Saginaw, Mich. (May 2, 2024) – Continuing its global commitment to people, water and the planet, Duperon Corporation has been awarded an Export Achievement Certificate from the U.S. Commercial Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The award was presented by James Golson, Deputy Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service at the International Trade Administration, at the 38th International Business Conference yesterday in Grand Rapids as part of Michigan World Trade Week.

The Export Achievement Certificate recognizes American companies that have begun exporting overseas or have expanded international sales with the assistance of the U.S. Commercial Service. Last year, Duperon reported a 363 percent year-over-year increase in international sales.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized for our impact on American exports,” said Mike Olvera, international market development manager at Duperon. “Last year, we saw significant growth in international business, highlighting just how critical our work is in areas beyond our borders. We are grateful for the hard work our Saginaw team has put into contributing to the global marketplace. Equally, we express our gratitude to our partners across borders whose trust and collaboration have been instrumental in our success.”

In addition to certificate presentations, the event features a week-long itinerary of educational programming where local leaders share knowledge and resources designed to empower others to thrive in the global market. Olvera served as a panelist on a session around developing a successful export sales strategy and was accompanied by two other Michigan business executives, one from a software engineering company and another hardwood supplier.

Michigan World Trade Week is held annually in celebration of international trade and business growth for Michigan. It is organized by the US Commercial Service (CS) and Grand Valley State University’s Van Andel Global Trade Center (VAGTC) together with support from the Planning Committee, which is comprised of volunteers from more than 20 internationally focused companies and organizations. For additional information on the event, awards and speakers, visit gvsu.edu/wtw/.

# # #

About Duperon Corporation

Duperon Corporation is the leader in simple, adaptive screen technologies, serving customers from the municipal wastewater treatment and industrial sectors for nearly 40 years. The company is committed to the global goal of making a difference for people, for water, and for the planet. Its technologies are designed and manufactured in Saginaw, Michigan, with installations across all 50 states as well as at international sites, across South and Central America and all the way to Australia. Duperon has been awarded International Organization Standardization (ISO) Certification for its systems and processes under ISO 9001:2015. For more information, visit Duperon.com.

Saginaw, Mich. (March 12, 2024) – Committed to both the water and manufacturing sectors, Duperon Corporation International Market Development Manager Michael Olvera has been elected to serve on the East Michigan District Export Council (DEC), a regional branch of the National Association of District Export Councils. Olvera has been instrumental in leading the company’s international business since 2013, which saw 363 percent growth year-over-year in 2023. He was appointed by US Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and will serve a four-year term effective as of January 1, 2024.

“Joining the East Michigan DEC is truly a pinnacle of my career as a water industry professional,” said Olvera. “I have worked at Duperon for almost 20 years, dedicating myself to the critical role water plays in our daily lives. Our mission resonates deeply with me, and I look forward to how this new role will allow me to advocate for both our region, as well as our industry as a whole, making a difference for people, water and the planet.”

For the last decade, Duperon Corporation has prioritized expanding its international footprint, with projects now installed in South and Central American countries, such as Colombia and Mexico, all the way to Australia. As the company continues to address global water challenges, such as those pertaining to climate change and pollution, the company anticipates continued international acceleration, with 2024 projections exceeding $3 million.

“Treatment concerns here in Michigan are shared by communities around the world. By joining the East Michigan DEC, I am hopeful we will be able to help more people gain access to clean and safe water, sharing solutions from Duperon, as well as my neighbors and water industry colleagues.”

The NADEC is a creation of the US government, registered as a non-profit organization that aims to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of exports to the domestic economy through education, legislative outreach and engagement initiatives. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the organization encompasses 60 DECS and is made up of business professionals with expertise in international business.

For additional information about the East Michigan DEC and its mission, visit eastmichigandec.org.

# # #

About Duperon Corporation

Duperon Corporation is the leader in innovative preliminary liquid/solids separation systems. For more than 35 years, Duperon has provided simple yet innovative solutions for a variety of screening and solids handling applications in the water and wastewater industry. Duperon technologies are designed and manufactured in Saginaw, Michigan. To learn more, visit duperon.com.

Saginaw, Mich. (Dec. 5, 2023) – The Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association Inc. (WWEMA) has re-elected Mark Turpin, president of Duperon Corporation, for a third term on its board of directors. Joining a critical juncture in water history, Turpin will join a prestigious group of industry leadership to help navigate an influx of issues impacting the sector, from regulatory issues like Build America and Buy America (BABA) to broader topics like climate change and sustainability.

