Banquet will honor top industry

The crowd count may be down this year, but more than 500 people are expected to attend the annual Industrial Week Dinner, to be held Wednesday at the Show Me Center.

Highlight of the event will be the presentation of the "Commitment to Excellence" award, honoring the 2001 Industry of the Year.

"The dinner honors area industries," said John Mehner, president of Cape Gir-ardeau Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the annual event.

Carl E. Hurley, a former educator who left a professorship at Eastern Kentucky University to become a full-time speaker and entertainer, will be featured speaker at the dinner.

The doors open at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m.

More than 650 people attended last year's event, but chamber officials say this year's reservations are down, because of the recent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

AIM nominee

This week's winner will be nominated for the 2002 Industry of the Year, which will be presented by the Associated Industries of Missouri in April.

AIM's program is dedicated to showcasing the innovations, entrepreneurial spirit, leadership and economic success of Missouri industry. The AIM program included awards in three categories -- employers of 50 or fewer Missouri-based employees; employers of 51 to 250 employees; and employees with 251 or more.

Each year, the chamber nominates small and big businesses for the state program. Rose Concrete Products Inc., and Kwik Kopy Printing shared small business honors here earlier this year.

Criteria for both the Small Business of the Year and the Industry of the Year, include business resources and personal leadership skills in making a contribution to the area.

Dana Corp. was last year's Cape Girardeau winner. The firm, a manufacturer of components for the center section of driving axles on vehicles, was also a winner in 1993.