Chicago, IL, Mar. 24--On April 2, 2004, Bona Kemi will be presented the Swedish Trade Council's Achievement Award for Corporate Excellence at a black tie gala dinner at Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco.
Through the award the Swedish Trade Council recognizes the excellent contribution that these companies make to Swedish-American trade in their marketing and sales efforts.
Present at the award ceremony will be California's State Controller Steve Westly.
Mr. Westly began his career in government in Washington, D.C., working on Capitol Hill and at the U.S. Department of Energy.
In the private sector, Mr. Westly guided the $18-billion online auction company eBay through a period of rapid growth serving as senior vice president. Mr. Westly also served on the faculty at Stanford's Graduate School of Business for five years.
Bona Kemi is nominated in the category "Most Sustainable Business." When Bona Kemi waterborne finishing for hardwood was introduced to the market, waterborne finishes represented 3% of the total market.
Through consistent work and products, Bona Kemi has been instrumental in growing the waterborne market to represent 30% of the total American floor finishing market capturing 40% of this segment in the process.
Bona Kemi has over the last five years doubled the American revenue. Over the same time period, Bona Kemi has increased the total Swedish export to the American market from 14% to 20%. This has all been accomplished while maintaining the family owned structure.
Winners were elected by a jury consisting of representatives from the Swedish Trade Council in the U.S. and Sweden, the Consulate General of Sweden, San Francisco, the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco, and the main sponsors H&M and Swedbank.
