Judges select SBJ’s Coolest Things

Sixteen products manufactured across southwest Missouri were selected for inclusion in Springfield Business Journal’s third annual Coolest Things Made in the Ozarks awards program.

The finalists reflect the diversity of the local manufacturing community. Statewide, there are nearly 7,600 manufacturing businesses employing more than 282,000 people, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

A selection committee evaluated the products based on the uniqueness, innovation and economic impact of their products.

The 2024 companies and products are:

• 27North Inc., RexRover
• All Roads Taken LLC, Adventure Badges
• Askinosie Chocolate LLC, Davao, Philippines White Chocolate Bar
• College of the Ozarks, Classic Pepper Jelly
• Concepts by Design Inc., Custom cabinets, closets and millwork
• Digital Monitoring Products Inc., XR550 Intrusion, Access Control and Fire Alarm Panel
• Grimbeard Leather, Adventure Journal
• Hiland Dairy Foods Co. LLC, Outlaw Run Ice Cream
• L&W Industries LLC, Signal cantilever
• Limo Land Inc., Limousines, executive vans and buses
• Link Electronics Inc., The Automated Captioning Engine Series
• Missouri Ridge Distillery LLC, Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
• Mother’s Brewing Co. LLC, Materfamilias Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
• Point One LLC, Billet Aluminum Engine Block
• Tunetti Natural Soap, Jewelweed Bar Soap
• The Coffee Ethic LLC, Single-origin coffee

In addition to company awards, Carl Kicklighter, director of plant operations at Vital Farms Inc. was selected as Plant Manager of the Year.

Public voting to select the Voter’s Choice Award is live through Feb. 16 at SBJ.net/CoolestThings. The Feb. 12 edition of SBJ will feature profiles on the products.

The Best in Show Award, selected by event attendees, will be determined at an awards ceremony on Feb. 29. The selection committee’s special awards will also be announced at the event.