American Foundry Society Presents Gold Medal, Scientific Merit Awards

(WAUPACA, WI) APRIL 26, 2017 — The American Foundry Society (AFS) honored Waupaca Foundry leaders with industry achievement awards at the 2017 Metalcasting Congress held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The awards are for individual contributions within the metalcasting industry.

Gary Gigante receives AFS Gold Medal Award

Retired CEO Gary M. Gigante received the Peter L. Simpson Gold Medal for long-term contributions to the sustainability of the metalcasting industry through environmental stewardship, technological advances, and the development of people in the industry. He was endorsed for the award by Waupaca Foundry suppliers, customers, employees, educational partners, industry peers, and past award winners. 

Gigante started at Waupaca Foundry in 1981 as a metallurgist and held positions as metallurgist, plant manager, vice president of manufacturing, President & COO and was appointed CEO in 2007. During his leadership, he introduced ductile iron production to the company at its Marinette, Wisconsin foundry, led the company through two ownership changes, and flexed production to meet the challenges of the Great Recession. In the industry, he served on the board of the American Foundry Society through 2017, he was on the board of directors for the Foundry Educational Foundation, and was a member of the board of directors for the Ductile Iron Society. In his home state of Wisconsin, he served consecutive terms on the board of the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Association.

"There are six AFS Gold Medals and typically one or two of these are reserved each year. They are considered the highest individual award in our industry and it is received for the absolute elite," said Bruce Dienst president & chief executive officer of Simpson Technologies Corporation and as past AFS President of the Board of Directors, a member of the awards review committee.

The AFS Gold Medal has a long history at Waupaca Foundry: in 1993, then President & CEO Donald G. Brunner earned the John H. Whiting Gold Medal for outstanding technical, engineering or managerial contributions to the ferrous sector of the industry. And in 2007, retired President & CEO Gary L. Thoe was honored with the Peter L. Simpson Gold Medal for outstanding contributions in promoting public esteem or service which reflects credit on the Metalcasting industry.

Greg Miskinis received AFS Award of Scientific Merit

Director of Research and Process Development Gregory Miskinis received the Award of Scientific Merit for major contributions to the metalcasting industry through industrial research, mentoring newcomers to the industry, and service to the Northeastern Wisconsin chapter of AFS.

Miskinis started at Waupaca Foundry in 1989 as a plant metallurgist, then as the manager of brake engineering and has been in his current position since 2008. He has served on AFS divisional committees since 1991 and in that time has authored almost a dozen technical papers and articles. During his service at Waupaca Foundry, he has been the principal author and lecturer for the Foundry 101 educational program, helped develop core-making methods, and developed special iron alloys and iron casting processes. In 2012, Miskinis was awarded the AFS Service Citation for outstanding general service to AFS, its chapter and the metalcasting industry.

"Both Gary and Greg are committed supporters of our industry and have led by example," said Mike Nikolai, President, COO and CEO of Waupaca Foundry. "Their individual contributions are benchmarks for all."

"Both the scientific merit and gold medal awards are significant achievements and indicate the respect and esteem of their peers for long standing service and accomplishment to the metalcasting industry and American Foundry Society," said Steve Robison, senior technical director for the American Foundry Society.

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