Mills Honored for Export Achievement

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:
Ronald L. Wilson, Director
Oklahoma U. S. Export
Assistance Center
U. S. Commercial Service
U. S. Department of Commerce
Tel: 405/608-5302
Fax: 405/608-4211

For Immediate Release

Local Company Honored for Export Achievement

Shawnee, Oklahoma; October 14, 2002 - Exports are big business for small- and mid-sized Oklahoma companies. That was the word from Congressman Wes Watkins, who today presented local company Mills Machine Company with the U. S. Commercial Service's Export Achievement Certificate. The award recognizes U. S. businesses that have made their first or a significant new-to-market export sale.

"Most jobs in America are created by small companies. Small- and mid-sized companies like Mills Machine Company comprise almost 97 percent of U. S. exporters," said Congressman Watkins.

Congressman Watkins took time out today to visit the Shawnee manufacturer and present their top management with the government-sponsored certificate calling attention to their recent export sales. At the ceremony, held at the Mills Machine Company facility in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Congressman Watkins presented company president Charles D. Mills with the Export Achievement Certificate.

Mills Machine Company, established in 1908, is dedicated to manufacturing quality earth drilling products for any type of drilling. The company is proud of its more than ninety years as a family business, where the old tradition of providing superior customer service is merged with the latest technologies available.

They carry a large inventory of standard drilling tools, bits and related accessories and provide custom options for their full product line. The primary industrial markets that they serve are: water well, environmental ground water monitoring, geo-thermal, blast hole mining, and horizontal, directional and vertical shaft construction drilling.

Mills Machine Company has been actively exporting to over 70 countries worldwide since 1979 and in 1985 Mills International Corporation was established to export products that Mills Machine did not manufacture. Both companies are owned by 3^rd generation Charles D. (Chuck) Mills who is currently the Chairman of the Oklahoma District Export Council and Steering Committee Member of the National District Export Council. Chuck is also involved in the Oklahoma State Chamber's International Affairs Committee and a Past President of the Oklahoma City International Trade Association.

Mills Machine Company has very effectively utilized the programs and services of the Oklahoma U.S. Export Assistance Center, located in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, to expand their markets worldwide.

The U. S. Commercial Service is a Commerce Department agency that helps small- and medium-sized U. S. businesses sell their products and services globally. The U. S. Commercial Service's network includes 107 U. S. Export Assistance Centers throughout the United States and 161 international offices in 83 countries. In 2001, the U. S. Commercial Service helped U. S. businesses that generated export sales worth more than $34 billion.

For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service, please visit www.buyusa.com.