Duperon Corporation has been recognized as one of the "Michigan 50 Companies to Watch," an awards program sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation.
Duperon Corporation received the honor at awards ceremonies during the second annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event, April 19 in East Lansing . While Duperon Corporation was the only company from Saginaw to be recognized with a 2006 award, the company was joined by four other companies from the Midland area. Tammy Bernier, Vice President of Duperon Corporation, spoke of the award as a win for the team. "It's great to be acknowledged as a 'company to watch' in the state of Michigan . This validates the team's hard work and dedication that we – and many small businesses – bring to each day."
Companies nominated to be members of the "Michigan 50 Companies to Watch" list must be second-stage companies, defined as employing 6 to 99 full-time-equivalent employees and generating $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital in place from investors or grants. In addition, the companies must be privately held and headquartered in Michigan .
Duperon Corporation is a Saginaw , Michigan based manufacturer of mechanically cleaned barscreens. The company operates in both North American and international markets, including a number of Michigan wastewater treatment plants. This equipment is used to effectively manage wastewater, stormwater, raw water intakes, beautification and barriers for fish, manatees, and other aquatic life.
In September of 2005, Duperon Corporation received the opportunity to see just what a difference their equipment could make when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita occurred on the coastline of Louisiana , devastating many communities. Duperon sites operating fifty miles northeast of the Katrina landfall functioned perfectly during the worst the storm could offer, pulling so much waste and debris from the water that a Bobcat had to be brought in to remove it all! The clearing of debris enabled pumps in areas near Duperon sites to continue running, essential to prevent flooding in the area. The performance so impressed local government agencies that Duperon Corporation will be supporting those communities in future prevention efforts.
The father-daughter ownership team of Terry Duperon and Tammy Bernier has created an environment in which employees are encouraged to become entrepreneurial thinkers and innovators, incorporating their own thoughts and ideas into daily processes. This dynamic environment proved essential in 2005 as Duperon Corporation evolved from a company of fourteen full-time employees to a staff of twenty-four (nearly doubling the number of the previous year), all while experiencing a 25% sales increase, continuing the company's trend of the past four years.
Forecasts for 2006 promise much of the same growth, developments, and opportunities. Duperon Corporation will also be relocating its production operations to 3973 East Washington in June of 2006. The new production space will provide Duperon Corporation the room necessary to continue growing its rapidly expanding customer base.