I like to mention companies and industry folks in that are making a difference in their communities. Unfortunately, with the technical troubles we had earlier this week, I've got a bit of a backlog.

So let's recognize some worthy honorees in this round-up post:

Mack Group Inc.'s Dwalin DeBoer named a Vermont Rising Star

Dwalin DeBoer, business unit director, Orthopaedics & Disposable Medical Devices, has been selected by Vermont Business Magazine as a Vermont Rising Star. The list of 40 winners under the age of 40 was selected from over 120 nominations.

DeBoer is big on community support, including youth sports and education. She has served as an assistant coach for Bennington Soccer for three years, and she is serving her second two-year term as vice president of AIM (Adults Interested in Monument), the Monument School PTA.

DeBoer, a chemical engineer educated at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, joined Mack 12 years ago. She previously worked at Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, GE Plastics and Monsanto Plastics.

At Mack, she heads MackMedical's new business unit that focuses on the orthopedic and disposable medical device markets. 


Aakash Chemicals recognized by Inc. Magazine two years in a row

Aakash Chemicals has once again been named as one of Inc. Magazine's "Fastest Growing Private Companies in America."

The company attributed its rapid growth to its existing product line (Organic Pigments, Amide Waxes, Ketonic /PVB Resins, Specialty Dyes), as sales expanded from North America into South America, Europe, and Asia.

The company also started a new line of FD&C Dyes (FDA approved), nylon resins, and opened a new pigment dispersion plant in Savannah, Ga.


Chroma Corp. named McHenry County Business Champion 2012

Chroma Corp. has received the McHenry County, Illinois, Business Champion Award. The award was presented at the annual MCEDC dinner with over 400 leaders of small businesses in the local Community.

The 45-year-old company added 13 pieces of equipment over the last two years to its McHenry production facility to activate a quicker turn around and implement shorter lead times on its growing small-order segment of the business. Tom Bolger, Chroma's President and CEO, said the company's green technology has allowed it to reduce its carbon footprint and Chroma is continuing to invent products requiring less energy to be produced. 


Laboratory Testing named a "Best Place to Work in Pennsylvania"

Hatfield, Pa.-based Laboratory Testing Inc., an independent materials testing, nondestructive testing and metrology laboratory, was recently included in a Best Places to Work in Pa. for 2012.

The company has been a past entrant and winner in the 2002, 2009 and 2011 awards programs.

The Best Places to Work program was designed in 2000 to identify, recognize and honor the best employers in Pennsylvania. The statewide survey and awards program is a partnership between Team Pennsylvania Foundation, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the Central Penn Business Journal and Best Companies Group. 

Laboratory Testing is in the small/medium category with 25-250 employees. Rankings will be announced Nov. 29.