L’ANSE, Michigan (January 22, 2014) – L’Anse Manufacturing, Inc. was one of four Upper Peninsula businesses to receive an Award of Excellence for 2013 during the annual meeting of Operation Action U.P. (OAUP) Tuesday in Marquette.

The OAUP Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding businesses or major institutional employers that have contributed to the economic well-being of the Upper Peninsula. The awards were presented during the group’s 50th anniversary meeting at Northern Michigan University.

Mark was nominated by Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region Executive Director Kim Stoker and MTEC SmartZone CEO Marilyn Clark for leadership. According to his nomination, “Mark answered the call to help reorganize the Western Upper Peninsula Workforce Development Board. He stood up when no one else would and took the appropriate actions to get the organization working again to help job seekers and employers in the western U.P.”

The nomination continued to say, “Everyone knows that without the skilled workforce to fill open jobs and attract new employers to an area, there would be little or no economic growth. Without Mark’s leadership these things might not have happened. He took the time out of his busy schedule and attended the meetings, reviewed the paperwork and put things back on track. We in the western U.P. are grateful for his leadership and his community values.”

During the awards ceremony, Mark spoke about L’Anse Manufacturing’s commitment to educating and training employees. “The focus on training is supported by the approach that our strength is in people. Training and building cognitive skills is a key attribute for successful companies. I’d like to thank all in the U.P. who each and every day, work  diligently to make the U.P. a better place to live. Without everyone’s efforts, awards like this would not be possible,” he said.

OAUP is a privately-funded economic development organization in Michigan. Their mission is to bring together interested industrial corporations, financial institutions, utilities, institutions of higher learning, businesses and concerned citizens in a coalition that will work to create a favorable economic climate and strong employment base for the U.P.

For more information about Operation Action U.P., visit www.operationactionup.org.

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