“The water industry is experiencing a great deal of change and challenges right now, and people are looking to WWEMA for guidance,” said Turpin. “Leaving WWEMA’s annual conference earlier this month, I was ignited with a compelling urgency to dive back in, engage, and contribute on behalf of the industry. I am deeply honored to be asked to rejoin the board of directors and look forward to contributing my passion, expertise and dedication to the strategic direction that will shape the future of our industry.”

Established in 1908, WWEMA is a nonprofit organization that advocates, informs and connects its members with key policy and decision makers, helping increase competitiveness and profitability. Turpin previously served on the WWEMA board from 2012 to 2019, including a stint as chairman in 2017, chairperson elect the prior year and treasurer from 2014-2016. During his new three-year term, which will be effective beginning on January 1, 2024, Turpin hopes to partner with Claudio Ternieden, executive director of WWEMA, and the board of directors to grow membership, influence and effectiveness in the pursuit of the organization’s mission to promote the advancement of technology solutions for clean water that ensures a future sustainable environment and to improve its members’ economic viability.

For additional information about WWEMA and its mission, visit WWEMA.org.

# # #

About Duperon Corporation

Duperon Corporation is the leader in innovative preliminary liquid/solids separation systems. For more than 35 years, Duperon has provided simple yet innovative solutions for a variety of screening and solids handling applications in the water and wastewater industry. Duperon technologies are designed and manufactured in Saginaw, Michigan. To learn more, visit duperon.com.

“It has been a wonderful opportunity to support our community with a team and Board that cares,” said Tammy Bernier. “Working with both Kathy and Samm has been a gift and I know that PartnerShift is positioned to do well and will continue to do good things for our community.”

In 2017, Tammy Bernier was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors by then Executive Director, Kathy (Conklin) Miller, whom Samantha Jones succeeded in 2020. Using her expertise and community-mindedness, Tammy was able to assist PartnerShift Network in establishing Business Resource Network (BRN) as a viable program that not only impacts our community and its families immensely but is also self-sustaining through membership fees. Through this program, PartnerShift works with local businesses to help them retain talent to create a strong and stable workforce by providing success coaching to employees and support services to reduce the life stresses and barriers that can affect a person’s ability to work. According to Tammy Bernier, “the BRN is an incredible tool for employers. These are hard times for employees, and we never know what someone is dealing with at home. This program assures employers have a viable workforce and employees can retain employment.”

Tammy also led the effort to define PartnerShift’s role in the community after the community and organization experienced significant change. This allowed PartnerShift to find its lane of impact in serving as a connector and amplifier of the four quadrants that drive economic growth: employers, employees, community infrastructure, and education.

“On behalf of PartnerShift, I would like to express our gratitude to Tammy for providing visionary leadership to the organization during her 4-year term. Tammy’s guidance, fueled by her passion, helped us successfully navigate challenges and turn them into opportunities. I am grateful to have worked with Tammy in this capacity and look forward to seeing what she does next.” PartnerShift Network Executive Director, Samantha Jones

More changes are in store for PartnerShift in 2023, beginning with the appointment of Beth Roszatycki, Chief Client Services Officer for Michigan Small Business Development Center, who will serve as Interim Chair. Two additional board members will begin their terms in January, Sharon Miller, from ITH Staffing, will serve as Vice Chair, and Jessica Rolfe, from Yeo & Yeo, will serve as the Board Treasurer. “Beth, Sharon, and Jessica are all active and highly respected professionals in our community and will add tremendous value and fresh perspective to our Board. We are so excited to have them,” said Samantha Jones.

PartnerShift will continue to make great strides in its mission to drive workforce solutions through community partnerships by increasing the diversity of its partners in 2023 to expand the opportunities it can provide to the ALICE (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed) population.

PartnerShift Network has served the Great Lakes Bay Region for nearly 30 years. It offers a nationally acclaimed program to assist and support the ALICE population and other employed individuals experiencing life struggles or barriers to maintaining employment and thriving. Providing services such as childcare, transportation, clothing, conflict resolution, budgeting training, and financial literacy.

