Harley-Davidson, Johnson Bank win Export Achievement Awards
Harley-Davidson Motor Co. and Johnson Bank’s International Banking Centre are among six companies statewide to win the Governor’s Export Achievement Awards, which were presented by Gov. Jim Doyle earlier this month.
Each 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 investing in expanding international markets to create important growth opportunities for Wisconsin firms," Gov. Doyle said.
Award winners are:
International Banking Centre at Johnson Bank, Madison – The Johnson Financial Group had its start 32 years ago as a single bank in Racine. When the Madison East office of Johnson Bank opened its doors in 1996, the International Banking Centre (IBC) was established to provide customized solutions and specialized international services to the bank’s commercial clients engaging in global trade. The bank has nearly tripled its international customer base since 2000. It serves Johnson Bank customers statewide.
Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Milwaukee – Harley-Davidson has been making motorcycles in Wisconsin for 100 years, and has been exporting them for nearly as long. From its earliest days, the company established a strong base of international dealers, who delivered Wisconsin craftsmanship to every corner of the world. Today, Harley-Davidson exports more than 50,000 motorcycles annually. To feed the booming demand for its motorcycles both abroad and at home, the company has added jobs and grown its facilities in Tomahawk, Menomonee Falls, Wauwatosa, Franklin and East Troy.
ABS Global, DeForest – ABS Global provides the finest genetics available to dairy and beef producers around the world, providing protein and energy to more of the world’s people. ABS Global Inc. employs 150 people in DeForest with partners and serves 62 countries, with ventures in Australia, Brazil, Italy, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The company’s export sales represent 50 percent of total sales and are steadily growing. The company makes continuing education and technical advancement the key component to its international marketing programs.
Link Snacks, Minong – Link Snacks, also known as Jack Links Beef Jerky, is the world’s leading manufacturer of meat snack products. Link Snacks employs 380 people and has an extensive network of international sales offices in Canada, Japan, Brazil and New Zealand with warehousing in Amsterdam, Holland and Ipswich, England. Its international sales have grown from zero to 10% of corporate sales in five years.
Oshkosh Truck Corp., Oshkosh – Oshkosh Truck is a
Fortune 1000 industrial company and a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies for the defense, concrete placement, refuse hauling and fire and emergency markets. Oshkosh currently sells and services products in more than 100 countries and has a significant manufacturing presence in the U.S., the U.K., the Netherlands, Sweden and Mexico.
Promega Corp., Madison – Promega is a global leader in providing innovative solutions and technical support for the life sciences industry. The company’s 1,200 products enable scientists worldwide to research gene, protein and cellular interactions.
Promega also has an extensive portfolio of products for use in human identification as well as molecular diagnostics. Founded in 1978, the company is headquartered in Madison with branches in nine countries.
Promega sells its products through an established network of branch offices located in Europe, Japan and Australia. In addition, Promega has representative offices in China and Singapore, and a network of 50 distributors that serve Pacific Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Promega also has a joint venture in China, Shanghai. Promega’s international sales account for 52% of its total sales.
May 30, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
