The VHEDC Annual Dinner celebrated a year of hard work and the vitality of the Vadnais Heights and Northeast Metro business community. Business Award winners are either located in Vadnais Heights or are VHEDC investing businesses. Additionally, the award-winners demonstrate strong commitment to social responsibility and exemplify strong community involvement.

The 2017 Award Winners are:

The Keith Warner Standard of Excellence Award is named in honor of a former director of the VHEDC and is given to a business that has shown a singular degree of excellence in the areas of business success, philanthropy and community service. Innovize was founded in 1958 as GML and changed its name in 2009. The company offers new thinking in custom development and manufacturing for the full product lifecycle, from early stage concepts to full-scale manufacturing and next-generation product planning for personal care, patient care, diagnostics and electronics markets.

The VHEDC Business Achievement Award pays special tribute to outstanding companies that continue to thrive and support the local economy. Fairway Collision and Automotive – a family-owned business, founded in 1975 – provides comprehensive collision, automotive repair and maintenance services to customers in the greater Twin Cities area. MGC Diagnostics, founded in 1977, is a global medical technology company that designs, manufacturers and sells non-invasive diagnostic systems for the cardiorespiratory health sector.

The VHEDC Community Partnership Award recognizes collaborative partners that help the VHEDC to advance its mission of ensuring a prosperous local business economy in Vadnais Heights and the surrounding areas. These businesses collaborated on the GenZ Manufacturing Experience this past summer. SCHWING America, a member of the German SCHWING Group, was established in 1974; it offers industry leading concrete pumps, truck mixers, batch plants, reclaimers and genuine parts for distribution in North and Latin America. Mold Craft, a privately-owned company founded in 1964, has built a reputation as a high-quality, custom maker of injection molds for plastic and metal parts. Du Fresne Manufacturing, incorporated in 1990, is an industry leader in precision metal fabrication; it offers design assistance, dedicated prototype facilities, equipment, component assembly, and project management services. Specialty Mfg Co, a family business founded in 1900 and located in White Bear Township, manufactures metal and plastic valves that are essential components for a wide range of applications.

VHEDC Executive Director, Ling Becker expressed her appreciation to the award winning businesses. “The VHEDC Is proud to honor area businesses for their extraordinary business achievement, their commitment to community, and their willingness to partner toward building a stronger workforce for the future. Congratulations to all winners!”

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The VHEDC is a private non-profit organization made up of investing businesses since 1984. Its mission is to enhance economic development in the City of Vadnais Heights and the surrounding areas through the attraction, retention, and expansion of existing businesses and industries. This will be accomplished by serving as a conduit of economic development resources, building collaborations with strategic partners, and providing advocacy. 

For more information about the VHEDC, visit http://www.vhedc.com