The Orangeburg County Economic Development Commission named Rainer Mayer, managing director of Mayer World Group, parent company of Orangeburg’s Mayer Industries Inc., as Orangeburg County Economic Development Ambassador of the Year.

Mayer Industries general manager David Kay, received the award from Gov. Mark Sanford Monday at the Governor’s Mansion Complex as part of the kickoff of South Carolina’s 18th Annual Industry Appreciation Week.

Kay has served as the general manager for the past 25 years.

“Continuing industry really makes up the fabric of our community,” Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said, noting that this past year in the county saw about $134 million of new capital investment.

With many companies relocating overseas, Mayer has advocated keeping the company’s plant in Orangeburg County.

Mayer also enabled the Orangeburg County Development Commission to acquire 95 acres of property owned by the company for development into an industrial park near exit 145. The property is fully served by utility and rail.

“As we see petroleum costs continue to rise, how do we fight those issues through alternative values we add to companies and that is through rail,” Robinson said. “That is the reason we have recognized Mayer Industries this year.”

Mayers Industries, a manufacturer and distributor of braiding and high-pile machines, had its beginnings as Mayer & Cie in Tailfingen, Germany in 1905.

Because of the growing demand for the Mayer machines in the Americas, a decision was made to build a new factory in Orangeburg to be known as Mayer & Cie (USA).

Construction began on the plant in May, 1970 and the facility was completed in November of the same year.

At the end of 1974, the company merged with the Mac M. Rothkopf Co. and the name became Mayer Rothkopf Industries, Inc.

Two new product lines (being braiders and high pile machines) were added from 1975 until 1979.

On Jan. 1, 1985, the company became Mayer Wildman Industries, Inc. and in 1990, Mayer Industries Inc.

Under Rainer Mayer, the company has taken a lead in the community with its willingness to meet with prospects and promote the county.

Mayer is a native of Germany and earned a master’s degree in marketing and business.

Calhoun County

Calhoun County’s Economic Development Ambassador of the Year is Rich Bauer, CEO of Southeast Frozen Foods.

SFF added about 33,000 square feet of freezer space, invested about $4 million and added about 20 jobs at its Calhoun County plant a couple of years ago.

“Southeast Frozen Foods has been expanding ever since they came into the area,” Calhoun County Development Commission executive director Pat Black said. “They have taken the facility and made it into a first class distribution facility. Southeast Frozen Foods have been very good corporate citizens of Calhoun County ... and we are happy to have them in Calhoun County.”

Black also praised SFF’s South Carolina operations managers Ralph Sadler and David Miller.

“They found an opportunity and seized it,” Black said.

Southeast Frozen Foods arrived to Calhoun County about nine years ago. The company operates a 128,000-square-foot facility.

Bauer’s contributions to the economic development of Calhoun County through capital investment, employment opportunities and positive community relationships was cited as the reason for his recognition.

Bauer has led company growth in developing a new wholesale business. He has also developed a full-line food wholesale division within the company that has led to the expansion of the company’s facilities in Calhoun County.

Bauer has been with the company since 1993 and for the last four years was Chief Operating Officer. Previously he held various financial executive posts within the company.

Southeast Frozen Foods has five warehouse facilities with 600,000-square feet of space that distribute ice cream, frozen foods, fruit, vegetables, breads and pastries to 16 states.

Bamberg County

Bamberg County’s Economic Development Ambassador of the Year is John W. “Johnny” Williamson III.

Williamson, a lifelong resident of Denmark, is an entrepreneur and serves as the president of Williamson Ginnery in Denmark.

In addition, he serves as managing partner of Lynchburg Grain, managing partner of Carolina Soya, board member of Ecogy Biofuels, board chairman of the Jackson Companies and president of Carolina Eastern-Williamson.

Williamson has volunteered his time to meet with industrial prospects in recruitment efforts and played a role in creating the multi-county revenue sharing agreement among Bamberg, Barnwell, Allendale and Hampton counties.

He has also created a market for local soybean producers while establishing the first operational fully integrated biodiesel facility in the Southeastern United States.

In addition to his service as a vice chairman of the board of directors of SouthernCarolina Alliance, Williamson is a past chairman of the Palmetto AgriBusiness Council, a former member of the executive committee of the S.C. Transportation and Policy Council and current member of the Board of Directors of S.C. Bank & Trust, the S.C. Landowners Association, the S.C. Sportsman’s Caucus Foundation, and vice chairman of the S.C. Bio-mass Council.

Allendale County

Peter Grant Jr. was named the Economic Development Ambassador of the Year for Allendale County.

Grant is a chief executive officer of Grant Forest Products.

Grant Forest Products has invested more than $300 million in the company’s facility in Fairfax.

The investment, which brought more than 120 direct jobs to the area, was the largest economic development announcement in the state in 2005.

Barnwell County

John W. Boyd was named the Barnwell County Economic Development Ambassador of the Year.

Boyd has owned and operated Augusta Fiberglass Coatings Inc. for the past 30 years.

Augusta Fiberglass provides large stack liners and other products primarily serving the utility industry.

Recent events have created global market opportunities for Augusta Fiberglass and Boyd continues to expand this international company in Barnwell County.

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