Wichita, KS -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/23/2016 -- Balco, Inc., a Wichita-based manufacturer of high performance construction products, will celebrate its President's "E" Award for Exports with a flag-raising ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, June 27.

The ceremony will take place at the company headquarters at 2626 S Sheridan St., and will include comments from company officials and various dignitaries. The ceremony will conclude with the raising of the president's "E" award flag issued to Balco by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

The President's "E" Award for Exports was announced last month, recognizing American companies for four consecutive years of increased exports and their contribution to economic expansion and job creation. It is the highest recognition any U.S. company may receive for exports.

For more info, see the attached news release from May 16.

About Balco, Inc.
Founded in 1957, Balco, Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of architectural products. In 2015, Balco joined forces with five other Capital Southwest Corporation portfolio companies to form CSW Industrials, a separate publicly traded company. CSWI is a diversified industrial growth company with well-established, scalable platforms and deep domain expertise across three segments: industrial products; coatings, sealants and adhesives; and specialty chemicals.

For more information about Balco, visit balcousa.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/export-flag-raising-event-at-balco-inc-701229.htm

Wichita, KS -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/16/2016 -- Balco, Inc., a Wichita-based manufacturer of high performance construction products, has been honored with the President's "E" Award for Exports, recognizing four consecutive years of increased exports.

The award was presented Monday, May 16, by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Balco was the only Kansas company to receive an "E" Award this year, joining about 100 companies across the country who met the four-year export growth threshold.

"Balco has demonstrated a sustained commitment to export expansion," Secretary Pritzker said in her congratulatory letter. "The "E" Awards committee was very impressed with Balco's customization of its product line to fit the needs of customers in export markets. The company's creativity in overcoming trade barriers was also particularly notable. Balco's achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion efforts that support the US economy and create American jobs."

Balco's success in export growth is an example for the south-central Kansas region and the State of Kansas, noted Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell.

"Export growth is a key to our long term economic health," Mayor Longwell said. "Companies such as Balco recognize the importance of the international marketplace. Their success is an essential ingredient in the economic development strategy embraced by the Greater Wichita Partnership."

Balco also has played a leadership role in the formation of the South Central Kansas Regional Export Plan, sharing its success story to inspire other companies to follow the same path, according to Karyn Page, CEO and President of Kansas Global Trade Services.

"Balco provides a real life example of how exports protect jobs and spur economic growth," Page said. "Importantly, the company is committed to sharing its success story to encourage others down the same path."

Balco's export growth success is the result of a strategic decision in 2011 aimed at protecting its workforce from the economic downturn, according to Steve Cooper, Balco's Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

"When times were tough, we doubled down on a plan to grow rather than to scale back like many other companies," Cooper said. "We doubled our domestic market share and tripled our export business because we kept our staff intact. We grew from shipping to a handful of countries before 2011 to an existing count of 49 countries."

Balco is an industry leader in the development of high performance construction products such as expansion joint covers and fire barriers, entrance mats and egress path systems. Its products are designed to protect structures, occupants and First Responders during earthquakes, fires, storms or other similar threats.

About Balco, Inc.
Founded in 1957, Balco, Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of architectural products. In 2015, Balco joined forces with five other Capital Southwest Corporation portfolio companies to form CSW Industrials. CSWI is a diversified industrial growth company with well-established, scalable platforms and deep domain expertise across three segments: Industrial Products; Coatings, Sealants & Adhesives; and Specialty Chemicals.

For more information about Balco, visit balcousa.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/balco-receives-presidential-award-for-export-success-689638.htm

Company recognized for excellence in international business

Wichita, KS -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/13/2016 -- Balco, Inc. has received a 2016 Innovation Award presented by the Wichita Business Journal in recognition of the company's ability to pivot during the Great Recession in a successful and aggressive move to save jobs by creating new opportunity overseas.

Balco is a leader in its industry for developing high-performance construction products that meet or exceed building code standards with the intent of saving lives, protecting buildings, and providing sustainable building materials that can be recycled or have low energy consumption.

When U.S. construction dropped more than 50 percent from 2008 to 2011, the company was faced with laying off 30 percent of its workforce. Instead of cutting employment during the strong U.S. contraction, Balco decided to innovate by expanding internationally.

"This sharp change in business strategy not only saved all of the employees' jobs at the time," said Steve Cooper, V.P. of sales and marketing at Balco, "but it also has resulted in the company growing at several times the pace of commercial construction in the past four years."

Balco is having its best years in its 57-year history even while U.S. commercial construction is still only about 65 percent of its pre-recession peak.

"When times were tough, we doubled down on a plan to grow rather than to scale back like our competitors ended up doing," Cooper said. "We doubled our domestic market share and tripled our export business because we retained expertise by saving our team from the recession. We grew from shipping to a handful of countries before 2011 to 49 countries today."

Cooper says the company's culture of job creation and employee fulfillment drove them to innovate.

"We found that innovation can come unexpectedly during bad times when you're backed into a corner and you have to rely upon and re-affirm your core values," he said.

In 2014, Balco received several honors including Small Business of the Year by the Wichita Business Journal and Grant Thornton's International Business Excellence award. The company was also a top 5 finalist for the Kansas Governor's Exporter of the Year award.

In 2015, Balco was again a finalist for Exporter of the Year. This year, the company has been nominated once again for Exporter of the Year as well as nominated for the President's E Award for international business excellence. The E Award is a rigorous achievement requiring IRS and Department of Commerce verified growth for four consecutive years.

About Balco, Inc.
Founded in 1957, Balco, Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of architectural products. In 2015, Balco joined forces with five other Capital Southwest Corporation portfolio companies to form CSW Industrials. CSWI is a diversified industrial growth company with well-established, scalable platforms and deep domain expertise across three segments: Industrial Products; Coatings, Sealants & Adhesives; and Specialty Chemicals.

