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Anderson County manufacturers get Employer Impact Awards

Staff //December 3, 2019//

Anderson County manufacturers get Employer Impact Awards

Staff //December 3, 2019//

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Kelley Engineering, Sargent Metal and Michelin received Employer Impact Awards recently during a meeting of Anderson County manufacturers, educators and economic developers. The meeting was held at Anderson University, a partner in the  Anderson County Economic Development office.

Burriss Nelson, president of the Development Corp. of Anderson County and director of economic development for Anderson County, presents Matt Kelley, president of Kelley Engineering, with an Employer Impact Award. (Photo/Teresa Cutlip)“Every time we have a meeting we see new faces, and that’s what it’s meant to be,” said Teri Gilstrap, existing industries manager with the Anderson County Economic Development office, prior to announcing the award recipients. “It’s meant to be a networking opportunity for Anderson County manufacturers. The industries in Anderson County have an opportunity to get together and network and celebrate each other.

“We plan to have this event yearly to celebrate our industries,” she said.

Kelley Engineering, in Piedmont, received the Employer Impact Award in the small category. The company specializes in designing and building custom automation equipment, as well as providing CNC machining and metal fabrication services to a variety of industries.

Tim Sargent, president and CEO of Sargent Metal, receives an Employer Impact Award from Burriss Nelson, president of the Development Corp. of Anderson County. (Photo/Teresa Cutlip)

“This is really just a testimony to the team we’ve built at Kelley Engineering,” said Matt Kelley, company president. “It’s easy to buy a building. It’s easy to buy a machine. But the people you surround yourself with is what sets you apart and sets you up for success.

“I’m just humbled to be a part of it. This started four years ago in my garage with no projects, no customers, just a hope and a dream and I knew that if I could convince some good people to come work for me it would make a difference,” he said.

Kelley said he bought his first CNC machine two years ago and the company’s eighth machine was just delivered this month.

“Last year we finished the year with 12 employees. Now we just hired our 23rd employee,” he said.

Burriss Nelson, president of the Development Corp. of Anderson County and director of economic development for Anderson County, presents Michelin with an Employer Impact Award. Pictured, from left, Jonathan Wright, Burriss Nelson, Cauiss Holmes and Steve Miles. (Photo/Teresa Cutlip)

Sargent Metal was the award recipient in the medium category. The Anderson company has an innovation center and an 80,000-squre-foot manufacturing facility. It is a third generation, family-owned business providing customer metal fabrication solutions for more than 40 years.

“It’s all about the team. I’m blessed that I’m the senior leader, but it’s all about the team,” said company president and CEO Tim Sargent. “Without the team, nothing happens.”

Michelin received the award winner for the large company category. Michelin has 1,300 employees in Anderson County, according to Steve Miles, site manager at the company’s Starr facility.

“We have been in Anderson for 45 years now, and I’m telling you, we plan to be here another 45 years,” he said. “Our real purpose in life is to bring a better way forward, not just for our customers and employees but the community. We have to put our energies back into this community.”

Miles said 50% of the company’s managers started in entry level jobs and 75% of the salaried employees started at entry level jobs.

“When we hire someone at Michelin, we don’t hire them for a job, we hire them for a career,” he said.

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