Chuck Hadden's Industry Insider: MMA honors industry leaders

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Monday, May 16, 2011

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Industry Insider

By Chuck Hadden
President & CEO
Michigan Manufacturers Association
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With Michigan Manufacturing Week just around the corner, it’s that time of year when the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) searches the state for Michigan manufacturers who have gone above and beyond in their professional achievements and contributions to the manufacturing industry and community for the John G. Thodis Michigan Manufacturer of the Year Award program. This year in particular, we had an extremely impressive assortment of nominees for our judging panel to consider. They ultimately selected six outstanding manufacturers who were recognized at the 2011 MMA CEO & Executive Forum on May 10. The forum is the signature event of Michigan Manufacturing Week (May 8-14).

The Large Tier Michigan Manufacturer of the Year Award (reserved for a company with 500 employees or more) was given to Jason Forcier, VP of the automotive solutions group for A123 Systems in Livonia. A123 was the first American factory to start high-volume production of advanced vehicle batteries. What began as a small, venture-backed startup company quicky grew over the course of a few short years, under the leadership of Forcier, into a leading global manufacturer of advanced lithium ion batteries and systems. His vision in developing cutting-edge technology, putting new manufacturing capabilities in place, and implementation of a creative strategy that gives the company’s suppliers a stake in the success of A123’s customers, has elevated the company to the top of a rapidly growing manufacturing sector that is expected to see even more significant growth in the future.

This year’s Small Tier Michigan Manufacturer of the Year award (which honors a company with fewer than 500 employees) was presented to Jeff Metts, president of Dowding Industries in Eaton Rapids. Metts has successfully led the company in the development of wind energy manufacturing, taking advanced manufacturing techniques borrowed from the automotive industry and applying them to the making of wind energy components. As a dedicated advocate of U.S. and Michigan manufacturing, Metts has focused on taking decades-old technologies and using them to make next-generation wind turbines. His passion and drive to foster economic growth in Michigan through the use of advanced technologies have positioned Dowding as a pioneer in the renewable energy frontier.

Fred Keller, CEO and chairman of Cascade Engineering in Grand Rapids, was selected by this year’s judging panel to receive a Special Achievement Award for his global humanitarian efforts with Cascade Engineering. Keller’s vision and leadership were key to the development and manufacture of a unique bio-sand filter that is being deployed into developing and third-world countries, saving countless lives by providing safe drinking water. The effort depicts Keller’s mantra that sustainability drives innovation, and that something that is good for a community can also be good for business. It is also a prime example of his commitment to building Cascade into a company that truly measures success by the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, Profit.

R. Lee Schoenherr, chairman and owner of FloraCraft Corp. in Ludington, was also selected to receive a Special Achievement Award for his generous support of the educational system in his local area. Schoenherr believes that the young people of Michigan are our future and investing in them will, in turn, benefit our communities and our country as a whole. He demonstrated this belief through his generous $2 million donation to the West Shore Community College in Scottville to provide scholarships for deserving students.

Adam Havey and Amy Engelsman were named as Large and Small Tier Finalists, respectively. Havey, EVP of the Bio Defense Division for Emergent BioSolutions in Lansing, is being honored for his role in increasing personnel, revenue and manufacturing capabilities at Emergent BioSolutions, which produces the anthrax vaccine, BioThrax. He is credited with being a strong champion for his employees, instilling a culture of communication and teamwork. Engelsman, owner and CEO of Proos Manufacturing Inc. in Grand Rapids, was selected as a finalist to acknowledge her role in transforming a struggling company into a thriving business and for going above and beyond community service and stewardship, using her position in the business community as a way to give back to her local area.

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Columnist Bios

Chuck Hadden
President and CEO
Michigan Manufacturers Association
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Charles “Chuck” Hadden was named president and chief executive officer of MMA on September 15, 2008. He brings to the job over 15 years of experience with the nearly 3,000 member association, having previously served as the public policy officer and lead lobbyist representing manufacturers before the legislature and state agencies on a broad range of issues, including taxation, product liability, employment and insurance. During his tenure, Chuck was instrumental in obtaining passage of significant legislation that will benefit the manufacturing sector for years to come, including restructuring of Michigan’s tax and energy policies.

Hadden joined MMA in 1993 as director of environmental affairs. Previously, he served as account supervisor for Publicom Association Management Services where he served, simultaneously, as executive director of one national, and three state associations.

Hadden is a graduate of Alma College and completed course work in Administrative and Organizational Behavior with Central Michigan University’s Master of Arts Program. He also earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation awarded by the American Society of Association Executives in 2004.

Hadden may be reached at 517-487-8550 or via email

Mike Johnston
Director of Regulatory Affairs
Michigan Manufacturers Association
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As director of regulatory affairs for MMA, Johnston is responsible for advocacy to state regulatory agencies and the legislature in the areas of air and water quality, solid and hazardous waste, wetlands, economic growth issues and electric industry restructuring. In addition to testifying on behalf of the manufacturing industry, Johnston leads several MMA member policy committees, including the MMA Air Quality, Water Quality and Environmental Quality Advisory Committees.

Amy Shaw
Director of Education & Employment Relations
Michigan Manufacurers Association
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Amy Shaw was appointed to the Michigan Manufacturers Association’s newly-created position of director of education and employment relations in 2001. She has more than 13 years of experience in program development and implementation, including eight years in her previous capacity as MMA’s director of education.