For more information about Balco, visit balcousa.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/balco-inc-receives-innovation-award-688899.htm

“Women Helping Women”

Wichita, KS -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/09/2016 -- Balco, Inc. CEO, Ronnie Leonard, is excited to enter her seventh year with Fairy Godmothers, a nonprofit organization that provides educational funding to women with limited resources and immediate needs not met by traditional resources within the community.

Each month, members meet at a local restaurant to interact, discuss community issues, collect funds and brainstorm new ways to support women in education.

"Fairy Godmothers is an amazing organization that does incredible things for deserving women in need," said Balco CEO, Ronnie Leonard, "women who might not otherwise qualify for funding under the traditional scholarship requirements.

Grants are awarded through the Wichita State University Foundation Fairy Godmothers Fund-210934. Awardees of the grants or scholarships must maintain a minimum 2.75 grade point average to remain eligible for the funds. Strong preference will be given to a female student who has demonstrated academic excellence and has a strong desire to make a significant future contribution to their community. Awards are made with regard to financial need.

Prior to becoming CEO in 2012, Leonard spent nearly 17 years as the company's CFO. Leonard explained how the benefits of this organization go both ways.

"I was offered the position of CEO of Balco," said Leonard. "Initially, I turned it down, but my fellow Fairy Godmothers encouraged me to take the position. I am incredibly appreciative of all the support the group offered."

For more information about Fairy Godmothers, contact Ronnie at Ronnie.leonard@balcousa.com.

About Balco, Inc.
Founded in 1957, Balco, Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of architectural products. In 2015, Balco joined forces with five other Capital Southwest Corporation portfolio companies to form CSW Industrials, a separate publicly traded company. CSWI is a diversified industrial growth company with well-established, scalable platforms and deep domain expertise across three segments: industrial products; coatings, sealants and adhesives; and specialty chemicals.

For more information about Balco, visit balcousa.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/balco-ceo-ronnie-leonard-celebrates-7th-year-with-fairy-godmothers-663891.htm

Wichita, KS -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/28/2016 -- Balco, Inc. recently introduced their new series of heavy duty, seismic joint covers. Balco's DFH series joint covers are designed for surface mounted parking garages and retrofit applications.

The combination of Balco's one-of-a-kind slide and reinforced rubber gaskets allow the system to simultaneously move horizontally and vertically, as well as shear between columns — unlike similar designs that allow only shear or vertical movement independently.

"Our DFH series expansion joint covers are designed to move freely in horizontal shear directions, even when adjacent to walls and columns," says Steve Cooper, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Many other products would be destroyed or have fasteners broken loose in these conditions, causing unsafe driving or walking conditions."

The new ADA compliant series is made with high-strength, extruded aluminum capable of easily retrofitting to new and old construction.

About Balco, Inc.
Founded in 1957, Balco, Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of architectural products. In 2015, Balco joined forces with five other Capital Southwest Corporation portfolio companies to form CSW Industrials, a separate publicly traded company. CSWI is a diversified industrial growth company with well-established, scalable platforms and deep domain expertise across three segments: industrial products; coatings, sealants and adhesives; and specialty chemicals.

For more information about Balco, visit balcousa.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/balco-introduces-new-dfh-series-seismic-joint-covers-660919.htm

Balco Helps Lead the Way for U.S. Products Manufacturing Industry

Wichita, KS -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/22/2016 -- Balco, Inc. Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Steve Cooper, was recently appointed to serve on the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC 11).

"Your knowledge and advice are critical to the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative in developing trade policy and pursuing trade agreements that benefit U.S. businesses, workers, and the economy as a whole," reads the letter signed by Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative, Michael Froman.

Cooper will work with the Trade Advisory Committee as it provides detailed policy and technical advice to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), as well as assist in the negotiation of trade agreements and implementation of existing trade agreements affecting its sectors. Cooper will also perform such other advisory functions relevant to U.S. Trade Policy as requested by the Secretary, the USTR or their designees.

"Our company has a lot to offer," said Cooper. "We understand the importance of bringing value to the marketplace and we employ our resources in a way that provides value to everyone."

Cooper holds Board of Director positions for Balco. Inc. and The World Trade Council. He is also a mentor for Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas, the treasurer for his HOA, and a Regional Export Planning Team Member for the Wichita-South Central Kansas Regional Export Plan — Global Cities Initiative, a joint project of Brookings and JPMorgan Chase.

"It's an honor to be appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce," said Cooper. "Working with the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on a national level is an incredible opportunity. Hopefully, more will come to understand the many benefits of the Committee including its ability to create jobs here in the U.S. I look forward to helping grow our international trade market while also expanding our work with other businesses right here in Kansas."

Cooper worked in Balco's manufacturing facility, as well as the drafting and design departments, for a total of nine years before graduating from the Oklahoma State University School of Engineering in 1994. Cooper then managed the engineering and sales departments at two architectural products companies in Atlanta for 15 years before returning to Balco in 2010 to manage sales and marketing for their domestic and International markets.

About Balco, Inc.
Founded in 1957, Balco, Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of architectural products. In 2015, Balco joined forces with five other Capital Southwest Corporation portfolio companies to form CSW Industrials. CSWI is a diversified industrial growth company with well-established, scalable platforms and deep domain expertise across three segments: Industrial Products; Coatings, Sealants & Adhesives; and Specialty Chemicals.

For more information about Balco, visit balcousa.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/balco-inc-vp-steve-cooper-appointed-to-serve-on-industry-trade-advisory-committee-657077.htm