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The Annual MERLIN Awards Gala is the Chamber’s signature event and has become one of its greatest traditions. Named after one of the founders of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, Peter H. Merlin, this festive gala evening takes place annually in an exclusive and elegant location in downtown Chicago.
Approximately 300 guests, including executives of the German American business community of the Midwest attend this event to Tanz in den Mai (dance into May), a German spring tradition. They experience a distinctive evening that starts with a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by an elegant dinner, musical performances and dancing.
The highlight of the evening is the presentation of the Annual MERLIN Awards, given by the Chamber to honor those companies selected by a panel judges as exemplifying outstanding achievements in German-American business.
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS Principal Sponsor:
Major Sponsors: Table Sponsors:
This Year's MERLIN Award Winners are: Best Innovator Award:
Schunk Graphite Technology is the US and Canadian representative for the Schunk Group’s Materials division; serving diverse customers with manufacturing and distribution from its Menomonee Falls, WI headquarters. Schunk Materials produces various industrial carbon products and related equipment for power generation, inorganic crystal growing and high temperature applications, as well as, carbon brushes for electric motors and current transmission. Schunk’s products for the solar industry are paving the way for an expansion, which equates to adding 2500 Mega Watts (MW) of power from a green energy source, solar power. 2500 MW is enough to power approximately 2500 average households. Forecasts are for an additional 80% increase in capacity by 2010. This is truly an industry which is green and growing! Best Manufacturer Award:
Brose North America, Inc.:in Auburn Hills, MI supplies systems and modules for vehicle doors and seats to more than 40 vehicle brands and seat manufacturers worldwide. In 1993, Brose North America began as a single-man sales office. They have grown into a $500 million supplier with a total of 1,550 employees in North America. Through continued expansion, strong employee development programs and a commitment to offering the highest quality products available, Brose has proven themselves worthy of the 2008 title – Best Manufacturer. Best New Company/Start-Up Award:
JOEST Inc. in Glen Ellyn, IL is a manufacturer of vibrating bulk material handling systems such as vibrating screens, feeders, fluidized bed dryers and spiral elevators serving industries such as the steel, mining, minerals, foundries, chemical, food and the recycling industry. When Joest began operations in March 2006, the company was starting from scratch. The company was willing to invest significantly in the first few years of operations. Thanks to an innovative German engineering team coupled with US manufacturing, the company’s sales and profits have taken off due to a number of small systems orders from a variety of customers across several industries - not concentrated in one or two large orders. With Joest’s continued expansion, new technologies and their amazing growth in the last two years, they have earned the designation of 2008’s Best New Company/Start-Up! Best Service Provider Award:
T-Systems North America, Inc in Rochester Hills, MI is part of Deutsche Telekom, a leading business technology company specializing in the network-centric convergence of Information and Telecommunications Technology (ICT). T-Systems’ innovative solutions provide one point to manage information and telecommunications technology, providing transparency that enables flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability – they call this Real ICT, T-Systems has grown over 40% in the last 3 years from a revenue of $12 billion in 2005 to over $17 billion in revenue today. T-Systems’ dynamic growth, strong commitment to customer service and an in-depth knowledge of their customers’ markets are the factors that propelled T-Systems to be 2008’s Best Service Provider!
THIS YEAR'S MERLIN AWARD CATEGORIES: The Best Innovator Award was given to a company that has shown outstanding work in an innovative field. For the 2008 Award, the focus is Go Green, concentrating on companies that have made advances in the sphere of renewable energy or energy efficiency. The Best Manufacturer Award will be given to a company that has an outstanding manufacturing presence in the Midwest, while demonstrating exceptional German-American business practices and substantial improvements in their business in 2007. The Best New Company/Start-Up Award will be given to a company that was established in the Midwest in the past 2 years (founded in 2006 or 2007). This award will concentrate on companies that have introduced an exceptional new product offering or business model and that are on the path to demonstrating success in transatlantic trade. The Best Service Provider Award will be given to a company that has shown ongoing excellence in supporting German American trade and in demonstrating outstanding assistance to their clients or customers in 2007.
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