In 2008, Southwest Michigan First honored 27 companies and two organizations that have created almost 6,000 jobs and nearly $2 billion in wealth in Southwest Michigan.

The companies and their contributions were announced at the ceremony held on December 10, 2008, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo. Southwest Michigan First Chairman, William D. Johnston, and Southwest Michigan First Chief Executive Officer, Ron Kitchens, presented the awards to each recipient.

2008 Catalyst Award recipients include:

• Accretive Health
• AT&T
• Bridge Organics Co.
• Business Intelligence Associates
• City of Kalamazoo
• Co-Dee Stamping Inc.
• DesignWare, an American Greetings Company
• Dimplex Thermal Solutions
• Eaton Corporation
• Fabri-Kal Corporation
• Graphic Packaging International Inc.
• Great Lakes Aviation Holdings Inc.
• HECO, Inc.
• Metabolic Solutions Development Co.
• IndyMac Bank
• J. Sterling Industries Ltd.
• Kaiser Aluminum Corporation
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation
• Micronics, Inc.
• Monteris Medical, Inc.
• MPI Research
• NephRx Corporation
• OtoMedicine, Inc.
• Parker Aerospace - Hydraulic Systems Division
• Pfizer Animal Health
• Rapid Repair
• Schupan & Sons, Inc.
• Summit Polymers, Inc.
• Tolera Therapeutics, Inc.

2008 Catalyst Award recipients (center) are pictured with William D. Johnston (left), Chairman of Southwest Michigan First, and Ron Kitchens (right), Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Michigan First.
 

Karen Sebastian of Accretive Health		Terry Mulvihill of AT&T		Ed Hessler of Bridge Organics Co.
Brian Schreader of Business Intelligence Associates		Jerri Barnett-Moore of City of Kalamazoo		z Clint Neil of Co-Dee Stamping Inc.
Bob Kusinski of DesignWare, an American Greetings Company		Curt Hutchins of Eaton Corporation		John Kittredge of Fabri-Kal Corporation
Ron Kelly of Graphic Packaging International Inc.		Tod Anderson of Great Lakes Aviation Holdings Inc.		Mark Hatfield of HECO, Inc.
David Van Slingerland of J. Sterling Industries Ltd.		Jason Harloff of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation		Jerry Colca of Metabolic Solutions Development Co.
Jim Epolito of Michigan Economic Development Corporation		Dr. Fred Battrell of Micronics, Inc.		William McGinnis of NephRx Corporation
Clark Bennett of OtoMedicine, Inc.		Paul Chase of Parker Aerospace - Hydraulic Systems Division		Cathy Knupps of Pfizer Animal Health
Aaron Vronko of Rapid Repair		Mark Schupan of Schupan & Sons, Inc.		Greg Goodman of Summit Polymers, Inc.
Jim Herrmann of Tolera Therapeutics, Inc.