Arkansas District Export Council Recognizes Six Arkansas Companies for the Governor's Award for Excellence in Global Trade
The Arkansas District Export Council announced six winners of the 2021 Governor's Award for Excellence in Global Trade, ranging from a leather dog collar manufacturer in Conway to a global provider of high-quality vehicle accessories located in Springdale.
The award traditionally recognizes the exporting excellence and successes among Arkansas’ small, medium, and large enterprises. Winners of the award are Arkansas manufacturing or agriculture companies actively selling in international markets. Each company is presented with a trophy during the awards ceremony and profiled throughout the year as the winner of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Global Trade. The award ceremony takes place each year at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock, with the Governor and First Lady in attendance.
The companies this year were selected on a more challenging basis than years past. In 2021, we are recognizing exporters who through the innovative and thoughtful development of the export market were able to successfully overcome the economic impacts of the 2020 pandemic and retain at least 95% of their workforce.
The 2021 Governor’s Export Award winners are:
- Large Company – Gerdau, Fort Smith
- Medium Company – Alliance Rubber Company, Hot Springs
- Small Company – ECOJOHN, Inc, North Little Rock
- Rising Star – Leather Brothers, Inc, Conway
- Resilience in Manufacturing -- Lycus LTD, LLC, El Dorado
- Innovation and Impact in Manufacturing -- Chandler Equipment, Springdale
2021 Governor's Award for Excellence in Global Trade Winners
Gerdau, Fort Smith – Gerdau is a major producer of steel products headquartered in Brazil. One of the of the business units of the company is Gerdau Special Steel North America which is comprised of 2 steel making facilities, one located in Ft Smith Arkansas.
Alliance Rubber, Hot Springs - Alliance Rubber Company has been manufacturing some of the world’s best banding products at their manufacturing facility in Hot Springs, Arkansas since 1923. Their products are designed to be used in industrial, office, medical and agricultural applications and they sell in over 55 different countries.
ECOJOHN, North Little Rock – ECOJOHN is a manufacturing company that specialize in offering waste management solutions for off-grid, remote, and mobile applications. Their products include efficient waterless incinerating toilets and wastewater incinerators that eliminate the need for a septic tank or dumping black water tanks.
Leather Brothers Inc, Conway - Leather Brothers are third generation leather workers who supply their products, bearing the OmniPet® brand name, to an ever-growing network of dealers and distributors worldwide.
Lycus Ltd., El Dorado – Lycus Ltd. is the only domestic manufacturer of certain UV absorbers currently used on the market today. This Arkansas chemical plant is a wholesaler and contract manufacturer serving the world's leading chemical companies with their ultraviolet (UV) light absorbers for use in plastics, coatings, and personal care applications.
Chandler Equipment Inc., Springdale – Manufacturer of truck accessories to a variety of customer groups in the agriculture, food, oil and gas, and transportation industries. The Chandler family operates within 5 specific companies that have grown into manufacturing accessories and supplies for the energy industry and providing liquid transportation parts all over the world.
About the Arkansas District Export Council
The Arkansas DEC is a non-profit organization composed of experienced exporters and businesspeople who regularly provide support services to exporting companies, one of over 60 DECs that exist throughout the country to support the U.S. Government’s export promotion efforts.
Each DEC member has been appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce because of his or her recognized real world expertise in international trade matters and commitment to volunteerism on behalf of the local exporting community. DEC members share their time and specialized expertise with small- and medium-sized businesses that are interested in starting to export or expand into new markets.
The DEC also serves as a communications link between the Arkansas business community and the U.S. Commercial Service.
Visit our website at https://exportarkansas.org/ .
The District Export Council wishes to thank all the sponsors of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Global Trade, especially our Platinum Sponsor, Lockheed Martin and our Gold Sponsors, Arkansas Economic Development Commission and World Trade Center Arkansas. We also thank all our Silver Sponsors. Without their support and contributions, we would not be able to provide these services. Thank you!
