. Myron Wentz, USANA Health Sciences is a science-based company that develops scientifically advanced nutritional, personal care, and healthy lifestyle products. USANA’s world-class products are marketed and sold through independent USANA distributors and provide a stable foundation for a rewarding home-based business. USANA was founded with a mission to manufacture the highest-quality products without compromise, products people can trust.

Ultradent Products, Inc., South Jordan, Utah

Ultradent Products, Inc, South Jordan, Utah

XXX-Large Manufacturer: Ultradent Products, Inc. is a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-tech dental materials, devices, and instruments worldwide. Ultradent’s founder, Dr. Dan Fischer, famously said, “Companies are not made of glass and steel, they’re made of people.” That people-first approach, exemplified and practiced from the top down, makes Ultradent’s culture warm, caring, and family oriented. We believe, as a company, that a strong emphasis on employee quality of life lay a vital role in Ultradent’s success.

Leader of the Year

Brad Robeson, President/CEO of Clean Machine, LLC.

Brad Robeson; President/CEO of Clean Machine, LLC.

Small Manufacturer: Brad lives in a world of recognizing extraordinary possibilities, then executes towards realizing those possibilities. In the summer of 2021, Brad enrolled NUNTMA, UMA, and UAMMI in an extraordinary possibility of establishing a formal workforce development effort aimed at bringing awareness of manufacturing to high school students via a two-year apprenticeship program.

Sandi Hendry, CEO & Founder of Minky Couture

Sandi Hendry; CEO & Founder of Minky Couture

Medium Manufacturer: Sandi has increased productivity by managing costs. She has developed and continues to develop marketing strategies that lead to increased profitability. Minky has grown from 3 employees to over 200 employees. Sandi believes that surrounding herself with loyal, honest, dedicated employees while giving back to the community is key to Minky’s success.

Fred Lampropoulos, CEO Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

Fred Lampropoulos; CEO Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

Large Manufacturer: Fred Lampropoulos has been in the medical device industry for more than 30 years. After serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive of Utah Medical, Lampropoulos founded Merit Medical Systems, Inc., in 1987, where he currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Lampropoulos has invented and holds more than 200 patents on devices used in the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of cardiac, peripheral, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary conditions.

Women in Manufacturing

Monica Collard, President/CEO of Allied Electric Sign & Awning

Monica Collard; President/CEO Allied Electric Sign & Awning

Small Manufacturer: Monica Collard is truly a visionary and entrepreneur. She is the image, ambition, energy, and persona of Allied Electric Sign and Awning. You see her work everywhere you go around town - from Applebee’s to Zupas restaurants, from America First Field to Smiths’s Ballpark and the Vivint Arena. Monica not only manages accounts like these but has been the President and CEO of the company for nearly 20 years.

Misty Snuffer, Senior Operations Manager, Wilson Electronics

Medium Manufacturer: Misty Snuffer, has been instrumental to our Company Culture as the longest-tenured employee at Wilson Electronics (soon to be 28 years). she has seen many changes over the years to our facilities and processes, but even more impressive is how integral she’s been in the evolution and improvement to all of it. Now she’s taking what she’s learned over the years and is planning our largest improvements and redesign to date and is trusted by the top leaders of the company to take this torch to the finish line.

Jamie Kinzer, Vice President of Operations at BD Medical

Jamie Kinzer; Vice President of Operations, BD Medical

Large Manufacturer: Jamie Kinzer joined BD Medical (Becton, Dickinson) almost 2 years ago and has already had a significant impact on the organization. Jamie oversees multiple key manufacturing sites located in the US and Mexico, including the Medical Device Manufacturing site in Sandy, Utah. Jamie’s leadership oversight is more than 3500 associates across the US, with ~ 1200 of those associates here in Utah. Overall, Jamie supports a $2 billion business, as well as one of the fastest growing in the company.

Environtmental Stewardship

Wasatch Container, North Salt Lake, Utah

Wasatch Container, North Salt Lake, Utah

Small Manufacturer: Wasatch Container is Utah’s premier packaging manufacturer in corrugated shipping boxes and retail displays, foam fabrication, and wood crates. Corrugated cardboard paper can be recycled and reused up to eight times before the fibers become to weak to continue to utilize which minimizes waste generation, meaning fewer flexible packaging options (such as plastics) end up in our landfills. On top of our product being 100% recycled content and biodegradable, Wasatch Container’s specially is designing compact packing to fit your products needs.

