Albany-Dougherty EDC Announces 2017 Industry Award Winners
Wednesday, April 19th, 2017
The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission today honored existing industries Thrush Aircraft, Marine Depot Maintenance Command, MillerCoors and Procter & Gamble for their achievements in global exports, innovative business practices, economic impact and corporate giving, respectively, at its 2017 ADEDC Industry Awards.
"Albany-Dougherty County is home to a wide variety of industries, from manufacturing, to defense, to call centers to healthcare. With many industries having been located in Albany for multiple decades, employing our citizens and investing in our community, existing industries are a vital cornerstone of our local economy,” said Justin Strickland, president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission. “In September 2016, the EDC launched an industry marketing campaign titled ‘#MadeInAlbanyGA’. The industries honored today demonstrate just what that standard signifies, which is world class excellence.”
The ADEDC Industry Awards are the highlight of Albany-Dougherty Industry Celebration Week, during which the ADEDC celebrates and promotes the impact of the community’s existing industries.
Global Commerce Award: Thrush Aircraft
With 86% of its total sales coming from exports, Thrush Aircraft has placed a big focus on expanding its presence in the global market for agricultural aviation. Since 2014, global exports have increased by 77% with sales occurring in 80 countries across the globe.
The Thrush 510 model flys in virtually every part of the world – from soy bean fields in Brazil to banana groves in Costa Rica – and whether its helping farmers grow more, fighting wildfires, or even controlling some of those famous South Georgia mosquitos – these airplanes are designed to make life better.
Thrush credits localized presence and outstanding customer service for their success in the global market, believing that a good customer experience requires going the extra mile, before, during and after the sale by creating consistently remarkable interactions at every touch point throughout the period of owning a Thrush aircraft. Quality service is a key differentiator for Thrush– and one they say they are committed to building upon every year.
Excellence in Innovation Award: Marine Depot Maintenance Command
Marine Depot Maintenance Command, Production Plant Albany, through its Production Engineering Branch, has become a valuable tool in innovation and solutions for the United States Marine Corps, and other customers.
The Production Engineering Branch validates and verifies technical drawings, performs reverse engineering on parts with little or no technical data, and produces prototypes of materials that can be tested on weapons systems. Through innovation and technology, their expertise reduces risk to cost, time and readiness.
In July 2016, MDMC began the restoration of a WWII Prime Mover, 4x4 Cargo Truck, for the National Museum of the Marine Corps. During the restoration project, the team ran into a host of material challenges due to the age of the model and lack of technical data available to support the project.
With a number of needed parts being unavailable due to obsolescence, the restoration team reverse engineered each of the parts, and then created models for each of the parts in a Solid Works Program. The part models were then converted into files that could then be loaded into a 3D printer for final production.
In less than 10 hours, all of the parts were printed and ready to be painted prior installation onto the vehicle. Having overcome challenges that could have taken months of work and hundreds of hours of labor, the innovative solutions developed by MDMC Albany will ultimately ensure that this Prime Mover 4x4 Cargo Truck will be ready to hand off to the National Museum of the Marine Corps on schedule in 2017.
Economic Impact Award: MillerCoors
MillerCoors has been Made in Albany since 1979, and today brews more than 20 different beers, including the company’s staples, Miller Lite and Coors Light, and has an annual production capacity of approximately 8 million barrels.
MillerCoors’ Albany plant employs more than 550 area citizens, and has a payroll total of more than $45 million. With payroll and benefits rating among the highest in the brewing industry, it is no surprise that plant employees average a tenure of 10 years.
MillerCoors, though an international brand, places an emphasis on doing business locally in each of its brewing sites. Every year, MillerCoors Albany purchases more than $400 million in goods and services from Georgia-based companies, contributes more than $25 million in state and local taxes and helps bring sporting and entertainment events to Albany and the state of Georgia.
Only One Albany Award for Corporate Community Citizenship: Procter & Gamble
The weather events of January 2nd and 22nd of this year left many of our community members staggered with damaged structures, lost property and an upheaval in daily life. Having experienced damage to both their plant and distribution center, Procter & Gamble was not exempt from the effects of these devastating storms.
Despite their own hardship, P&G put people first, sending 100 employee volunteers out into the community to offer support with tree and debris removal. Although much of their time was paid by P&G, many continued to volunteer their time on weekends.
To date, P&G Albany employees have given more than 2,000 hours of service to tornado relief efforts and have helped citizens in over 100 homes to recover.
As a plant, P&G Albany has donated more than $300,000 worth of product, and through partnership with the American Red Cross and Matthew 25: Ministries, 700 personal care kits, 300 cleaning kits, 1,550 rolls of paper towels and 2,700 rolls of toilet paper have been distributed to storm victims.
Through P&G’s “Tide Loads of Hope” project, the Albany plant has washed nearly 400 loads of laundry and distributed Tide Pods, Pampers diapers, cases of water and work items such as tarps, safety glasses and work gloves to those in need.
Community support and volunteerism are priorities at P&G all year round, having committed more than $300,000 to local initiatives and organizations over the last year.