“At the heart of the Duperon Corporation, we are a group of human beings who have decided to constitute ourselves as daring to make a difference for people, for water and for the planet,” said Tammy Bernier, CEO and co-owner along with Terry Duperon. “We do that by employing people who care, and that’s what makes our company such a wonderful place to work. We’re all working to make a positive change and protect the environment for future generations.”

For more than 35 years, Duperon Corporation has remained a leader in preliminary liquid/solids separation systems. They provide simple yet innovative solutions for a variety of screening and solids handling applications in the water and wastewater industry. Duperon’s business model revolves around creativity and open communication, empowering employees to take an inventive spirit in tackling some of the water industry’s biggest challenges.

“We are not innovating for the sake of innovation,” adds Mark Turpin, president of Duperon Corporation. “We innovate for a purpose – to solve a problem, make a difference, be in service and impact water quality. These are worthy causes that unite
our team to bring a spirit of innovation to every endeavor.”

Learn more about MMA and the MFG Excellence Awards at mimfg.org. For more information on Duperon Corporation, visit Duperon.com or contact them at 1-800-383-8479.

Saginaw, MI – October 12, 2021 — Duperon Corporation, a leader in adaptive screening technologies, is pleased to announce the promotion of Tammy Blanchard to lead sales project manager. A Duperon veteran of seven years, Blanchard brings nearly 30 years of sales and customer support experience to the position.

“The first thing you notice about Tammy is how much she cares about our customers, our team and our partners,” said Mark Turpin, president of Duperon Corporation. “This passion shows up in her drive to deliver excellent customer experiences. We feel her qualities embody the most important values held at Duperon and are thankful for her contributions to our growing company.”

Blanchard will continue focusing on improved processes and efficiencies in her new role. Prior accomplishments in this area include: the development of a new bid review process, positive adjustments to sales performance management (SPM) tools, implementation of monthly meetings with project managers and engineers, along with new employee training. One of her first goals will be integrating estimates into the company’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, streamlining the process with the collaboration and support of a cross-functional team.

“I am most excited about working with my team to find and grow their talents,” said Blanchard. “It is so fulfilling to make a difference. I am excited to grow the capabilities of our department, our team and the company.”

Prior to Duperon, Blanchard was the inside sales manager for 18 years at a company that provided audio-visual systems to schools and businesses in Michigan. She managed the company’s website, pricing levels, sales and customer support, training educators on the equipment, tradeshows and distribution channels, proving instrumental in the company’s growth.

About Duperon Corporation
Duperon Corporation is the leader in innovative preliminary liquid/solids separation systems. For more than 35 years, Duperon has provided simple yet innovative solutions for a variety of screening and solids handling applications in the water and wastewater industry. Duperon technologies are designed and manufactured in Saginaw, Michigan. www.duperon.com

“For the last 35 years, Duperon has made it a priority to find the most skilled and qualified individuals who are passionate about making a difference on every project,” said Mark Turpin, president of Duperon Corporation. “People are at the heart of every successful organization, and in three short years, we’ve witnessed David and Ben bring a great deal of positive change to Duperon. We look forward to what the future holds for them here, as well as the water industry as a whole.”

Herald, the new Product Engineering Manager, began his career with Duperon in August of 2019 as a sales project manager and was quickly promoted to SPM Leader. During this time, the department expanded its responsibilities and reworked front end processes. He was previously a program manager at Merrill Aviation and Defense where he led the development of the Merrill Torrent UAS unmanned drone, obtaining the first FAA Experimental Airworthiness Certificate in the Great Lakes Bay Region. He also helped new products enter the water and wastewater market at Kapex Manufacturing and was the Product Manager for wastewater thickening, dewatering, and industrial technologies at B&P Process Equipment.

Jolley will now serve as Systems Engineering Manager, overseeing the mechanical CAD designers, controls engineering and application engineering teams. Since joining Duperon in 2019, his leadership has been instrumental in the implementation of new operating systems that resulted in enhanced efficiencies and quality for the overall business. Prior to Duperon, Jolley held titles ranging from project engineer to continuous improvement coordinator, demonstrating expertise in developing new product lines, establishing design requirements, creating full detailing packages for production, managing projects and orders, and performing Finite Element Analysis on high stress parts.

Beyond the workplace, both employees are active members of their communities. Herald worked on the Cardinal Formula Racing Program from 1999 – 2005 and enjoys radio-controlled aircrafts and restoring antique cars. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Saginaw Valley State University. Jolley was an assistant scoutmaster for five years, president of the Young Men’s organization at his church, and Deputy Commander for Cadets for his Civil Air Patrol squadron. He earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan-Flint.

