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Douglas A. Sayer Named 'Idaho Business Leader of the Year'

POCATELLO, Idaho, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- (www.cob.isu.edu) - Douglas A. Sayer, founder and president of Premier Technology, Inc., will be recognized as "Idaho Business Leader of the Year" at the showcase event of the Delta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi, the professional business fraternity at Idaho State University.

The dinner event will be held in the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center at Idaho State University on Thursday, March 12.

The award annually recognizes anIdaho business leader who has demonstrated outstanding business and professional ethics while contributing significant support to worthwhile community, civic and education activities. Awarded by ISU College of Business students since 1959, previous honorees have included a congressman-elect, former governors, entrepreneurs and leaders of some of Idaho's largest companies. The recognition program is the longest-standing such program inIdaho.

Premier Technology, Inc. which was formed in 1996 with only three employees, began by making equipment to improve the way French-fries were battered. The company went on to develop a number of innovative products for the food processing industry.

Under Sayer's leadership, the company has grown into an engineering, design and fabrication company with more than 350 employees. Company facilities inBlackfoot,Pocatello andTwin Falls serve the nuclear, chemical, mining, pharmaceutical, medical and defense communities while remaining a major player in food processing. The company's products include structural decks, tanks and silos, sanitary piping, conveyors and radiation shielding and equipment.

The company has joined the ranks of the top 75 Idaho private companies, now ranked in 56th place, up from 83rd place last year.

Employee development at Premier is reflected in the company's mission statement, which is prominently posted at the entrance to Premier's corporate offices inBlackfoot: "To develop our people into the leaders of the industry, while providing our customers with the highest quality service."

Sayer is also committed to Rural Idaho Outreach Partners (RIOP), which aims to build workers' employable skills in some of the state's rural areas. One Salmon-based firm, Commander Chassis, has already performed nuclear quality machining work for Premier. Premier Technology has also announced plans to open a plant in Sayer's hometown ofMackay in early 2010. The plant will employ 10 to 50 workers.

In addition to the generous support of community charities, foundations and organizations, Sayer has also been a supporting member of Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve since 2004. Premier Technology was recognized with the "Employer of Veterans" award from the Idaho American Legion in 2008.

Individual tickets to the banquet are $35 in advance and $40 at the door the evening of the event. Table sponsorships are also available. For more information, contact Cassey Newbold, Alpha Kappa Psi Idaho Business Leader of the Year chair, at (208) 241-8099 or by e-mail at newbcass@isu.edu.

A complete list of award winners follows:

                Idaho "Business Leader of the Year" Award Recipients

    1959 M.T. Deaton            M.T. Deaton & Company          Pocatello
    1960 Ralph R. Comstock, Sr. First Security Bank            Boise
    1961 Clarence Garrett       Garrett Freightlines           Pocatello
    1962 Harry W. Morrison      Morrison-Knudson               Boise
    1963 J.R. Simplot           J.R. Simplot Company           Boise
    1964 C. Ed Flandro          Flandro Ford                   Pocatello
    1965 Robert V. Hansberger   Boise Cascade Company          Boise
    1966 Thomas E. Roach        Idaho Power Company            Boise
    1967 Dr. Frank Seelye       Dean, ISU College of Business  Pocatello
    1968 Curtis Eaton, Sr.      Twin Falls Bank and Trust      Twin Falls
    1969 Ralph R. Comstock, Jr. First Security Bank            Boise
    1970 J. Grant Bickmore      Idaho Bank and Trust           Pocatello
    1971 Cecil Andrus           State of Idaho                 Boise
    1972 Albert Carlsen         Idaho Power Company            Boise
    1973 John Dahl              J.R. Simplot Company           Boise
    1974 Sy Block               Blocks, Inc.                   Pocatello
    1975 Robert D. Bolinder     Albertson's, Inc.              Boise
    1976 J Allen Jensen         KID-TV                         Idaho Falls
    1977 No award
    1978 Fred C. Humphreys      Idaho First National Bank      Boise
    1979 No award
    1980 No award
    1981 Ted E. Ellis           Key Bank of Idaho              Boise
    1982 Dale Dunn              J.R. Simplot Company           Boise
    1983 Robert C. Hammond      Jensen Oil Company             Idaho Falls
    1984 Harry F. Magnuson      H.F. Magnuson Company          Wallace
    1985 Warren E. McCain       Albertson's, Inc.              Boise
    1986 Jon H. Miller          Boise Cascade Company          Boise
    1987 Park Price, III        Park Price Motor Company       Pocatello
    1988 Sybil Ferguson         Diet Center                    Rexburg
    1989 No award
    1990 Curtis Eaton, Jr.      First Security Bank            Twin Falls
    1991 Keith Hinckley         Basic American Foods           Blackfoot
    1992 Walter Minnick         T.J. International             Boise
    1993 Don Aslett             Varsity Cleaners               Pocatello
    1994 Gordon C. Smith        J.R. Simplot Company           Boise
    1995 Sam H. Bennion         V-1 Oil Company                Idaho Falls
    1996 Michael M. Mooney      Key Bank of Idaho              Boise
    1997 Gary G. Michael        Albertson's, Inc.              Boise
    1998 Frank L. Vandersloot   Melaleuca                      Idaho Falls
    1999 William C. Glynn       Intermountain Industries, Inc. Boise
    2000 Carolyn Ticknor        Hewlett-Packard                Boise
    2001 Theodore Crumley       Boise Cascade Company          Boise
    2002 ISU Centennial, all
          past winners honored
    2003 James Rogers           Sunbelt Communications         Pocatello
    2004 Chris King             AMI Semiconductor              Pocatello
    2005 Ed Dahlberg            St. Luke's Regional Medical    Boise
    2006 Duane B. Hagadone      Hagadone Corporation           Coeur d'Alene
    2007 James Johnston         Home Specialists               Pocatello
    2008 Arlo D. Luke           Varsity Contractors            Pocatello
    2009 Douglas A. Sayer       Premier Technology, Inc.       Blackfoot

    Contact: Joe Frederickson
    (208) 282-4402
    fredjose@isu.edu

SOURCE Idaho State University