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From left, Morito Scovill President and CEO Bunki Yano, CSO Shane McEntyre, Sen. Bo Hatchett and Rep. Victor Anderson greet one another at Scovill’s 220th anniversary celebration Wednesday. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff -
From left, Misty Yeadon, Angela Savage, Tajuana Watts, Mary Brotherton and Rodney Phongsavanh applaud during Scovill’s 220th anniversary celebration Wednesday. BRIAN WELLMEIER/Staff
Local leaders and members of the community flocked to Morito Scovill America’s (MSA) headquarters in Clarkesville Wednesday in recognition of the company and its impact on Habersham County in its 220 years of operation.
Scovill is a supply chain network and provider of fasteners for apparel, industrial applications and machine equipment that operates in more than 25 countries around the world, according to the company’s website.
President and CEO Bunki Yano was the first to speak to the crowd of more than 200 people in attendance Wednesday.
“Since 1802, MSA has been a leading supplier of high performance fasteners,” Yano said. “We put great value on the relationships we have with our employees and partners and the community.”
State Rep. Victor Anderson also spoke at length to those gathered outside MSA headquarters and referenced what he described as historic context as he commended the company and its 220 years of service as a company and community staple.
“We think about the history of manufacturing in northeast Georgia,” Anderson said. “It’s really a story of two things: it’s a story of adaptation but it’s also a story of resilience. Adaptation comes from businesses that adapted to the needs from what they originally began as…adaptation for product need but also for workforce availability…we continue to grow.
“We continue to develop. We continue to adapt, but we also have resilient businesses, and I’m standing right in front of one of the most resilient buildings in Habersham County.”
“[MSA] has been a staple,” he said. “It’s been a pillar in our community. We thank the Scovill family. We thank the Morito family, and the business for continuing to use and take advantage of the beautiful hills of Habersham and make this their U.S. headquarters.”
Sen. Bo Hatchett commended MSA and its employees for the company’s pivotal role in the manufacturing industry in northeast Georgia.
“One of the reasons why Scovill’s been such a great success is you’ve got a great product. You have employers that take care of their employees, but most importantly, you’ve got great, hard workers, and that’s you guys,” Hatchett said. “When businesses across the state look to relocate or open up in a certain area, they ask, ‘What’s the infrastructure like?’...the biggest thing in infrastructure is the workforce.”
“My goal is to make sure this area stays a place where my kids would want to bring their kids and raise their family one day,” he added. “I think it starts with having good jobs like you have here, having hard working people and having a good community. I think the future is bright. I really do.”
Each of the speakers were received by waves of applause by employees, residents and supporters who turned out from across the community.
Chief Sales Officer Shane McEntyre expressed to The Northeast Georgian the pride he felt at Wednesday’s spectacle as both a long-time resident and Scovill employee.
“As a life-long resident of Habersham County that has been employed with Morito Scovill Americas for 33 years, I was honored to be a part of the 220 Year Anniversary Celebration,” McEntyre said.
“Sharing the day with our current and past associates, local officials and community leaders and some of our largest customers and vendors is something I don’t take for granted, and is something everyone at MSA should be proud of.”
Scovill is one of the largest employers in Habersham County and a top manufacturer in the region.