06/03/2010
Acorn Growth Companies Names Seeds of Greatness Winners

Acorn Growth Companies, a private equity firm focused exclusively on the aerospace and defense industry, today announced the recipients of the Fourth Annual Seeds of Greatness Award.

The award recognizes Oklahoma aerospace and defense companies, government agencies, teams, or individuals making a significant impact to cost savings or revenue enhancements through innovation. Oklahoma State University Multispectral Laboratories (UML) and Zivko Aeronautics, Inc. earned the public and private sector awards, respectively.

“The innovative vision and persistence in bringing ideas to practice demonstrated by both UML and Zivko earned them this award, ” commented Jeff Davis, partner at Acorn. “It’s one thing to come up with creative ideas, it’s another to get them off the drawing board and into the ‘real world’.”

“Members of the Oklahoma aerospace and defense industry are innovative and productive,” stated Rick Nagel, partner at Acorn. “The overall economic climate created financial challenges, but that only encouraged this industry’s visionaries to do more with less.”

UML’s has been developing advanced technology to respond to weapons of mass destruction, and on a business front, pulling together PrimeWin, a program to help federal contracting agencies connect with contractors. Major General Al Goodbary, US Army (Retired), director of strategic business acquisition, accepted the award for UML.

Zivko continues to make strides in engineering aircraft instrument enclosure pods. These pods, made of composite materials, are key additions to enhance the capabilities of both manned and unmanned aircraft without a substantial increase in weight to the aircraft. Dan Bierly, accepted the award on behalf of Zivko.

About Acorn Growth Companies
Acorn Growth Companies, a private equity firm focused exclusively on aerospace and defense opportunities, oversees management and control of AGC Aerospace & Defense. Today, the firm has over $100 million under management and operating companies across the United States with operations worldwide-all under its primary banner, AGC Aerospace & Defense.

AGC Aerospace & Defense is a leader in supplying technologies, systems and services that support key commercial and military programs. Operating in multiple locations across the globe, capabilities within the AGC Aerospace & Defense portfolio range from financing, engineering, and integration services to manufacturing, logistics, and aircraft modifications.

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