Manufacturing Milestones Recognized by EDSPC

Eleven local industries were highlighted Thursday night at the Sedalia Country Club for their longevity in business during the 13th annual Manufacturer's Milestone Anniversary Recognition Dinner.

The event. attended by well over 200 people, was hosted by Economic Development Sedalia-Pettis County (EDSPC). EDSPC Executive Director Jessica Craig noted the spirit of community support when it comes to manufacturing in this area.

"As a community, we come together to embrace and support our existing manufacturers, whether they've been here for five years or 90 years, we want to say thank you for being here, for employing people here in the local economy and for being that sustainable solution to growing our workforce, growing our economy. And so tonight, we brought around 230 people together to support those existing manufacturers and celebrating 15, 20, 25 years of being here, but also a company like Zephyr Manufacturing, which is on their fourth generation of ownership here in the community, and they're celebrating 90 years of doing business. So what a great success story of how we as a community can support businesses, but also as a company how they can thrive and survive and be successful here in Sedalia," Craig said.

Zephyr President RJ Lindstrom, who was celebrating his own personal milestone Thursday night (birthday), said he felt good about his company's success.

"We're growing, acquiring other companies, we're bringing manufacturing back to the United States, so we're doing very good as a company right now," Lindstrom said, adding that Zephyr currently employs 35 people at the 66,000-square-foot facility.

Zephyr makes a full line of wet mops, loop mops, cut-in mops, deck mops, dust mops, brooms, brushes, squeegees and accessories, Lindstrom noted, adding that his company sells products all over the lower 48 states.

Those companies singled out for recognition Thursday night included:

Zephyr Manufacturing - 90 years
Owens Corning - 70 years
County Distributing - 60 years
Edwards Fiberglass - 40 years
Don's Truck Towing - 40 years
Ragar Banners - 35 years
Show Me Fabrication - 30 years
Starline Brass - 25 years
Precision Manufacturing - 25 years
ProEnergy Services - 15 years
Design Fabricate Machine - 15 years

Rusty Kahrs served as master of ceremonies for the event.