St. Croix EDC: Names top businesses for 2009

February 25 Banquet Will Honor Winners

Patti Robertson, president of St. Croix Economic Development Corporation, announced the EDC’s selection of the following companies as recipients of the 2009 business of the year awards in St. Croix County, Wisconsin:

NCCM Company (River Falls)

2009 Emerging Business of the Year

(based in St. Croix County and in business for five or fewer years)

Baldwin Telecom, Inc. (Baldwin)

2009 Small Business of the Year

(29 or fewer employees)

Scientific Molding Corporation Ltd. (Somerset)

2009 Business of the Year

(30 or more employees)

“The 2009 winners share many common traits,” said Patti Robertson. “They are pioneers and innovators in their respective fields. They are high-tech businesses that adapt to changing markets and conditions. They are bright stars in St. Croix County and Wisconsin.”

The companies will be honored at an awards banquet on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at the University Center, on campus at UW-River Falls (River Falls, Wisconsin).

About the 2009 Winners

NCCM Company was formed in 2008 by Brent Niccum, who serves as the president and chief executive officer. Niccum’s business partner is Mike Tasker, who is vice president of business development. In January 2009, NCCM announced it purchased the leading technological solution for the mill roll business from 3M Company of Maplewood, Minnesota. The mill rolls are used in industrial operations such as continuous coil or sheet processing lines involving wringer, oiler, tension/bridle, or support roll applications. According to the terms of the acquisition, 3M agreed to a long-term, exclusive sourcing and licensing agreement with NCCM. The mill roll from NCCM is sold to 30 value-added resellers around the world. The mill rolls are manufactured at the River Falls Industrial Center, where NCCM leases office and production space. Niccum and Tasker bring 30 years of combined 3M business experience to NCCM Company.

Baldwin Telecom, Inc. (BTI) was founded in 1900 as a locally-owned and operated telephone company. It initially provided phone service to customers in the Baldwin-Woodville area of St. Croix County. In 1982, BTI’s board of directors approved the addition of cable television services to Baldwin and Woodville. The inclusion of high speed internet and cable television extended BTI’s services to Hammond, Knapp, Roberts, and the Town of Hudson. In 2002, Baldwin Telecom was recognized as the first independent telephone company in Wisconsin to deploy fiber-to-the-home technology. Today, BTI is St. Croix County’s largest local provider of phone, internet, and cable services. BTI has grown to be more than a telephone company. It is a broadband company that provides all the latest technologies to businesses and homes. Larry Knegendorf is BTI’s general manager and has led the company through its expanded service offerings. Knegendorf served multiple terms as the village president of Woodville, Wisconsin, and is active in the Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association (WSTA).

Scientific Molding Corporation (SMC) was founded in 1988. SMC has over 20 years of experience in design, prototyping, material recommendations, molding, subassembly, finishing, and packaging for leading medical device, pharmaceutical, and instrument companies. The company’s first molding press was installed in a red barn near Houlton, Wisconsin (Town of St. Joseph). SMC quickly outgrew the barn and moved into a modern manufacturing facility in Somerset, Wisconsin. In 1996, a second manufacturing facility was added in Somerset. Today, that facility represents SMC’s global headquarters as its footprint crosses the United States from Massachusetts to California and extends to India. In Wisconsin, SMC has a highly automated manufacturing facility in Amery (Polk County) and another production facility was added in Woodville (St. Croix County). SMC’s northeast operations are located in Sterling and Leominster, Massachusetts. Its west location is in Santa Rosa, California, and its product testing center is in Hudson, Ohio. Its Asia operations are in Bangalore, India. SMC is ISO 9001 and 13485 certified, and possesses Class 7, Class 8, and white room molding and assembly environments. It offers leadership in liquid silicone and thermoplastic injection molding, as well as medical micro molding, with part sizes starting at 0.003 cubic inches (0.045 grams) and smaller. Chetan N. Patel is the president and ceo of SMC.

This is the 16th annual business recognition program for St. Croix EDC. The EDC was established in 1993 as a private, non-for-profit organization that operates as the independent economic development of St. Croix County, Wisconsin. Reflective activities include business retention, expansion, recruitment, new business start-ups, and legislative advocacy.

For additional information, please contact William Rubin at (715) 381-4383.