1. Manufacturer of the Year:
a. Commitment to Workforce Education - What does company do to:
• Invest in employee education and training
• Recognize and reward employees
• Assure competitive wages and benefits
• Create desirable work environment
• Go above industry norm in valuing employees
• Create a safe work environment
• Partner with educational and other organizations to train future workers
b. Commitment to Environmental Protection – What does company do to:
• Invest in conservation and reuse
• Education program for employees
• Continuous improvement in use of materials and processes
• Promote environmental protection to the community
c. Commitment to Improving the Economy – What is company’s approach to:
• Commitment to research and development
• Development of new products and/or processes
• Implementation of new strategies, management techniques, or methods for conducting business/work
• Commitment to continuous improvement
• Growth in revenues, sales, profitability, stock performance (if applicable)
d. Commitment to Customers – What does company do to:
• Determine customer satisfaction
• Ensure customer focus by all employees
• Rate and track customer data
• Respond to market changes 2 of 4
e. Commitment to the Community – How does company:
• Contribute to community activities
• Encourage employee participation in community activities
f. Commitment to FCMA – How does company:
• Encourage participation in FCMA
• Activity participation in FCMA
• Provide member-to-member business
2. Associate of the Year:
a. Commitment to Workforce Education - What does company do to:
• Invest in employee education and training
• Recognize and reward employees
• Assure competitive wages and benefits
• Create desirable work environment
• Go above industry norm in valuing employees
• Create a safe work environment
• Partner with educational and other organizations to train future workers
b. Commitment to Environmental Protection – What does company do to:
• Invest in conservation and reuse
• Education program for employees
• Continuous improvement in use of materials and processes
• Promote environmental protection to the community
c. Commitment to Improving the Economy – What is company’s approach to:
• Commitment to research and development
• Development of new products and/or processes
• Implementation of new strategies, management techniques, or methods for
conducting business/work
• Commitment to continuous improvement
• Growth in revenues, sales, profitability, stock performance (if applicable)
d. Commitment to Customers – What does company do to:
• Determine customer satisfaction
• Ensure customer focus by all employees
• Rate and track customer data
• Respond to market changes
e. Commitment to the Community – How does company:
• Contribute to community activities
• Encourage employee participation in community activities
f. Commitment to FCMA – How does company:
• Encourage participation in FCMA
• Activity participation in FCMA
• Provide member-to-member business
3. Founders Service: The same criteria as Manufacturer of the Year (above), except the
company will be reviewed on a longer term continuing commitment in each category. The
intent is to recognize companies who continually exhibit a long term commitment to the goals and objectives of FCMA.
4. Educating the Workforce: The emphasis will be on specific initiatives to improve the
workforce either the company’s employees or within the community to enhance the skills of current or potential employees:
What does company do to:
• Invest in employee education and training
• Recognize and reward employees
• Assure competitive wages and benefits
• Create a desirable work environment
• Create a safe work environment
• Partner with educational and other organizations to train future workers
5. Protecting the Environment: The focus will be on specific activities to protect the
environment both at the plant location as well as community initiatives to advocate
environmental protection.
What does company do to:
• Invest in conservation and reuse
• Educate employees on environmental issues
• Continuous improvement in reducing waste in materials and processes
• Promote environmental protection to the community
6. Improving the Economy: The emphasis will be on the company’s effort to improve the
economy by its performance both within the company and its impact on the larger
community.
What is the company’s experience in:
• Commitment to research and development
• Development of new products and/or processes
• Implementation of new strategies, management techniques, or methods for conducting
business/work
• Commitment to continuous improvement
• Growth in revenues, sales, profitability, stock performance (if applicable)
C. Nomination Process: Any FCMA member is eligible for nomination for any of the awards, except Associate of the Year (which is limited to associate members), and may be nominated in more than one category. Nominations may be made by the company, any FCMA member, the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, any FCMA committee, or the FCMA staff.

Nominations begin in July prior to the February awards event and are closed on December 31. Nominees will be notified by the FCMA office and will be asked to complete the requested information specific to the award. The information may be received by the FCMA office by January 22. A panel of three judges will be selected by the Executive Committee. These individuals shall be community leaders from Northeast Florida and shall not be members of FCMA, but shall be familiar with FCMA and manufacturing. The judges may elect to interview the nominees or use the completed applications.