South Georgia Tech nominates Eaton Lighting, Star Racing and Marvair of Cordele as Georgia Manufacturers of Year

May 3, 2017
Shown above (l to r) are: Dwight Jones of Eaton Lighting, Jackie Bryce of Star Racing, Rodney Jacobs of Eaton, George Bryce of Star Racing, Tom McKenzie of Eaton, Mary Beth Bass of One Sumter, South Georgia Technical College Vice President of Economic Development Wally Summers, John Shaw of the Georgia Department of Labor, Jem Morris of Georgia Power, Paul Hall of the Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority, Sumter County Administrator Bill Twomey, SGTC’s Bob Stinchcum, SGTC President Dr. John Watford, SGTC Director of Business and Industry Services Paul Farr and Casey Beane of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Shown above (l to r) are: Dwight Jones of Eaton Lighting, Jackie Bryce of Star Racing, Rodney Jacobs of Eaton, George Bryce of Star Racing, Tom McKenzie of Eaton, Mary Beth Bass of One Sumter, South Georgia Technical College Vice President of Economic Development Wally Summers, John Shaw of the Georgia Department of Labor, Jem Morris of Georgia Power, Paul Hall of the Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority, Sumter County Administrator Bill Twomey, SGTC’s Bob Stinchcum, SGTC President Dr. John Watford, SGTC Director of Business and Industry Services Paul Farr and Casey Beane of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

Eaton Lighting Division and Star Racing of Americus as well as Marvair Division of Airxcel, Inc. of Crisp County were selected by South Georgia Technical College to be recognized at the 2017 Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week Manufacturers of the Year Governor’s Award Luncheon at the Georgia International Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia, recently. They were among an elite group of the top manufacturers in Georgia.

Governor Nathan Deal was the keynote speaker at the luncheon. Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Gretchen Corbin introduced the Governor and spoke to the top manufacturing leaders at that meeting about the value of a technical college education.

“The Technical College System of Georgia is doing an outstanding job of helping Georgia to be a great place to do business,” Governor Deal. “This is the fourth consecutive year that Georgia has been selected as the number one state to do business in. Businesses and manufacturers want to know that they are going to be able to find qualified workers. The Technical College System of Georgia and Quick Start allow us to be able to provide those qualified workers.

“Each manufacturer here today is a winner. All of you are an important part of the fabric of manufacturing in our state and I am honored to be here today to recognize your accomplishments,” said Governor Deal. “Thank you for doing business in Georgia.”

Eaton Lighting Division of Americus and Marvair Division of Airxcel, Inc. of Crisp County was nominated as Medium Manufacturers of the Year and Star Racing was nominated in the Small Manufacturer category for companies with less than 150 employees. A medium manufacturer is a business with 151 to 500 employees.

“We are pleased to have Eaton Lighting Division, Star Racing and Marvair Division of Airxcel, Inc. in our six county service area and we appreciate the value that they bring to our communities,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “It was our pleasure to nominate each of these companies as Manufacturers of the Year in Georgia.”

Marvair and ICE Division of Airxcel, Inc. are leading manufacturers and marketers of specialty heating, air conditioning , and water heating products for industrial and commercial uses. The products are used in a variety of industries, including telecommunication buildings, school classrooms, commercial/industrial, and marine workboats. Marvair products are sold worldwide through a factory salesforce and by manufacturer’s representatives and independent sales agents.

Marvair engineers its products, fabricates sheet metal, manufactures major sub-assembly and conducts quality control testing on its products at its 180,000 square foot production and distribution facilities in Cordele and Vienna, Georgia. The Company’s process/production control systems, material flow systems, and significant quality control procedures. The product lines have excellent reputations in the industries they serve for quality, reliability and durability.

Eaton’s Lighting Division delivers a range of innovative and reliable indoor and outdoor lighting and controls solutions, specifically designed to maximize performance, energy efficiency and cost savings. The Lighting business serves customers in the commercial, industrial, retail, institutional, residential, utility and other markets.

Star Racing was founded in 1980 in Americus by George and Jackie Bryce to support the motorcycle drag racing community. The high performance motorcycle company is a premier motorcycle racing and R&D facility, with engine building, machine shop services, and more.

“Each of these companies and their employees are assets to be commended for their role in manufacturing. We salute these companies and the individuals who oversee these operations for their entrepreneurial spirt. We are proud to partner with them on various training and educational opportunities. The economic impact that they provide to our area is tremendous and we appreciate them for their contribution to the economic development of this region as well as to Georgia and the surrounding states.”

Dwight Jones, Rodney Jacobs, and Tom McKenzie from Eaton Lighting as well as George and Jackie Bryce of Star Racing, and David Shuford, Dave Tyler, and Ben Eavenson of Marvair attended the Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week luncheon with South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford, SGTC Vice President of Economic Development Services Wally Summers SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird, Director of Economic Development Services Michelle Sealy and Paul Farr, and Bob Stinchcum from the SGTC Economic Development Services department as well as SGTC Dean of Enrollment Management Julie Partain. Other representatives from the Americus area included: Mary Beth Bass of One Sumter, Paul Hall of the Payroll Development Authority, Jem Morris of Georgia Power, John Shaw of the Georgia Department of Labor, Casey Beane of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and Bill Twomey, Sumter County Administrator. Also attending from Crisp County were: Grant Buckley, Executive Director of the Cordele-Crisp IDC/IDA and Christy Bozeman of the Cordele IDC, and Anna Hurt of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Each of the manufacturers nominated were spotlighted in the 2017 Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week program agenda and on a big screen video display. The co-hosts of the MAW luncheon were the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Sponsors of the event included: Georgia Association of Manufacturers, Georgia Power, Georgia Tech Manufacturing Extension Partnership, HA&W- Certified Public Accountants and Aprio.

King’s Hawaiian in Hall County was recognized as the Large Georgia Manufacturer of the Year. Great Dane Trailers in Statesboro won the medium category and Grenzebach Corporation located in Newnan, won in the 150 or fewer employee’s category.

This is the 23nd year celebrating Manufacturing Appreciation Week in Georgia.

Shown (l to r) are Dave Tyler of Marvair, Casey Beane of Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Ben Eavenson of Marvair, Grant Buckley of the Cordele IDC, John Shaw of the Georgia Department of Labor, SGTC President Dr. John Watford, Anna Hurt of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, SGTC Dean of Enrollment Management Julie Partain, SGTC Vice President of Economic Development Wally Summers, Christy Bozeman of the Cordele IDC, SGTC Director of Business and Industry Services Michelle McGowan, and David Shuford of Marvair.