Outstanding Industrial Technologist - 1999

Milford Cunningham directs the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Human Relations activities of a multiple plant aluminum casting and machining company. He is directly responsible for product design, production quality, and cost control. His performance as Vice President of Operations has an immediate impact upon the company's profit and growth. Stahl Specialty Company is a major supplier of aluminum brake cylinders to the highly competitive automotive industry.

Mr. Cunningham commenced his industrial technology career as a Tool Designer with Bendix Corporation upon graduating from Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Industrial Arts and Technology in 1967. His four-year stint with Bendix was interrupted by his service in the U.S. Army. In 1971 he joined Stahl Specialty as a Tool and Machine Designer creating metal casting molds and associated equipment. Mr. Cunningham was promoted to Engineering Supervisor in 1976 and rapidly assumed additional responsibilities for production machining. In 1987 he was promoted to his present position of Vice President of Operations.

Mr. Cunningham has demonstrated his leadership ability by meeting the demands of timely new product development and increased productivity that has contributed to an increase in sales of 260 percent.