The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced its International Trade division’s 2020 GLOBE Award recipients. This state-led awards program highlights Georgia companies that entered new international markets in the previous year. During calendar year 2019, GLOBE winners from 17 counties across Georgia collectively entered 75 new international markets.
“Success in global markets takes commitment and hard work. Our Georgia made products and services are making a mark around the world,” said Governor Kemp. “We’re proud to celebrate these companies for their contributions to a thriving Georgia economy through exports.”
The 2020 GLOBE Award winners represent nearly every corner of the state, and are predominately small businesses. This year, 84% of the recipients employ fewer than 100 people, with 52% of the winning companies employing fewer than 20 people. In addition, nearly half of the winners this year entered one of the 12 markets where GDEcD has international representation.
“We are excited to celebrate our 31 GLOBE Award winners. The strong international framework our trade team and our Georgia exporters have established over the past several years has kept Georgia on a solid trajectory, despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “From aerospace manufacturing to agriculture, nearly every sector of our economy is represented among our awardees, proving how exporting and the state’s strong international partnerships help strengthen Georgia’s economic vitality.”
Four outstanding companies were also recognized as 2020 Exporters of the Year. These four small, mid-size and large exporters of the year are highlighted here. A digital image of the crystal GLOBE Award that will be presented to recipients is also available here.
The 2020 Exporters of the Year are:
- Exporter of the Year, small company: Poriferous, LLC, Newnan
- Exporter of the Year, mid-size company: Sunnyland Farms, Inc., Albany
- Exporter of the Year, mid–size company:Vital4, Marietta
- Exporter of the Year, large company: Zcorum, Alpharetta
*** Additional details about each of the winners follow below. ***
In addition, Parts and Repair Technical Services, Inc., in Stockbridge, was recognized for excellence as a new exporter. P.A.R.T.S. Inc. represents more than 140 U.S. aircraft parts manufacturers, specializing in urgent, non-stock listed, hard-to-find, or obsolete parts, and has emerged as a trusted and well-known partner to countries across the world.
A complete list of the 2020 GLOBE Award winners:
- AGRI International LLC, Atlanta
- American 3B Scientific, LP, Tucker
- Crider Foods, Stillmore
- DataSeers, Alpharetta
- Easy Bar Inc., Kennesaw
- Fischer Connectors, Inc., Alpharetta
- Hydro Dynamics, Inc., Rome
- Inno Concepts Inc. dba CocoaTown, Alpharetta
- Jetaire Group, Fayetteville
- LivFul, Inc., Alpharetta
- Matrix Surgical USA, Atlanta
- Okabashi Brands Inc., Buford
- One-World, Inc., Tucker
- Osborne Wood Products, Inc., Toccoa
- Parts and Repair Technical Services Incorporated, Stockbridge
- Patientory, Inc., Atlanta
- Petrolern LLC, Brookhaven
- Plurium Technology, LLC, Peachtree Corners
- Poriferous, LLC, Newnan
- Rackettown Mustangs, Lyons
- RCF Technologies, Vidalia
- Richland Distilling Company, Richland
- Rotorcorp LLC, Atlanta
- Sunnyland Farms, Inc., Albany
- The Seydel Companies, Pendergrass
- THERMOCOAX, Alpharetta
- Trans Globe, Woodstock
- UNITED SOFT PLASTICS, Lawrenceville
- Valtorc International, Kennesaw
- Vital4, Marietta
- Zcorum, Alpharetta
“Our entire International Trade team looks forward to celebrating our GLOBE Award winners every year,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Deputy Commissioner for International Trade Mary Waters. “I’m very proud not only of our winners’ exceptional international achievements, but also of the guidance and tailored information our trade team has been able to equip them with every step of the way.”
The GLOBE Awards program began in 2014 as a way to recognize local businesses contributing to Georgia’s economic growth through global trade. Since its inception, the GLOBE Awards have recognized nearly 200 Georgia businesses from 48 counties across the state who entered new international markets.
For additional information about the state’s International Trade team, visit www.georgia.org/international/trade.
Exporter of the Year, small company: Poriferous, LLC
Based in Newnan, Poriferous specializes in porous polyethylene surgical implants used in rhinoplasties and facial aesthetics. Additional information can be found online at www.poriferous.com.
Exporter of the Year, mid-size company: Sunnyland Farms, Inc.
Based in Albany, Sunnyland specializes in delivering gourmet nuts, candies and confections directly to consumers. The company also sells wholesale pecans directly to businesses. Additional information can be found online at www.sunnylandfarms.com.
Exporter of the Year, mid–size company: Vital4
Based in Marietta, female-owned Vital4 provides data to corporations to prevent bribery, corruption, terrorism, money laundering and other security risks. The company has found a great need for their services in other countries. Vital4 won the 2018 Metro Atlanta Export Challenge and came in second place at the Metro Atlanta Pitch Challenge in 2019. Additional information about Vital4 can be found online at https://vital4.net/.
Exporter of the Year, large company: Zcorum
Based in Alpharetta, ZCorum provides software tools and management services such as engineering and customer support to cable, telephone, fiber and wireless companies globally. Additional information can be found online at www.zcorum.com.
About GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts and location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Visit www.georgia.org for more information.
