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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Business awards
scheduled for
governor’s mansionGOV. Linda Lingle has a secret.
None of her people are talking.
Not even on a "C'mon, just between you and me" basis.
The cat will stay the bag until the 2003 Governor's Exporter of the Year is named at an invitation-only awards program Oct. 2 at Washington Place.
"The governor makes that announcement," said Steve Lee, economic development specialist with the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.
The awardee is not necessarily the company that has exported the highest dollar value in products, technologies or services.
"A lot of it has to do with creativity and marketing, accessing new markets," Lee said. Performance and expansion, partnering and new product introduction are among the other criteria.
Previous winners include Kamakura Corp. last year, Hawaii Foliage Exports Inc. in 2001, Adtech Inc. in 2000, Pomare Ltd. in 1999 and Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo in 1998, the program's inaugural year.
Each was also the winner of an industry category the year it took the overall prize. Categories include exporters of high technology, fresh commodities, professional services, manufactured products, export trading companies and new exporters.
"There's always a surprise every year as to the types of companies that are the award winners. We want to recognize them," Lee said.
Winners are allowed to use the Exporter Award logo in self-promotion while a separate local publicity and promotional campaign will feature the companies' contribution toward making Hawaii a business center in the Asia-Pacific region.
Awards are also presented to outstanding contributors to exporting. "They grow the industry," he said.
Hawaii-registered companies and the banks, accountants and other organizations who love them enter the competition beginning in April. Sponsors who nominate winners also get a nod.
"We do want to recognize them because they really play a part in the company's success," Lee said.
The list of previous year's winners also yields another, unspoken ranking -- best sponsorship track record. Bank of Hawaii has sponsored eight winners, City Bank has sponsored seven and First Hawaiian Bank has six winning nominees.
The state Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii, Small Business Administration and Pacific Business News are the program's other sponsors.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com
