The Manufacturers' Association honored four outstanding members and organizations that it partners with to support manufacturing at the Association's 115th annual event at PeoplesBank Park in York. Two honorees from Dauphin County and two manufacturers from the York County area were named in the categories of Manufacturing Trailblazer, Manufacturing Innovator, Manufacturing Partner and Manufacturer of the Year.

Manufacturing pioneer Milton S. Hershey from the Hershey Company received the Manufacturing Trailblazer award, which is bestowed by the association on the leaders of the past and present who help build the industry. Hershey began his manufacturing career following a four-year apprenticeship with a Lancaster candy maker. He eventually founded the Hershey Company, which now has sales of more than $8 billion, employs approximately 17,000 people and is known as a hub of high-tech food manufacturing. In 1909, Hershey created what is now the Milton Hershey School, which currently provides free education to about 2,000 low-income students per year. Accepting the award on behalf of Hershey was Star Gibbs, DEI/ESG programs manager from the Hershey Company.

The Manufacturing Innovator award was presented to Trola Industries of York for its investment in research and development and new product design. Trola invested more than $520,000 in research and development and capital investment over the past year, including a new on-site lab for prototypes and new tech demonstrations. A family business established in 1970, Trola Industries now employs 25 people.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship and Training received the Manufacturing Partner of the Year award for its commitment to working with the Association to improve the manufacturing community. The Apprenticeship Office has been promoting and expanding apprenticeships across Pennsylvania, which now has more than 17,000 active apprentices in the state. The team at the state office has supported the Manufacturers' Association in developing eight different trades to support its membership, including the four-year Robotics Automation Apprenticeship in Pennsylvania that was launched in April. Deputy Secretary Sheila Ireland and apprenticeship office director Tara Loew accepted the award on behalf of the department and office.

Wolfgang Confectioners, a 100-year-old candy manufacturer, received the Manufacturer of the Year award. This year, Wolfgang announced an investment of more than $3.5 million in a building expansion, which will add another production line and will add nearly 100 new jobs. In the past few years, Wolfgang has built a new factory, expanded four production lines and grown from 19 full-time employees to more than 400 full-time employees. Accepting the award on behalf of Wolfgang Confectioners was Michelle Finch, director of operations.

For more information about the Manufacturers' Association, visit http://www.mascpa.org.