FCMA PDFs - FINAL

Sunday, October 20, 2019 T2
2019 FCMA EXCELLENCE AWARDS
From the President
Excellence in Manufacturing on the First Coast
of Florida is celebrated annually to recognize the
outstanding employees of our companies. These
individuals and teams represent the top workers
who make a difference by work effort and resourceful
thinking to create best practices and products.
Northeast Florida is home to over 40,000 manufacturers
workers. The impact of this force represents
about 15 percent of the region’s GDP.
The First Coast Manufacturers Association is
pleased to recognize these dedicated workers and
congratulates them on a job well done. As we celebrate
their work, we hope that families, friends and our
communities will extend their congratulations as well.
We are also pleased to recognize our outstanding
performing manufacturing companies as top performers.
Several of the products made on the First
Coast are exported worldwide and make a difference
in improving the quality of life for many people.
Join with us in congratulating these fine companies
and the workers that make these companies great.
Lake Ray
President
2019 FCMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Auld & White Constructors................................................................................. Steve Auld
Carlisle Interconnect Technologies.....................................................................Pat Cusick
Dupuy-Silo Facility LLC...........................................................................................John Butz
Florida Power & Light.............................................................................................. Jim Bush
Johnson & Johnson Vision ............................................................................. Les Rodriguez
Johnson Controls, Inc.................................................................................... James O’Berry
Krystal Klean.................................................................................................... Tony Morgan
Miller Electric Company................................................................................. Mike Brannen
Nu-Trend Plastics................................................................................................ Kelly Wood
Polyhistor International............................................................................ Peter Schonning
Proforma Northpoint.......................................................................................... Blair Wygle
Progressive Power Products..............................................................................Larry Kates
Rulon International.............................................................................................Brian Tuttle
Saft America, Inc..............................................................................................Jody Beasley
Smith Gambrell & Russell................................................................................. Patricia Hill
Vac-Con, Inc................................................................................................... Darrell LeSage
Vak Pak...................................................................................................... David Sutherland
2019 TRI CHAIRS
Rob Caldwell……………………….....................................................................…..Vac-Con, Inc.
Trent Schmidgall…………………………...........................Carlisle Interconnect Technologies
Kelly Wood…………….........................……………................................……… Nu-Trend Plastics
Darrell LeSage (on truck) and Vac-Con employees celebrate in 2017 the company’s
8,000th truck built at the company’s Green Cove Springs plant.
Vac-Con’s Darrell LeSage
receives President’s Award
FCMA’s outstanding individual
award is the President’s Award. The
award is given to recognize careerlong
achievement and contribution
in manufacturing.
This year, we are pleased to recognize
Darrell LeSage, a founder
and CEO of Vac-Con. He located a
newly forming business to develop
a vacuum truck for cleaning sewer
lines in Green Cove Springs in 1986.
The first year, two newly designed
trucks rolled out of the plant and the
business was off and running.
Today, Darrell is recognized by
many in the industry as the patriarch
of modern vacuum sewer cleaning
industry. Over the years, he
has grown the business to over 300
employees. manufacturing one truck
a day. Many have spotted the red
Vac-Con truck in our area or elsewhere
around the world.
Darrell continues to improve the
lives of his workers in caring about
them and helping them succeed with
a terrific career in manufacturing.
With over 40 years in manufacturing,
Darrell represents the
entrepreneur spirit, ingenuity and
drive to make a difference at work
and in our community.
Join with us in celebrating
Darrell’s great honorable career
as our 2019 President’s Award
recipient.
FCMA President
Lake Ray and
Manager
of Business
Development Clay
Yarborough present
Vac-Con President
Darrell LeSage
the President’s
Award during the
Excellence Awards
banquet, held
Sept. 27 at UNF’s
Adam W. Herbert
University Center.