Excellence in Manufacturing | A manufacturer that has developed new products and/or processes, won awards for ingenuity, or been recognized for simply being a great place to work.
Durable Products, Inc.
Cumberland County | 137 Dayton Spur Rd., Crossville
(931) 484-3502
A leading source for custom manufactured rubber and polyurethane products, Durable Products, Inc. has been serving the Upper Cumberland and beyond for more than 35 years. Committed to superior products and customer service, DPI has the ability to meet individual needs and specifications of nearly any project.
While Mike Dalton, president of DPI couldn’t go into specifics, he says they have unique design and manufacturing capabilities that set them apart.
“That’s how we keep it unique,” Dalton said with a laugh.
Their multiple process capabilities also ensure competitive and cost-effective pricing. The company also received Diamond Supplier Status from Navistar earlier this year – winners of this award represent the top two percent of the company’s supply base. DPI employs approximately 125 people and has two locations in Crossville.
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Ficosa
Putnam County | 2991 Highlands Park Blvd., Cookeville
(931) 432-9000
Ficosa, a top-tier automotive provider whose specialty is manufacturing rear-view systems for major automotive brands around the world, is now a two-time Ovation Award winner.
In 2016 they set a record with $193.54 million in new rearview mirror contracts. Currently employing roughly 500 people, they plan on expanding to account for the new growth of the company. The plant is said to increase production to an all-time high of 27.3 million units by 2021.
The Cookeville plant is one of the company’s most advanced facilities around the world. All of their plants in the Tennessee area represent the company’s $50 million investment to boost business.
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Academy Sports + Outdoors
Putnam County | 4700 Bennett Rd., Cookeville
(931) 476-2500
The Academy Sports + Outdoors distribution center in Cookeville is responsible for distributing products to its network of stores across the Midwest. The facility has been a major economic catalyst since opening in 2016; projected to bring roughly 700 jobs to the Cookeville area over the next five years.
Located just outside the Highland’s Business Park, the 1.6 million square foot facility helps supply 210 stores across 15 states. Recently Academy officials have also discussed opening a store at the proposed Eagle’s Point development along Interstate Drive in Cookeville
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SAIC
Putnam County | 10 W. Broad St., Cookeville
(865) 298-6500
SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation), a technical, engineering, intelligence and IT provider, headquartered in McLean, Va., SAIC employs roughly 15,000. The Cookeville location is expected to grow to 100 employees in its first year and plans to hire approximately 300 over a five-year period. SAIC shares space in the Regions Bank Building in downtown Cookeville, space that it’s leasing directly from Tennessee Tech University.
While work won’t be technically considered classified, it is considered sensitive. Special provisions will be made to protect government equipment and data. The Department of Defense accounts for about 66 percent of SAIC’s overall customer mix. This summer, the group was awarded a contract for a project they’ll locate in Cookeville. A formal announcement of that project is expected at a later date.
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Fitzgerald and affiliate companies
Locations in Pickett, Overton, White, Fentress and Cumberland counties
The Fitzgerald name is well-known throughout the Upper Cumberland. With affiliate companies in Middle Tennessee providing services ranging from collision and repairs to glider kits and, most recently, sales, the Tennessee-based company is a leader in the commercial trucks industry across the United States.
The company recently invested $9 million in new facilities in Rickman and Sparta; expected to create 220 jobs in Overton and White counties. The company also started a vocational program with TCAT of Livingston, which offers training to students on commercial fleet truck repair and maintenance.
This is the second time Fitzgerald has received an Ovation Award; the first was for the Spirit of Entrepreneurship in 2016.
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View our other Ovations 2017 category winners here:
- OVATIONS 2017 | Best Individual or Corporate Citizen/Leadership
- OVATIONS 2017 | Excellence in Tourism Promotion
- OVATIONS 2017 | Favorite Professional Services
- OVATIONS 2017 | Favorite Restaurant, Food or Drink
- OVATIONS 2017 | Favorite Retail Establishment
- OVATIONS 2017 | Spirit of Entrepreneurship
