Awards to recognize dozens of businesses

About 25 companies will be honored by state and local economic development agencies next month for moving their businesses to the region or undertaking substantial growth.

The awards will come during the 19th Annual Governor's Industry Appreciation Awards Dinner Oct.

9 at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks.

The event is co-hosted by the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and the Northern Nevada Development Authority in cooperation with the Nevada Commission on Economic Development.

Keynote speaker will be Ralph Whitworth, founder and principal of Relational Investors LLC, an asset management firm located in San Diego with assets of $2.1 billion.

Whitworth, who grew up in Winnemucca, will discuss how he applies the values and business principles he learned in rural Nevada to multi-billion dollar corporate turnarounds.

Whitworth has been recognized for his outspoken views on corporate ethics and excessive executive compensation years before Enron and other corporate scandals.

Taiyo America Inc.

will receive the "Distinguished Business Award." Taiyo America in May received foreign-trade subzone status for its manufacturing facility in Carson City.

General Motors Service Parts Operation will receive the inaugural "Commitment to Nevada Award" for its continued commitment to northern Nevada by building a 404,000-squarefoot facility at Stead.

Other companies being recognized include: A.R.E.

Inc., Blast Deflectors, Inc., Cellular Warehouse, Credit Payment Services, Inc., Fluke Biomedical Corp., Gary Platt Manufacturing, Inc., Greatbatch-Sierra, Inc., Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Horizon USA, Interplex International LLC, Intuit - Outsourced Payroll, ITS Logistics, Johns Manville, Patmont Motor Werks, Inc., PME Babbitt Bearings, RANPAK Corp., Solecon Laboratories, Inc., Sonoma Scientific, Inc., Starbucks Manufacturing Corp., Steam Turbine Blading & Parts, LLC, Tessco Technologies, Inc.

and Triangle Labs, Inc.

The Industry Appreciation Awards Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m.

with a nohost reception followed by dinner and the program at 6:45 p.m.

Tickets are $100 per person or $1,000 for a table of 10 and may be purchased by calling Rita Sadler at EDAWN at 829-3733.