Paparazzi: Ann Arbor's O&W receives national recognition

"For more than seven decades, our family company has been committed to the community and doing the right thing at every turn, and we wanted to make sure we don't let up even in tough economic times," O&W President James Wanty said.

"Like many other folks in this tough economy, we tightened our belts and did more with less, but we never let that affect our ability to provide quality products and service," Wanty added. "In tough times, we feel it's even more important to support our community, local jobs and clean American energy."

In 2009, O&W won several state and national recognitions and awards, including the 2009 Miller High Life Achievement Award Winner, which recognizes O&W for its top performances in several categories, such as total sales volume; First place in Michigan for the National Summer Displays Matter program, which recognizes most displays in the market during the three-month summer season; and First place in Michigan for the National Tap-the-Market Contest, which recognizes most new draft handles in the market for its brand in the September-December period.

In 2009, O&W's investments in energy efficiency and clean energy included increased bio-diesel use for its delivery truck, from a 6-percent blend in 2008 to a 20-percent blend in 2009, completion of a light replacement project for the warehouse, with the installation of 10 motion sensors and the replacement of 160 metal halide lights with T5 florescent tubes that require 60 percent less energy, installation of four 24-foot powered fans to naturally cool and heat the warehouse and installation of five new energy-efficient seals on the loading docks to make them more airtight and the area drier during rain and snow.

In addition, O&W also donated more than $50,000 to community organizations and charities, including the University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital, the U-M pharmacy school and the U-M cardiovascular clinic; Humane Society of Washtenaw County; Rotary Clubs in Ann Arbor and Trenton; Ypsilanti Heritage Festival; Ann Arbor Summer Festival; Food Gatherers; Ann Arbor Police Adopt-a-Family; Catholic Social Services; Big Brothers Big Sisters; Habitat for Humanity; Westland Festival; Urban Farming and Sharehouse of Ann Arbor.

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