Borg Warner Morse TEC employs 1500 people in Tompkins County at a technical center and 2 manufacturing plants in Lansing. * Morse TEC traces its Tompkins County roots to 1880, when the Morse Equalizing Spring Company was formed in Trumansburg. Morse later moved to Ithaca, joining with Borg Warner in 1929 and moving operations to Lansing in 1982. Along with a philosophy that encourages employees to participate in community-based not-for-profit organizations, the Morse TEC facilities produce engine-timing systems and chain-based transmission drives. Borg Warner Morse TEC is one of 5 operating units that make up The Borg Warner Corporation, which has locations in 17 countries.

"Borg Warner is such a good neighbor to our community," says Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce President Jean McPheeters. "Their generosity to the not-for-profits in Ithaca and the County is legendary. Tompkins Cortland Community College, The Museum of the Earth, The Tompkins County Public Library and so many more organizations have benefited from Borg's commitment to an excellent quality of life for their employees and this community. But more than that, Borg Warner Morse TEC is an excellent employer. Their training programs and career ladders have helped many workers progress into leadership positions. Their commitment to quality is known throughout the world."

"We are delighted to be selected by the Chamber of Commerce as Tompkins County's large employer of the year", says Alfred Weber, President and GM, Morse TEC & Thermal Systems. "In strong support of our corporate vision of responsibility to our communities, each of our employees do what we can to give back to the community where we live and work. We are pleased just to be considered for this award alongside such leading organizations as Cayuga Medical Center and Ithaca College and congratulate our co-nominees on their community accomplishments. On behalf of Morse TEC's 1500 central NY based employees, thanks for this recognition."

Challenge will celebrate its 40th year as a service provider next year. Its mission is to support individuals with disabilities and other employment barriers in developing their skills and talents to meet the needs of the workplace. Challenge serves between 600 and 800 people a year in that capacity, with a staff of just over 170. It has responded to recent governmental changes in rules and regulations by flattening its' organizational structure, revamping its approach to serving people with disabilities and delving into a commercial venture. Challenge took over a Cornell University hydroponics greenhouse in 2005, and now produces and sells "Finger Lakes Fresh" lettuce, which is available in grocery stores throughout the region. The not-for-profit also provides work opportunities for clients through a service that microfilms documents for preservation and has expanded that into digital preservation, as well.

Challenge President Patrick McKee says, "Since the beginning there has been tremendous community support for our work and this Chamber award is a wonderful demonstration of that support. We appreciate the public recognition of the effort put in every day by our highly skilled and dedicated staff and board of directors. The work that we do happens for the most part quietly in the background. Assisting someone in returning to work or in finding and keeping that first job is not a headline activity but it is critical to each individual involved and to the long term health of our community."

According to Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Awards Committee Chair Laurie Linn, "Challenge Industries was a natural choice, not only because of their very important mission, but because of their recent innovation with Cornell's hydroponics greenhouse project introducing, Finger Lakes Fresh. This partnership has combined Challenge's workforce with the ability to market a commercial venture throughout the Northeast."

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