Tom Simeone presented with Winzeler Award at TMA

Tom Simeone presented with Winzeler Award at TMA

Tom Simeone, President of Manor Tool and Manufacturing, was the unanimous choice as the recipient of the Winzeler Award at the annual TMA (Technology and Manufacturing Association) meeting on March 4th. Tim has been extremely active at TMA, having served on the Board of Directors, and Government Relations Committee, and is currently a major contributor to the Manufacturing Education and Careers Committee.

Every year the TMA committee seeks members that have the same passion and vision for our association and industry today as our founding members. The Committee is comprised of Tim Doran, Joel Goldberg, Gregg Panek, Paul Prikos, and Tony Dupasquier. Kent Gladish is our research advisor.

I had the honor of introducing Tom and presenting the Winzeler Award, which was created in honor of my grandfather, Johnny Winzeler. Jim is the 44th recipient of this award.

The Winzeler Award has its roots in the establishment of TMA. On August 27, 1925 eight (8) company owners gathered to form the Tool, Die, Special Machinery, and Manufacturing Association. Max Heinze was elected as the first president. Johnny Winzeler joined the association in 1927 with his company Reliance Die and Stamping. Max and Johnny were association pioneers. My father, Harold, and Max’s grandson approached TMA in 1971 to establish awards to recognize our industry and association leaders.

Originally two awards, one for service to the industry and one for service to TMA were ultimately combined into the Heinze-Winzeler Award. In 2008 the Awards committee changed the name to the Winzeler Award recognizing that for the last 20 years my family has been the sole sponsor of this award.

Following is an excerpt of my speech where I introduced Tom at the March 4th event:

This evening we are honoring Tom Simeone, President of Manor Tool & Manufacturing.

My awards committee is challenged with identifying and tracking TMA members that have the same passion and vision for our association and industry today as our founding members including my grandfather Johnny Winzeler. The Committee is comprised of Tim Doran, Joel Goldberg, Gregg Panek, Paul Prikos, and Tony Dupasquier. Kent Gladish is our research advisor.

Manor Tool was started by Tom’s father Lee in 1959. Lee was trained as a mechanic in the Marines. Upon returning from the military, he obtained a manufacturing job that gave him the opportunity to learn the tooling and stamping business. Lee and his wife Louise started Manor Tool in 1959.

Tom was the youngest of 7 children and grew up sweeping floors and cleaning machines at Manor. Tom excelled at math and went off to the University of Illinois Engineering school, not sure what he wanted to be when he grew up. Ultimately after graduation, he was attracted to the family business and entered tool & die apprenticeship training. While an apprentice, Dad made sure Tom worked in all aspects of the stamping business. Tom’s engineering education combined with his apprenticeship prepared him well to help grow the family business.

Tom has been very active at TMA having served on the Board of Directors, and Government Relations Committee, and is currently a major contributor to the Manufacturing Education and Careers Committee. Tom is also a director of mHub a Chicago manufacturing innovation center. When you spend time with Tom it is obvious that he is passionate about advanced manufacturing, promoting our industry, and TMA.

Tom met the love of his life; Courtnay, on the Northwest side of Chicago in 1989. They have 3 children; Angelo ( 25yrs), Emily ( 22yrs.), and Aldo (19yrs.). The family tradition continues with Angelo and Aldo now working at Manor Tool. Emily is currently a senior in Communications at DePaul University.

Tom’s hobbies are golfing, fishing, bird-watching, and gardening with Courtnay. She grows the flowers. And Tom grows the vegetables. One of his favorite pastimes is relaxing, sitting in their back yard on Saturday or Sunday mornings having breakfast/ drinking coffee looking over the garden and birds while reading and listening to music.

On behalf of the Winzeler family, TMA members, and staff, I am honored to present you with this Swiss Atmos clock in recognition of your outstanding service to our industry and TMA.

Congratulations on becoming the 44th Winzeler Award Winner.