FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: James Richter
Mobile: 803.528.1288
Email: james@myscma.com
(Columbia, SC) – The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) and the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) honored the state’s leading manufacturers and industry professionals at the 2025 SC Manufacturing Summit. The annual awards program recognizes exceptional achievements in innovation, operational excellence, leadership, and community impact—celebrating the people and companies shaping the future of South Carolina’s manufacturing industry.
Sara Hazzard, President & CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, said the honorees represent the best of what South Carolina manufacturing stands for:
“Each one of our award winners—just like each one of our manufacturers—represents the very best in our state’s innovation and creativity. They drive our economic achievements, and they are the lifeblood of so many of our communities. In celebrating these award winners, we celebrate the success of an entire industry—and the future of manufacturing across our great state.”
Andy Carr, President & CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, praised the recipients for their commitment to continuous improvement:
“The manufacturers and professionals honored today represent what makes South Carolina’s industrial base so strong—they lead with purpose, invest in their people, and never stop striving to be better. Their accomplishments elevate our entire manufacturing ecosystem and set a standard of excellence for others to follow.”
The 2025 SC Manufacturing Awards recognized the following winners and finalists:
Finance Professional of the Year Award
Kay Thomas, Plant Controller, Owens Corning
Human Resources Professional of the Year Award
Stacy Holloway, Human Resources Manager, Teijin Carbon America
Operations Professional of the Year Award
Brandon Burrell, Vice President of Operations, Spartanburg Steel Products
Legal Professional of the Year Award
Francesca Mosteller, Director of State and Local Government Affairs
Smart Move SC New Plant Award
Leonardo DRS
84 Lumber
Princeton NuEnergy (PNE)
Smart Move SC Expansion Award
Milo’s Tea Company
NUPI Americas, Inc.
Nova Molecular Technologies
Emerging Manufacturer of the Year Award
Winner: Milo’s Tea Company
Innovator of the Year Award
Winner: Green Energy Biofuel
Finalist: Michelin US7
Outreach Award
Winner: Ritedose Corporation
Finalist: Sargent Metal Fabricators
Transformation and Operational Excellence Award
Winner: SEW-Eurodrive
Finalist: Hogge Precision Parts Co.
Chuck Spangler Outstanding Manufacturing Lifetime Service Award
Jimmy Hutto, President & CEO, Southeastern Industrial Inc.
Photographs of the award recipients are available upon request.
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South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance
The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance is the only statewide organization dedicated exclusively to the interests of manufacturers. Its mission is to strengthen and advance South Carolina manufacturing by advocating for our members, fostering a world-class workforce, and bringing together manufacturers to connect, share, and solve industry challenges. The SCMA membership is comprised of more than 200 manufacturing companies that represent more than 100,000 associates in South Carolina.
South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a private, non-profit group that serves as a proven resource to South Carolina manufacturing companies, providing them with a range of innovative strategies and solutions. An affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), SCMEP operates under the U.S. Department of Commerce to promote innovation and industrial competitiveness.
