U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker presented LaMotte Company’s Richard Rogers with the President’s “E” Award for Exports at a ceremony in Washington, DC on May 16th. The President’s “E” Award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. The Chestertown firm was the only one from the state of Maryland honored this year.
“LaMotte Company has demonstrated a sustained commitment to export expansion. The “E” Awards Committee was very impressed with LaMotte Company’s adaptation of its product line for export markets. The company’s use of strategic partnerships to gain market share in Europe was also particularly notable. LaMotte’s achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion efforts that support the U.S. economy and create American jobs,” said Secretary Pritzker in her congratulatory letter to the company announcing its selection as an award recipient.
LaMotte Company is a manufacturer of analysis equipment for water and soil. Much of their recent growth has come from the pool and spa industry as well as testing products for other water treatment applications around the globe.
“Exporting continues to be a foundation for sales growth, and we are honored to receive the “E” Award,” said Richard Rogers, Director of International Sales. “We have doubled our export sales in only 5 years! Now export sales account for 17 percent of our total sales and sales of seasonal products to regions below the equator have also contributed greatly to sustaining year-around jobs here at LaMotte.”
In 1961, President Kennedy signed an executive order reviving the World War II “E” symbol of excellence to honor and provide recognition to America’s exporters. Today, Secretary Pritzker honored 123 U.S. companies with the President’s “E” Award for their outstanding work to reduce barriers to foreign markets and to open the door to more trade around the world.
In 2015, U.S. exports totaled $2.23 trillion, accounting for nearly 13 percent of U.S. GDP. Nationally, exports contributed to the U.S. economy, supporting an estimated 11.5 million jobs.
U.S. companies are nominated for the “E” Awards through the Department of Commerce’s U.S. Commercial Service office network, located within the Department’s International Trade Administration, with offices in 108 U.S. cities and more than 70 countries.
Record years of successive export growth and an applicant’s demonstration of an innovative international marketing plan that led to the increase in exports is a significant factor in selecting the winners.
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