14th Annual Excellence Awards
This year marks the NEW Manufacturing Alliance’s 14th annual Excellence in Manufacturing/K-12 Partnerships Awards. The Alliance works collectively to attract, develop, and retain the highly-skilled workforce critical to the manufacturing industry in northeast Wisconsin. Since its inception in 2006, the Alliance has grown to over 300 members, with manufacturers partnering with educational institutions, workforce development boards, chambers of commerce, economic developers, and nonprofit agencies.
The Excellence in Manufacturing/K-12 Partnerships Awards celebrate regional industry and education partnerships. Over the past 14 years, over 500 schools, manufacturers, and community partnerships have been nominated. This is just a small snapshot of examples exemplifying the strong partnerships between manufacturers and education.
The 14th annual NEW Manufacturing Alliance’s “Excellence in Manufacturing/K-12 Partnerships Awards” is being held on October 28, 2025, at the Resch Expo in Green Bay.
Nominate a worthy school, educator, or manufacturer in Northeast Wisconsin. Nominations open May 1, 2025 to June 6, 2025. Winning schools enjoy a $500 cash award and region-wide recognition!
Congratulations to the 2024 Award Winners!
2024 EDUCATION AWARD WINNERS
Brighter Image – Oconto Falls High School
Career Pathmaker – Administrator – Dirk Ribbens, Ashwaubenon High School
Career Pathmaker – Educator – David Gordon, CESA 7
Career Pathmaker – Tech Ed Teacher – Jeremy Hodkiewicz, Shawano School District
Education Innovation – Wrightstown Community School District
2024 MANUFACTURER AWARD WINNERS
Brighter Image – Pierce Manufacturing
Educational Partnership – Gulfstream
Leadership – The Village Companies
Visionary – Jake Schulz, Therma-Tron-X, Inc.
Youth Apprenticeship – Sargento Foods
2024 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WINNER
Community Partnership – MFG 4.0 Business Education Partnership and Collaboration
(Sargento Foods, Masters Gallery Foods Amerequip Krier Foods, Kiel, Elkhart Lake, Random Lake and Oostburg High Schools).
2024 All Star & Mentor Winners
We will also be recognizing the 2024 All Stars at the event. Companies that have an employee being recognized are: Fiberglass Solutions, Fincantieri Ace Marine, Georgia-Pacific, Hart Design & Mfg., KI, Marion Body Works, Nature’s Way, Nicolet Plastics and Nueske Applewood Smoked Meats.