Swire Coca-Cola, Draper, Utah

Swire Coca-Cola, Draper, Utah

Medium Manufacturer: Swire Coca-Cola produces and distributes Coca-Cola and partner products throughout the entire state of Utah and twelve other states across the west. In 2021, Swire Coca-Cola’s Salt Lake City Plant Diverted 922 tons of material. Recycling streams for aluminum, metal, paper, cardboard, mixed plastics, PET, oils, lubricants, shrink wrap, wood, and beverage waste exist within the Salt Lake facility.

Lifetime Products, Clearfield, Utah

Lifetime Products, Clearfield, Utah

Lifetime strives to continue in their success, they also continue to establish positive global citizenship. This starts with the foundation of building high-quality products. Their products are built to last for decades— they are not single-use, and won’t end up in the landfill after a short time. This focus permeates throughout all of their processes and inspires them to improve in our product design, manufacturing, and more. There is a formal committee made up of employees that represent different areas throughout the company. They work together to measure, discuss, and plan sustainability projects at Lifetime.

Company Culture Award

Clean Machine, LLC., West Jordan, Utah

Clean Machine, LLC., West Jordan, Utah

Small Manufactuer: Founded in 1993, Clean Machine set out to create a “machine shop of the future.” Creating a work environment for employees that truly satisfying and an experience for manufacturers that’s anything but status quo. Later purchased by Brad Robeson, Clean Machine has evolved into a curious and collaborative culture where processes and precision parts are part of a world-class experience manufacturer and employee’s value and trust.

Saraya USA DBA Lakanto, Orem, Utah

Saraya USA DBA Lakanto, Orem, Utah

Medium Manufacturer: Saraya USA DBA Lakanto has grown tremendously in the last 6 years, and culture has always been at the heart of what they do. In August of 2021, the executive team invested in expanding both the HR and Strategy leadership, and a renewed focus was put on strengthening the culture and values of Lakanto. As they expand their manufacturing operations and begin building thier own factory in Orem, 2022 has been a huge year of growth for us both operationally and culturally, and we are committed to making Lakanto one of the best employers in Utah for many years to come!

Wilson Electronics, St. George, Utah

Wilson Electronics, St. George, Utah

Large Manufacturer: Wilson Electronics has been manufacturing cell phones signal for the last 22 years. The mission of Wilson is to expand wireless network coverage to everyone, everywhere. They produce a product that can help people stay connected by improving the cellular phone signal in their homes, car, an RV, commercial buildings, or anywhere you need a better signal. They are proud to be a Utah-based company and the market leader in our space.

Capstone Nutrition (INW), Ogden, Utah

Capstone Nutrition (INW), Ogden, Utah

X-Large Manufacturer: Capstone Nutrition, now a division of Innovations and Wellness (INW), is a full-service dietary supplement manufacturing facility. They work with their customers through every step; from product development, compliance, manufacturing, and fulfillment - to printing, packaging, shipping, and so much more. The business continues to see significant growth. While the global supply chain events challenged their team, it has been exciting to see them GO BIG, Serve with CARE, and ultimately bring Life Improved to their Customers, teams, and community.

Petersen, Inc., Ogden, Utah

Petersen, Inc., Ogden, Utah

XX-Large Manufacturer: Petersen, Inc. is committed to team member involvement, development, and advancement by providing several programs for employees to advance their skills, and in doing so, increase their pay. Petersen, Inc. also recognizes that team members need to be happy and healthy on and off the job that is why they have a Wellness Program that incentivizes team members to take care of themselves and their families both physically and mentally.

Ultradent Products, Inc, South Jordan, Utah

Ultradent Products, Inc, South Jordan, Utah

XXX-Large Manufacturer: Ultradent’s founder, Dr. Dan Fischer, famously said, “Companies are not made of glass and steel, they’re made of people.” Ultradent has always taken pride in fostering a unique culture that encourages employees to try new things, fail fast, and not be afraid to follow their instincts. It has certainly paid off in the many groundbreaking products, marketing, advertising awards, and, most importantly, happy employees and loyal customers that have resulted.