November 2019
MiMfg Magazine
9
If you travel through West Michigan, the
fingerprints of DeWys Manufacturing are everywhere.
They understand that community begins at home
and that service to something bigger than them-
selves is the responsibility of all manufacturers. For
that, DeWys was recognized with the 2019 MFG
Community Impact Award.
“Community is about the next generation,
showing them what we do and doing it in a way
where they can see things hands-on,” explained
Jon DeWys, DeWys Manufacturing CEO. “It’s
like a ripple — we can’t have community without
starting in our hearts, our faith, our company. We are
very involved in MFG Day, MI Career Quest, our
local school districts and ISDs — we’re rocking,
we’re going places and I’m so proud of my team.”
Turn to page 22 to read how the team at DeWys
Manufacturing is investing their time and resources
into the local community.
KMS Designs created a simple solution for a
common problem and out of that came an ingenious
business built in Michigan and committed to doing
things the right way — a deserving recipient of the
MFG Innovation Excellence Award.
“The story started because I was tired of my kids
coming home every day with stinky, wet clothes.
Any parent can relate. That was my breaking point,”
MATERIAL HANDLING
REDEFINED BY AMIGO
recalled Karen Smoots, president of KMS
Designs. “This company happened because we
needed to solve a problem and that’s I think what
manufacturing represents.”
Learn more about KMS Designs’ method of
innovation through simple solutions on page 26.
A Legacy of Four Decades
Long time Michigan Manufacturers
Association member Amigo Mobility has
redefined the market with its unique line up of
material handling carts and mobility solutions.
989-777-0910 | myamigo.com
Contact us for a free demo
The history of the John G. Thodis Michigan
Manufacturer of the Year Award stretches back to
1981. From global brands like Dow Chemical
Company, General Motors and Haworth to iconic
leaders like Terry Duperon, Patrick Curry and Phil
Sponsler, the list of recipients is truly a “Who’s
Who” of the industry. MMA was proud to add
two more deserving individuals to this Award’s
incredible lineage — John Sammut and Jim Wolf.
Over the past eight years, under the direction
of John Sammut, Firstronic has quadrupled its
Michigan jobs and come to embody everything you
think of when you think 21st century manufacturing —
high-tech, strong benefits, bright, innovative and
exciting. Through Sammut’s leadership, Firstronic
has reinvested in Michigan, diversified its
capability and been recognized at the same
level as companies 10 times its size.