Creation Date: 07/06/2026

Location of Service: 62959-5222

Man-Tra-Con was honored to be nominated and selected as a Top 3 finalist in the Workforce Excellence category at the 2026 Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame and Excellence Awards. The nomination recognized the outstanding work of Man-Tra-Con's Business Services Team in developing Registered Apprenticeship Programs and building talent pipelines that strengthen the manufacturing workforce across Southern Illinois. The awards luncheon, sponsored by the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), was held on June 25 at the Westin Chicago Lombard Hotel. Established in 2024, the Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame recognizes the people, products, and companies that have made a lasting impact on the state's manufacturing industry. Being named a finalist was an incredible honor. As a nonprofit organization with fewer than 30 employees, Man-Tra-Con was recognized alongside industry leaders such as ADM, a global company operating on six continents with more than 270 processing plants, and Advance Lifts, an Illinois manufacturer whose products are sold nationwide.

While Man-Tra-Con did not take home the award, being recognized alongside organizations of that scale is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the impact of its workforce development efforts. This recognition demonstrates that you do not have to be a large organization to make a meaningful difference. Man-Tra-Con remains committed to strengthening the region's workforce and supporting the manufacturing industry, one of the key drivers of Southern Illinois' economy.