FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2024
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Hosts 2024 Annual Luncheon
Archer Daniels Midland Company honored as Manufacturer of the Year
CHICAGO – The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) will bring together industry leaders and companies from across the state at its annual luncheon on Friday, December 6. This year’s event marks the 131st anniversary of the founding of the IMA and will celebrate the state’s diverse manufacturing industry, which develops innovative products that save lives, powers our homes and businesses, feeds the world, and transports people and products around the globe. Manufacturing is the state’s largest industry, supporting nearly one-third of all jobs in Illinois and contributing more than $580 billion to the state’s economy each year.
During the luncheon, the Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) will be presented with the 2024 Barry L. MacLean Manufacturer of the Year Award. Recognized as one of the world’s largest nutrition companies, ADM is a leader in both human and animal nutrition and is dedicated to solving global nutrition challenges. The company works to unlock the power of nature, transforming crops into ingredients and solutions for foods, beverages and supplements for people all around the world, in addition to a complete range of solutions and services for livestock, aquaculture and pets. ADM’s global operation employs 42,000 people across six continents, including 4,000 at its North American headquarters in Decatur.
“I’m excited to announce ADM as the 2024 Manufacturer of the Year in Illinois for their remarkable achievements in the field of agricultural manufacturing and biosciences. Their innovation and leadership in pioneering nutrition solutions from the field to product are changing the lives of people across the world,” said Mark Denzler, President & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “As a global leader in human and animal nutrition, ADM’s unrelenting drive and commitment has been demonstrated in their focus on bioprocessing including the iFAB tech hub designation, sustainability and regenerative agriculture, investments in cutting-edge food and agriculture technology startups, and clean energy technology. We are proud to recognize ADM as a best-in-class manufacturer.”
The Manufacturer of the Year Award is presented annually in recognition of a company’s leadership in advocating for the manufacturing industry at the local and national level; excellence in creating a lasting impact on stakeholders, companies, and markets; commitment to innovation, research and development, or technological advancement; workforce development and diversity; long-term commitment to charitable and philanthropic efforts, community engagement and long-term commitment to charitable and philanthropic efforts; support for sustainable methods of production and elimination of non-value added activities from their operations.
“It is an incredible honor to be recognized by the Illinois Manufacturers Association as the 2024 Manufacturer of the Year,” said Chris Cuddy, Senior Vice President, and President of ADM’s Carbohydrate Solutions business unit. “This achievement is a true testament to all our talented, diverse, and dedicated colleagues who work every day to unlock the power of nature to enrich the quality of life around the world, and who help build a culture of innovation that continues to drive our strategy forward. We are grateful to the IMA for honoring our achievements and contributions to the manufacturing industry.”
The Janice M. Christiansen Leadership Award, which was established in 2023 to recognize a woman leader, trailblazer and mentor in the industry, will be presented to Marsha Serlin, Founder and CEO of United Scrap Metal, an award-winning leader in recycling solutions. Serving over 6,000 customers nationwide, United Scrap Metal is recognized as one of the largest recyclers in the United States. A pioneer in recycling, Marsha Serlin has shaped the industry by uncovering value in materials others discarded, enabling both her business and her clients’ businesses to thrive. This special Leadership Award was created to posthumously honor Christiansen, a longtime member of the IMA Board of Directors who was elected as the IMA’s first female Board Chair in 2010.
The luncheon will also feature a keynote address delivered by Stratton Sclavos, Chief Business Officer at PsiQuantum, a quantum computing company anchored at the newly announced Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on the south side of Chicago with a mission to build and deploy the world’s first useful quantum computer. An electrical and computer engineer, Sclavos brings more than four decades of experience as a technology entrepreneur, chief executive, venture investor and corporate board member. He served as Chairman and CEO of VeriSign Inc. from its formation in 1995 through 2007. Under his direction, VeriSign grew into a diversified corporation with over 4,000 employees and $2 Billion in revenues. Prior to Verisign, he held executive positions at Go Corporation, Megatest and MIPS Computers. Sclavos also served as a decade-long Board Member at Salesforce (CRM), Intuit (INTU) and Juniper (JNPR). From 2008 to 2015 he was a partner at Radar Partners overseeing investments in Appurify, Dasient, Sencha and Duo Security (purchased for $2.3 Billion by Cisco Systems). Sclavos has also been appointed to 3 national security committees – NSTAC, PCAST and the DNI’s Senior Advisor Group.
Earlier in the week, attendees had full access to breakout panels during the days leading up to the luncheon on topics including the impact of the recent election on our industry, ways to build a strong workforce, and how to navigate economic pressures and market shifts in manufacturing.
About the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA)
The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is the only statewide association dedicated exclusively to advocating, promoting and strengthening the manufacturing sector in Illinois. The IMA is the oldest and largest state manufacturing trade association in the United States, representing nearly 4,000 companies and facilities. For more information, please visit http://ima-net.org/.
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