Like a silent sentinel at the crossroads of US-12 and the St. Joseph Valley Parkway in the Niles industrial park at Bertrand Crossing, Alro Steel has had a landmark presence alongside the Lake Michigan College Campus at Bertrand Crossing for years. Now, their captain of industry — the company’s Chairman & CEO — is being delivered the MFG Lifetime Achievement Award by the Michigan Manufacturers Association.
Alro Steel Chair & CEO Al Glick will be cited for his lifetime of service to manufacturing in Michigan in ceremonies at East Lansing next month. The MFG Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has excelled in the industry and inspires peers, emerging leaders, lawmakers and educators to strive to make significant contributions to their company, industry and community. Glick will receive the award during the 2018 MFG Excellence Awards on November 8th at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing.
His Jackson-based Alro Steel was founded 70 years ago in the summer of 1948. Alro expanded many times over the years, acquiring 40 companies since 1971. With more than 60 locations in 12 states including their sizable facility at Bertrand Crossing in Niles, Alro services 25,000 manufacturing customers with next day service of metals, industrial supplies and plastics every day.
Al Glick was selected by an independent panel of judges for his lifelong commitment to the industry and a set of values that drive not just his work at Alro Steel, but his philanthropy in the Jackson community and his role as a symbol of excellence for all up-and-coming manufacturers.
Chuck Hadden is President & CEO of the Michigan Manufacturers Association. He says, “Al is a born leader who speaks from experience and works to instill his principles and his values: Be reliable, be dependable, and do what you say you are going to do.” He adds, “Those who work for Al Glick can point to his leadership as a reason why they are not just better workers, but better people. His peers would do well to copy his passion and tomorrow’s leaders should follow his example. He is well-deserving of this honor.”
The MFG Excellence Awards is a one-of-a-kind gala event promoting manufacturing’s most inspiring people, companies and products as well as the inspiring stories which have made Michigan the global hub for the industry. Now in its second year, the inaugural MFG Excellence Awards received the Michigan Society of Association Executive’s (MSAE) Diamond Award recognizing it as the top association event in Michigan.
In addition to presenting Al Glick with the MFG Lifetime Achievement Award, the MFG Excellence Awards will also present awards for Emerging Leader, Community Impact, Innovation Excellence, Talent Champion and the John G. Thodis Michigan Manufacturer of the Year Award — an industry staple since 1981. Additionally, Harry Leaver of the Central Michigan Manufacturers Association will also receive the MFG Lifetime Achievement Award and the winner of the “Coolest Thing Made in Michigan” People’s Choice Award will be presented following a months-long social media promotion on MLive.
Michigan is well-known as a manufacturing state, yet many don’t know how diverse the state’s most-vital industry is. Here are some of the many Michigan MFG facts you may not know:
- Michigan produces more than $52 billion in manufactured goods every year…
- Manufacturers employ more than 623,600 people in Michigan alone…
- Love cars? Michigan accounts for 22-percent of all U.S. auto-related jobs…
- Your community isn’t a community without MFG — each manufacturing job leads to four jobs in other industries…
- By nearly every measurable fact, Michigan remains #1 in the nation in manufacturing and that’s something to be proud of.
The photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market shows the Alro Steel complex in Niles and is courtesy of Alro Steel.
