The following companies are finalists for the 2015 Governor’s Export Achievement Awards. The winners will be announced Thursday, May 7, 2015, at the Wisconsin International Trade Conference in Milwaukee.
Chippewa Valley Bean Co. Inc. – Menomonie
Family-owned and -operated company that specializes in the processing and marketing of kidney beans, with three generations actively involved. It is the largest exporter of dark red kidney beans in the United States, and has the largest kidney bean processing facility in North America.
Gamber Johnson LLC – Stevens Point
Leading supplier of rugged computer mounting systems and vehicle mounting components for the public safety, law enforcement, military, telecommunications, utility, material handling and transportation markets. The company was founded in 1954 as a manufacturer of stereo cabinets.
H.O. Bostrom Company Inc. – Waukesha
A leading global manufacturer of seating systems and accessories for off-highway and specialty on-highway vehicles since 1946. Its markets include fire and rescue vehicles, commercial vessels, industrial trucks, heavy equipment and specialty military vehicles and vessels.
Kasco Marine Inc. – Prescott
A family owned and operated manufacturing company. The company has been best known for its de-icers, which allow for wet storage of boats during winter. The company is in many markets, including golf, irrigation, and pond and lake management.
Lucigen Corp. – Middleton
Founded in 1998 by David Mead, Ph.D., Lucigen develops life science research products and technologies for genetic cloning. Its offerings include standard catalog and custom products, genomic library preparation services, and OEM manufacturing of kits for larger life science research manufacturers. The company has evolved to include offerings for competent cells, protein expression, nucleic acid sequencing and amplification.
Philips Radiation Oncology Systems – Fitchburg
Health-tech division of Royal Philips. Its product, Pinnacle3, is used in cancer treatment to guide radiation treatments for cancer to effectively eliminate the disease while sparing healthy tissue. The technology used to develop its product was first developed by its four innovators at UW-Madison.
PoppingFUN Inc. – Neenah
Produces Carbonated Crystals™, a hard candy embedded with compressed carbon dioxide that fizzes and pops when consumed. The company has seen significant sales growth since it began operations in 2012. About 70 percent of 2014 sales growth is from international sales, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, New Zealand, India and the Philippines.
PreventionGenetics LLC – Marshfield
Industry-leading provider of clinical DNA testing for genetic germline (inherited) disorders. The company was founded in 2004 by Dr. James Weber, a world-renowned genetic scientist who participated in the Human Genome Project sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. With nearly 1,300 active tests, PreventionGenetics has the largest comprehensive menu of germline genetic testing in North America.
S3 International LLC – Milwaukee
Aerospace and defense company providing complete logistic support through material supply, component repair and overhaul, and managed supply chain solutions to maintain and keep aircraft flying. S3 was founded in early June 2005 to provide innovative and cost effective spare parts and repair solutions to commercial and military aerospace customers worldwide.
Wisconsin Spice Inc. – Berlin
A well-respected worldwide supplier of dry-milled and prepared mustard to the food industry, primarily marketing its product as a food ingredient to other manufacturers. Founded in 1973 by current president and CEO Phillip Sass, Wisconsin Spice has grown to become a global leader in mustard manufacturing and the largest North American mustard miller.
Zimbal Mink – Sheboygan Falls
Highest-producing mink farm in North America; Wisconsin produces more mink pelts than any other state. Zimbal owns and operates farms, a feed processing facility, and a pelt processing and grading facility, all in Sheboygan County. The company is known globally for its superior quality mink pelts.
