Winners Announced for the
“Distinguished Business of the Year” Award
Reno, Nev. (November 6, 2008) – In spite of the current economic downturn there are companies in northern Nevada that are doing well – many of which moved to the region and others that have expanded their operations. These companies were honored at the 24th Annual Governor’s Industry Appreciation Awards on Thursday, November 6, 2008.
New this year, the “Distinguished Business of the Year” Award was expanded to include four categories: community support, educational/workforce support, innovation and start-up, with a unique northern Nevada company recognized in each category. The four Distinguished Business of the Year Award winners by category are:
Community Support: McDonald Carano Wilson, LLP
With more than 50 years of service in Nevada, McDonald Carano Wilson is committed to an extensive community outreach program, including clocking more than 8,000 volunteer hours at various charitable organizations in 2007 and donating time and funds to assist in the Fernley Flood Relief program among other community outreach programs.
Educational Support/Workforce: Microsoft Licensing, GP
Microsoft Licensing, GP, has a range of educational and workforce development programs that distinguish the company locally. Microsoft Licensing took its already successful intern program with the University of Nevada, Reno to the next level this year by offering seniors and graduate-level student’s full-time internships providing the students hands-on experience across all departments at the company. The program has been instrumental in providing recent university graduates opportunities to remain in the area for skilled career opportunities. The company also awards high school graduates with diverse backgrounds with scholarships to further their education and has sponsored the Run for Education, raising more than $500,000 to benefit the Education Collaborative of Washoe County.
Innovation: Niotan, Inc.
Niotan, Inc., manufactures tantalum capacitor powder for use in electronic devices. The company is based in Mound House, Nev., and reports it is currently the only United States manufacturer investing and expanding production of the high tech product. The company says other manufacturers are outsourcing production from the U.S. to Japan and Europe.
Start-Up: Hug Your Kids, LLC
Hug Your Kids, LLC, launched the Hug Your Kids Today project in January 2008 encouraging working parents to remember to hug their kids every day. The Hug Your Kids Today project released a handbook, “Hug Your Kids Today! 5 Key Lessons for Every Working Parent.” Supporting its mission of encouraging parents to hug their loved ones every day, includes designating a national Hug Your Kids Day, which was celebrated on July 21, 2008 and registered for the third Monday in July in future years. The company anticipates expanding locally and, in a few years, it expects to expand internationally. The Hug Your Kids Today project is supported by numerous employers, city and government leaders and cites benefits to employers, schools, family and the community from its positive message of putting family first.
The winners were chosen among five finalists in each category based on specific criteria. Finalists in the community support category were required to operate in northern Nevada for a minimum of one year and show good corporate citizenship. Educational support and workforce finalists were judged on original and effective educational programs that help further workforce development in the community such as internships and mentoring. Finalists in the innovation category were required to demonstrate ground-breaking programs that add to the company’s bottom line, and start-up applicants were required to have been operational in northern Nevada for less than three years and show a positive impact within its marketplace.
Companies were also recognized as “Honorees” if they were new to northern Nevada or expanded in the last year. Honoree companies that are new to the region include: Image Base International; Live Out Loud; Mariah Power, Inc.; PPG Industries, Inc.; Schneider Logistics, Inc.; SunAmerica Affordable Housing Partners; Thybar Corporation and Viega North America.
Honoree companies that have expanded this past year are: Charles River Laboratories, Inc.; Communications Installation Service; Enel North America; Gems TV; Henry Schein; Kuehne + Nagel; Microsoft Licensing, GP; Mitel; Newmont Mining Corporation – Phoenix Mine; Niotan, Inc.; OptiComp Corporation; Ormat Technologies; Pacific Coast Flange, Inc.; PetSmart DC41; The Penta Building Group; Trex Company; U.S. Ordnance, Inc.; and Universal Analyzers/Barben Analyzer Technology, LLC.
The Governor’s Industry Appreciation Awards is co-sponsored by the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) and the Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA) in cooperation with the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. The event began in 1984 to recognize new businesses in the region as well as existing companies that have experienced significant growth.
About EDAWN: EDAWN is a private, non-profit corporation founded by community leaders in 1982 to diversify the Greater Reno-Tahoe economy by recruiting, expanding and starting up quality companies that have a positive impact on the region’s quality of life. Reno was named the No. 1 Place for Doing Business in America 2005 by Inc. magazine. For more information on doing business in Greater Reno-Tahoe, visit www.edawn.org.
About NNDA: NNDA focuses on recruitment, retention, and expansion of business and industry in Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, and Storey counties. NNDA’s mission is to sustain and improve the economic vitality and quality of life in the region through partnerships with educational institutions, industrial organizations, governmental bodies and non-profit and for-profit groups in the communities of the Greater Reno-Tahoe region. For more information, visit www.nnda.org.
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