The Cornerstone Award is generally considered a lifetime achievement award for a business that has had significant impact on the community. Criteria was established for this award and nominations were taken. A committee evaluated each nomination and decided this year’s winner based on the business that most matched the criteria.
“We are honored to be receiving this award from the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce,” SPS Companies CEO Matt Crocker said. “Our company has nearly 100 years of operations in Manhattan. We consider this to be our home and have always worked diligently to contribute whatever we could to making it a great place for everyone.
“While we never take on any community initiative for recognition, receiving an award from our peers in the business community is certainly something that makes us proud. We look forward to celebrating this achievement with the other 2022 award winners.”
In addition to honoring SPS Companies, the Chamber will be announcing winners in five other business categories including Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, Tourism Development Award and Minority/Woman Owned Business Award at the annual business awards luncheon.
SPS Companies had a humble beginning in Manhattan when Sam Goldstein was persuaded by a Manhattan rancher to open a store in the community. That original company, Kansas Hide and Wool Company, was established at 2nd and Osage in 1927. Sam’s son, Jack Goldstein, moved the business into scrap metal and new steel in the 1950s and changed the name to Steel and Pipe Company.
Since that time, the company has become one of the largest privately-owned steel service centers in the United State with facilitites throughout the Midwest, South and Mexico and has expanded into a wide range of steel products, value-added processing and steel-related services. Throughout its history, the operations has been managed from its headquarters facility in Manhattan.
Additionally, SPS has become a major benefactor to the community through its philanthropic efforts including the establishment of the Goldstein Foundation in 2011 after a generous gift from Jack and Joann Goldstein.
“The impact that Steel & Pipe Supply and now SPS Companies has had on the Manhattan community can’t be measured,” said Vern Henricks, president and CEO of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. “The generosity of its leaders and employees both philanthropically and through community involvement is truly a testament to their business model.”
SPS Companies is the third winner of the prestigious Cornerstone Award. Previous winners include BHS Construction (2020) and Manko Windows (2021).
“SPS Companies is one of the best examples of putting corporate citizenship to work,” said Jason Smith, president and CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. “They have been a positive influence on so many elements of Manhattan, that would be hard to list. Additionally, many members of the company have spent countless hours volunteering for the Chamber including three Chamber chairs, Jack Goldstein (1980), Dennis Mullin (1997) and Matt Crocker (2018). We are pleased to honor the company this year.”
Please plan to attend the Business Awards Lunch at 11:30 a.m., September 13, at the Manhattan Conference Center as we announce and celebrate the winners of our 2022 Business Awards as well as induct two Chamber members into the Chamber’s Legacy Circle for their 50-year membership in the organization. More information about this event can be found at https://www.manhattan.org/421/Business-Awards.
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