Dept. of Commerce: Governor Doyle Congratulates Winners of the Governor’s Export Achievement Awards

Contacts:
Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661

Jessica Erickson, Governor’s Office, 608-261-2156

MILWAUKEE – At the 40th Annual Wisconsin International Trade
Conference today, Governor Jim Doyle congratulated seven recipients of the
Governor’s Export Achievement Awards. Every year, the Governor recognizes
firms and organizations that have achieved extraordinary results in
international sales or have contributed to Wisconsin’s increased ability to
compete in a global market.

“My ‘Grow Wisconsin’ initiative calls for expanding
international markets to create important growth opportunities for Wisconsin
firms,” Governor Doyle said. “These Wisconsin companies and institutions
have demonstrated leadership and innovation in responding successfully to
international market challenges.”

The Governor’s Export Achievement Awards are presented
annually to state companies actively involved in export trade. Criteria
include degree of export-related growth; innovative techniques and
approaches that resulted in the company’s success; and demonstration of
extra effort in capturing worldwide markets.

Award winners are listed below:

Large Manufacturing
Bucyrus International, Inc. – South Milwaukee, Milwaukee
County

Bucyrus International, Inc., is a 124-year-old manufacturer
of electric mining shovels, blasthole drills, and walking draglines for the
surface mining industry. Bucyrus leads the industry in innovative products
designed to satisfy the world’s toughest earthmoving requirements. More
than 77 percent of the firm’s sales come from outside the United States.
Those sales grew by more than 30 percent between 2000 and 2003.

Large Export Assistance
UW-Madison Center for International Business Education and
Research (CIBER) – Madison, Dane County

The Center for International Business Education and Research
leverages the academic strength of the University of Wisconsin to strengthen
the international competitiveness of Wisconsin businesses. In cooperation
with the UW-Madison Center for World Affairs and the Global Economy and
other partners, CIBER presents more than 40 workshops and conferences every
year that address a wide variety of real world international business and
economic activities.

Small Agricultural
Elegance Futures LLC – Lomira, Dodge County

Elegance Futures markets the highest quality registered
Holstein dairy cattle genetics on local, national, and international levels.
The firm’s efforts began with one animal that was named Wisconsin’s “Cow of
the Year” in 2002. Its offspring were named Premier Breeders at the 2001
and 2002 World Dairy Expos. Exports now account for about 73 percent of the
firm’s sales.

Small Export Assistance
International Business Development Consortium – Green Bay,
Brown County

Founded in 1999 by a coalition of seven community,
educational, and commercial organizations, the International Business
Development Consortium provides counseling and export assistance services to
Northeastern Wisconsin firms. The Consortium spearheaded the revival of the
Northeastern Wisconsin Global Trade Conference, and has taken over the sales
and marketing efforts for the Brown County Foreign Trade Zone.

Large Agricultural
Minitube of America, Inc. – Verona, Dane County

Minitube of America produces products and software for
animal artificial insemination and reproduction. In less than 10 years, the
firm has created 75 new jobs and has become a leading player in its industry
worldwide. The firm supports its own research by a staff of well-known and
accomplished scientists; manufactures its own catheters, tubes, and
collection bags; blends its own semen extenders and embryo transfer/IVF
media; writes management software; and conducts training programs for
customers throughout North America. Exports have grown in each of the last
three years and now account for 25 percent of the firm’s business.

Hi-Tech
Prodesse, Inc. – Waukesha, Waukesha County

Prodesse creates and manufacturers diagnostic tests for
infectious diseases such as influenza, West Nile Disease, Herpes, SARS, and
pneumonia. Last year exports grew by 230 percent and account for more than
40 percent of total sales. The firm is an example of the small biotech
companies that are making Wisconsin an important player in the Life
Science’s industry. Within 15 months, the firm has expanded from six to 20
employees.

Small Manufacturing
Weinbrenner Shoe Company – Merrill, Lincoln County

Founded in 1892, the Weinbrenner Shoe Company is an
employee-owned, ISO 9001 certified, AFL-CIO-affiliated manufacturer of high
quality uniform footwear worn by police, fire fighters, and postal workers.
Because the firm develops a strong working relationship with its customers,
they can be versatile in meeting their customers needs. When Weinbrenner
makes the boots worn by the Barbados Water Authority, they imprint the logo
of the agency on each and every pair. The strategy has been successful and
the firm exports to 26 countries, including Australia, Canada, Chile, Egypt,
France, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.

For further information on the Governor’s Export Achievement
Awards, contact Mary Regel, Department of Commerce, at 608-266-1767.