In the ballroom, Competitiveness Challenge participants and their guests settle down to an elegant meal. Magicians displayed amazing card tricks at the pre-dinner reception. Competitiveness Challenge participants, corporate sponsors and their guests enjoyed the reception. Each participating company contributed a display of their key products, showing the diversity of the region’s manufacturing base. Fatima Weathers, MAGNET’s COO and acting president, congratulated all the participants on their year-long Competitiveness Challenge projects. Peter Broer (left), MAGNET board member, chats with Stephen Gage, recently retired former president of MAGNET, who was one of the judges for the Competitiveness Challenge.

CLEVELAND—Almost 300 regional manufacturers followed the searchlights on November 15th to attend the first annual Competitiveness Challenge Awards Dinner hosted by MAGNET (the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network). The night’s theme was Manufacturing Magic.

The event kicked off with a cocktail reception featuring displays from the 13 companies who participated in the Challenge. Roaming throughout the reception were three local magicians who entertained the crowd with close-up card tricks and humor. In addition, the dinner and award ceremony featured an elaborate stage show by Cleveland magician Rick Smith, Jr.

MAGNET’s acting President, Dr. Fatima Weathers took the stage to recognize the evening’s sponsors: The Plain Dealer, Oswald Companies, NEOTEC, River Financial Group, Ernst & Young, Delphi, LNE Group, Lorain County Community College, and Cuyahoga Community College.

Amid much anticipation, the winners of the 2007 Competitiveness Challenge were announced.

In the small manufacturing category (companies with sales less than $25 million) the winner was McNeil Industries.

In the medium category for companies with sales between $25 and $100 million the winner was Astro Manufacturing and Design.

Lastly, the large manufacturing category winner was MTD Products.

• Details about the 2007 Challenge and winners.

• Complete information on how to enter the 2008 Competitiveness Challenge.
  

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For IMMEDIATE Release:
November 16, 2007

Contact: Greg Krizman
Senior Director, Marketing
216.432.5311 – office
330.212.1564 – cell
greg.krizman@magnetwork.org