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July/August 2007 — Vol. 85, No. 6
CBIA members win
U.S. export honors
Gerber gets presidential award for exporting excellence
Gerber Technology, a unit of Tolland-based Gerber Scientific, is one of only 11 companies this year to win a presidential “E” Award for exporting excellence, the nation’s highest exporting award.
Administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, “E” awards recognize firms and organizations for their competitive achievements in world markets, as well as the benefits of their success to the U.S. economy.
In presenting Gerber’s award, Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez stated, “Gerber Technology has demonstrated a sustained commitment to export expansion. Your export sales are impressive, and your commitment to serve the needs of your customers in 125 countries with training, materials in the local language and assistance at all times is particularly noteworthy.”
He added, “Gerber Technology’s achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion efforts that support the U.S. economy and create American jobs.”
Gerber Technology’s export sales grew more than 15% from 2002 to 2005. Last fiscal year Gerber Technology generated 75% of its product revenue from sales to companies outside the United States, representing an additional 20% growth.
The company develops and manufactures integrated software and hardware automation systems for the sewn products and flexible materials industries.
Cooper-Atkins named Small Business Exporter of the Year
for Connecticut
Carol Wallace, president and CEO of Cooper-Atkins Corp. in Middlefield and a past chair of CBIA, has been named the 2007 Small Business Exporter of the Year for Connecticut by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The SBA says Wallace’s company earned that designation because of its success in designing, manufacturing and delivering some of the finest health and safety measuring systems in the world.
Cooper-Atkins has had three consecutive years of double-digit export sales growth. In the past three years, the company has also added more than 40 employees to its Connecticut workforce.
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