About Duperon Corporation
Duperon Corporation is the leader in innovative preliminary liquid/solids separation systems. For more than 35 years, Duperon has provided simple yet innovative solutions for a variety of screening and solids handling applications in the water and wastewater industry. Duperon technologies are designed and manufactured in Saginaw, Michigan. www.duperon.com

The benefiting organizations
CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region
A leader in children’s advocacy, they are empowering communities through innovative programming, comprehensive services, and effective collaborations enriching generations to come!
Learn more here

Water For People
Water For People exists to promote the development of high-quality drinking water and sanitation services, accessible to all, and sustained by strong communities, businesses, and governments.
Learn more here

City Rescue Mission of Saginaw
The City Rescue Mission is a nonprofit, faith-based, state of the art emergency shelter providing assistance to the hurting and homeless people of mid-Michigan.
Learn more here

About The Value of Water Campaign
Imagine a Day Without Water began in 2015 as a project of The Value of Water Campaign.
The Value of Water Campaign educates and inspires the nation about how water is essential, invaluable, and in need of investment. Spearheaded by top leaders in the water industry, the Value of Water Campaign is building public and political will for investment in America's water infrastructure. 

“I love making things and I love having the things that we make live out in the world,” said Bernier. “My whole life in manufacturing has been about taking pride in being able to say ‘we made that’ — there’s such satisfaction that comes from knowing the work we do here in Saginaw is helping people all around the world.”

The Duperon team has seen the business thrive under Bernier’s leadership, one that started out as a consultant for her father, Terry L. Duperon, and quickly became a partnership that Duperon points to as having saved the business and brought balance to chaos.

“I had a cycle before Tammy came aboard,” Duperon recalled. “I’d have an idea and create business, then I’d have another idea and things would start to fall apart. I have a lot of good skills but there were some I didn’t have and that led to this pattern of up and down, up and down. When Tammy came in we just started to take off. She’s got the skills I don’t have and she really righted the ship. Without her, we wouldn’t exist.”

Bernier is a true dynamo, someone with endless energy and capable of pulling together people from across manufacturing to create true change in the world. Her passion for manufacturing has inspired fellow leaders to do more, give more and, on some level, care more for the products they make, the community they serve and the people their decisions affect.

Bernier has served as the chairman of the national Water & Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA) and a board member for Mid-Michigan Women in Leadership, the Child Abuse & Neglect Council for the Great Lakes Bay Region, the Saginaw Community Foundation and the Saginaw County Business Education Partnership, among others. She was the creator of Great Lakes Bay Regional Council of Women In Leadership/Inforum “Brave Conversations” series and a member of the Saginaw BIG DREAM TEAM. Her every waking moment is spent searching for more people who share her entrepreneurial spirit.

“I cannot tell you how I feel when I’m around people who are up to something. The people in this community have such an amazing generosity; you can’t help but want to spend your time with them — dreaming up the next way that we can help people and leave a better world than we were given,” Bernier said. “When good people come together to share their gifts, great change is possible and that feeds my soul.”

The influence Bernier has is not limited to large-scale community efforts; it’s shown in her everyday interactions with her team.

“We want to be a force for good here. Our team inspires me to always be better,” Bernier stated. “I think it can be easy to be who you are at home and who you are at work and have a separation between the two. When you allow your people to bring their whole selves to work, to be authentic, that’s powerful. Together, you become unstoppable.”

As a team leader, she has made her business a symbol of what a world-class organization can be with people committed to making a global difference. Walking the halls of Duperon Corporation is like walking through a world of water and inspiration. Much like a roaring river carving out a canyon, Bernier’s team believes that what they do can help carve out a better world. It just takes time, determination and heart.

Bernier has taken another passion of hers, a love for water, and turned it into a driving force for others in manufacturing to be good stewards of one of the world’s most precious resources. She inspires others to be their best selves and has left a legacy few others can touch. Without her, the world would be a less warm place and, certainly, a less effective one.

“I love people and I love anything to do with growing human potential. I love the stories where people have tough times and overcome and I love providing pathways for people to be everything they can be,” said Bernier. “I’m really grateful for what we’ve accomplished and I’m even more excited to see what we’ll do next — because our story isn’t over.”