Hurricane Matthew didn’t put a damper on the Governor’s International Awards 2016 banquet held the evening of Oct. 6 at the newly renovated Atlanta History Center in Buckhead, which drew at least 250 guests and representatives of honored companies and organizations from 10 counties and 17 cities in Georgia.
Dr. Karen Loch, president of the World Trade Center Atlanta, told Global Atlanta that she was “particularly touched by the nominees and all their support joining us from the greater Savannah area,” that was preparing for the onslaught of 100 mph-plus winds and accompanying damage from the storm.
The Savannah based companies and facilities honored at the dinner included DIRTT Environmental Solutions, a Canadian firm based in Calgary that manufactures prefabricated interior construction products such as walls, floors, mill work and power solutions;
The Savannah Bee Co., which sells its honey and honey-based health and beauty products to China, South Korea, Spain, Chile, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and islands in the Caribbean, has its main store in the middle of downtown Savannah on Broughton Street.
JCB Inc., the United Kingdom-based company that is the world’s third-largest construction and agricultural equipment manufacturer, has a plant in Pooler near Savannah.
Eleven companies, two economic development organizations, a chamber of commerce, and three women were finalists in a variety of categories. Cedric Suzman, founding executive vice president and director of programming with the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, was the sole entry for the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award.
The winners in the following categories were: Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority, international community award; Stefanie Jehlitschka, vice president at the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S. Inc. and a founder of the Georgia Consortium for Advanced Technical Training, woman in international business award;
Decostar Industries Inc., a division of Canadian automotive supplier of external parts Magna International Inc. with a plant in Carrollton, international company — large, award; the division of Global Affairs at Kennesaw State University, international education program winner; DIRTT Environmental Solutions, international company — medium winner; Savannah Bee Co., international company — small.
The other companies and organizations honored as finalists included Griffin-Spalding Development Authority; USA India Initiatives Inc.; Crawford & Company; MailChimp; American K-9 Detection Services; Pond & Co.; Discover Destinations LLC; Greenprint LLC; The African Research Academics for Women Inc.; Kat Cole, Focus Brands; and Lynne Homrich, League of Change.
Gov. Nathan Deal was unable to attend because of the approaching hurricane, but provided a keynote address by way of video.
The awards were presented by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the World Trade Center Atlanta. The evening was sponsored by Greenberg Traurig LLP, the Southern Company, Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce and Proof of the Pudding.
