FISHER/UNITECH recognized as One of the 2010 "Michigan 50 Companies to Watch"

TROY, Mich - FISHER/UNITECH has been recognized as one of the 2010 “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch,” an awards program sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation and presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. FISHER/UNITECH will be honored at an awards ceremony during the sixth annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event, April 29th in Lansing, Michigan.

The foundation of FISHER/UNITECH’s application for the award was the company’s focus on social and community responsibility in 2009. Faced with unstable economic conditions, the company launched a very successful community service program to retrain displaced engineers, increasing their marketability and skill development. While the industry was reeling from the negative impact of a 14% and growing unemployment rate in Michigan, FISHER/UNITECH announced “No Engineer Left Behind,” a comprehensive training program that equated to a $250,000 goodwill investment into the local manufacturing community. The company’s efforts resulted in the delivery of three-day training classes to over 250 displaced workers throughout an eight state area.

“I’m thrilled to be recognized as part of an elite group of Michigan small businesses for giving back to the community,” said Charles Hess, president of FISHER/UNITECH. “In addition to successfully executing No Engineer Left Behind, our team achieved Michigan Proprietary School status in 2009, meaning we provide unemployed workers with software and training packages paid for by state-funded grants. By coupling these two programs we hope to have a positive impact on the re-employment of engineers throughout the state of Michigan. We have obtained or applied for a similar status in each of the other states we operate in.”

“Now 300 strong, the second-stage businesses that comprise the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch have not only persevered through challenging times, but also found opportunities to grow,” says Penny Lewandowski, Director of Entrepreneurship Development at the Edward Lowe Foundation. “They continue to hire and develop new markets for their products and services. They are making a substantial difference in their communities – and their industries. Our 2010 inductees are proof that entrepreneurs are, and always have been, the future of Michigan’s economy.”

Companies making it to the “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” list are defined as having 6 to 99 full-time-equivalent employees and generating $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants.