Marian University will hold its 34th annual Business & Industry awards dinner at Marian’s Stayer Center for Technology & Executive Learning on Tuesday, October 27. Reception will begin at 5:45 p.m., with dinner and award ceremony to follow. The Business of the Year award will be presented to Excel Engineering. Founded in 1990, Excel Engineering is a full-service design firm that has grown to include over 120 professional architects, engineers and associates. Repeat business, client referrals and a reputation for superior plans have contributed greatly to a company that provides services for over 600 million dollars of construction annually. Excel recently added a new wing on their Fond du Lac building located on Camelot Drive in Fond du Lac. The Entrepreneur of the Year award will be presented to Advanced Tooling Inc. Advanced Tooling, Inc. is a state-of-the-art custom tool and cutter design and manufacturer located in Mount Calvary, Wis. Established in May of 1996, the company now occupies a 21,000 square-foot manufacturing facility specializing in carbide cutting tools, based on quality of service and price. Their grinders provide versatility and precision to manufacture and service a variety of cutting tools to original specs as well as create highly customized tooling. The Economic Development award will be presented to LaClare Farms. LaClare Farms is owned and operated by Larry and Clara Hedrich of Chilton. The farm was established in 1978 when the property and buildings were purchased. As their show herd grew, they began commercial dairy goat milk production and started shipping milk in the spring of 1996. Some of the milk is currently being marketed through the Quality Dairy Goat Cooperative of Wisconsin (QDGPC), of which Larry is the manager. LaClare Farms has won numerous awards for their fine cheese including Runner-Up Best in Show at the 2015 American Cheese Society competition for their standard market Cave Aged Chadoka and the 2011 U.S. Championship Cheese Title for its Evalon. The Special Achievement award will be presented to Agnesian HealthCare for its Community Health & Wellness initiative. Agnesian Healthcare offers a multitude of ongoing programs for the benefit of the community. Agnesian created “Healthy Fond du Lac 2020” to help lead a three-year plan designed to enhance the overall health and well-being of individuals in Fond du Lac County. This plan addresses the issues of obesity, dental care, mental health and alcohol consumption. Agnesian also funds a Wellness Program Coordinator at the Fond du Lac YMCA, funds adults who require dental care but do not have the resources and provides financial support for the Farmer’s Market in Fond du Lac for individuals to purchase fruits and vegetables more easily through debit and credit cards. The George Becker Business Spirit award is given to an individual, company, charitable organization or civic group whose good business practices benefit the community. It is named for George Becker, former president of Giddings & Lewis and a member of Marian’s Board of Trustees. This year, the George Becker Business Spirit award is being presented posthumously to John Korb. Korb was a leader in the Fond du Lac community through Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, and served the Fond du Lac community through his participation in several organizations. Korb was a member and former chair of the Marian University Board of Trustees and a lifelong supporter of Marian University, St. Mary Springs Academy and the Fond du Lac Children’s Museum, among other local organizations. The Business & Industry awards dinner helps raise money for scholarships for business students in the Marian University School of Business.
