February 8, 2010
Contact: Sally Lunsford 785-296-5708 or sally.lunsford@kslottery.net

Kansas Lottery Revenue Supports
Governor's Exporter of the Year Program

Each year, the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award is presented to a Kansas company for excellence in international trade and marketing. The award encourages the growth of the state’s international commerce by showcasing successful exporters as role models to the Kansas business community. The recipients are prime examples of how exporting is a significant catalyst for company growth and diversification.

This year marks the 22nd year for the Governor’s Exporter of the Year program. The 2010 winner will be announced in June by Governor Mark Parkinson at the Kansas Cavalry Encampment, the state’s top business awards ceremony. Last year, the prestigious award was won by Cereal Ingredients, a company that was recruited to Leavenworth from Missouri in 2005. Cereal Ingredients is a privately held, employee-owned specialty ingredients manufacturer which exports nearly 30 percent of its products.

“Cereal Ingredients is incredibly honored to have received this prestigious award last year,” said Robert Hatch, President and CEO of Cereal Ingredients. “We want to thank the Kansas Lottery for the revenue it generates that makes it possible to showcase Kansas companies annually with the Department of Commerce’s Exporter of the Year program.”

Other past winners of the Governor’s Exporter of the Year award include: Salina Vortex Corporation; The Bradbury Group; Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.; BG Products, Inc.; Tramco, Inc.; American Crane & Tractor Parts, Inc.; Butler National Corporation: Landoll Corporation; Innovative Material Systems; Cobalt Boats; Glendo Corporation; Pioneer Balloon Company; Roto-Mix Inc.; Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.; Kreonite; Interconnect Devices, Inc.; Peabody Tectank, Inc.; Didde Web Press Corporation; M-E-C Company; and Wenger Manufacturing, Inc.

“For the past two decades, the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award has been our way of recognizing the Kansas companies that are doing great things in international trade,” said Secretary of Commerce Bill Thornton. “The competition has become increasingly competitive over the years, which is the direct result of more and more Kansas companies having success in international trade – and that’s certainly a good thing.”

The Kansas Lottery congratulates all past and future winners of the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award and is pleased to support a program that recognizes their important contributions to the Kansas economy.

The Kansas Lottery has a positive impact on the state’s economy by supporting activities of the Kansas Department of Commerce, including the Governor’s Exporter of the Year program. This program is paid for with money from the Economic Development initiatives Fund (EDIF), which is derived from Kansas Lottery proceeds.