The Free Press
A construction company, an engineering firm and a company that supplies equipment to aircraft carriers were among the honorees at the Greater Mankato Business Awards & Hall of Fame event Thursday.
Greater Mankato Growth inducted WEB Construction into the Business Hall of Fame and awarded its Business Legacy award to engineering firm Bolton & Menk.
Both businesses have grown exponentially over their histories. Bolton and Menk engineering firm started in a 12 x 12 foot garage and now has 40 locations with over 1,000 employees.
WEB Construction started with three college friends, including founder Jerry Williams, building grain bins and has grown to be one of the largest contractors in the Mankato area.
The development of the year award went to the Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato Hospital expansion and modernization, which was a $160 million project where $10 million was spent with local businesses.
Finalists in that category included Arch + Cable Hotel and Shared Spaces at Emmy Frentz.
The talent innovation award went to Eide Bailly for its recruitment of talent from outside the Mankato area and its partnership programs with Minnesota State University and local high schools.
Cambria and Taylor Corp. were finalists in that category.
And finally, a new accolade this year allowed the audience to vote for the “Coolest thing made in Greater Mankato” award.
That winner was NIDEC Power, Kato Engineering for its technology that helps launch Navy planes from aircraft carriers.
Finalists in that category were MEI Total Elevator Solutions and V-TEK Inc.
Visit Mankato recognized Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center for its Bring it Home award and Moulin Rouge House Bed & Breakfast for its Hospitality award.
City Center Partnership selected The Silos Apartment for its CityDesign award for new luxury apartment complex in Old Town.
GMG’s GreenSeam honored Compart Family Farms with its Seamed in Success award for the company’s worldwide reach in selling and development of premium pork. Romsdahl Companies received the Growing in the Greenseam award.
The CityArt Walking Sculpture Tour People’s Choice sculpture went to “Bird of Prey” by Keith Dorn. The Juror’s Purchase award went to “Eggsciting News” by Kim Fiebiger.