Opinion: SWMO steel, barrels, tractors spotted in Napa Valley

The 2013 Business Class top honorees returned home Oct. 25 from a three-day executive retreat in Napa Valley compliments of UMB Bank. I had the distinct pleasure to be along for the ride for the second year in a row.

As you may recall, Springfield Business Journal, in partnership with UMB Bank, BKD LLP and Lathrop & Gage LLP, hosted the second-annual Business Class awards luncheon in June. Ten local companies, selected as finalists by an independent panel of judges, attended the luncheon and recognition event to learn who would receive the top honors and the “golden tickets” to California wine country. Joining the ranks of last year’s winners were Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Jack Henry & Associates Inc., O’Reilly Hospitality Management LLC, Prime Inc. and CNH Reman LLC. Additionally, Penmac Staffing Services Inc. was awarded top honors in both years.

A top executive and guest from each winning company were invited to join representatives of UMB’s top management and representatives from each of the sponsoring companies on this exclusive tour of some of Napa’s finest dining, wineries and remote landscapes. Napa Valley Lodge in Yountville, Calif., was home base during the trip and provided the setting for an economic outlook briefing from UMB’s senior vice president and managing director of fixed income, Eric Kelley, followed by a roundtable discussion with the honorees that focused on the outlook for their unique industries and the conditions under which they are thriving. This year’s trip proved to be every bit as awe inspiring, informative and bountiful as the last, but also left me with some new impressions I think are worth sharing.

More than once along this journey we saw evidence of Missouri’s impact in Napa. Last year, we were surprised to see Paul Mueller Co. wine storage tanks in all of the finest wineries. This year, we went in looking for them. It was with some element of pride that one member of the group or another would inform the winemaker their shiny tanks came from our hometown.

As we now know, Mueller dominates the wine market with more than half of the storage tanks used in the United States made in Springfield. Though, it was the Silver Oak Winery in Napa this year that informed us nearby Higbee has a piece of Missouri’s barrel market as well. Since the early 1970s, A&K Cooperage, just north of Columbia, has provided the American oak barrels used by Silver Oak. The winemaker claims the Missouri barrels, “carrying the perfect balance of spice and vanilla” are essential to their wines. The high-quality barrels are so crucial, Silver Oak Winery formed a partnership with A&K Cooperage in 2000 to ensure their long-term availability.

Our local reach doesn’t stop there. As Tom Hilmes, general manager of CNH Reman and SRC Powersystems Inc., looked out over the expansive orchards, he was seeing more than the grapes. He was looking for blue tractors. Hilmes explained New Holland, a CNH Reman original engine manufacturer partner, has been a leader in niche market vineyard tractors for years.

“New Holland is very important to CNH Reman,” Hilmes says, “because we supply their dealerships across North America with remanufactured engines, transmissions and other components to keep their tractors in the field.”

Similarly, Joseph Johnson, attorney and partner with Lathrop & Gage LLP, visited each winery with an appreciation for the unique challenges every winemaker faces as they introduce new wines to the market. Johnson specializes in assisting clients with new product design, development, commercialization and federal regulatory compliance. He said the wine business, as also is true of our local breweries, is heavily regulated by the U.S. government.

In addition to the insights and individual perspectives we all brought to this retreat, we shared a common experience and lasting appreciation for the accomplishments of the local 2013 “best in class.”

As someone, somewhere once said, “The best wines are the ones we drink with friends.” I look forward to continuing to build on the friendships and business relationships that began in wine country the last two years. Cheers to Business Class 2013!

SBJ Publishing Inc. Publisher Jennifer Jackson can be reached at jjackson@sbj.net.