AGM Container Controls, Inc.

AGM is Named Finalist for 2012 BBB Torch Awards

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona recognized nine local companies at the 2012 Torch Awards Luncheon Thursday at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort in Tucson.

The event featured Master of Ceremonies Tom McNamara of KVOA Channel 4 and keynote speaker Dale Dauten, nationally syndicated columnist and founder of the Innovator’s Lab.

Winners were honored in three categories: the Ethics Award, the Good Neighbor Award, and the Customer Excellence Award: 

The Ethics Award: Honors a business for its trustworthy and honorable business practices in four primary categories.

• Winner: McCaleb Construction
• Finalist: Empire Today 
• Finalist: REALM Environments   

The Good Neighbor Award: Recognizes a company that has shown a commitment to making southern Arizona a better place through community service.

• Winner: Golden Eagle Distributors
• Finalist: Snell & Wilmer, LLP
• Finalist: AGM Container Controls

The Customer Excellence Award: Recognizes businesses that have an outstanding customer service program and a history of exceeding customers’ expectations.

• Winner: Temperature Control, Inc.   
• Finalist: Bill’s Home Service
• Finalist: Rite-Way Ventilating Company 

District 8 Congressional Candidate, Jesse Kelly, stopped by to meet some of the finalists, winners, and event attendees. BBB extended invitations to both Kelly and fellow candidate Ron Barber, but Barber was unable to attend.

More than 75 Southern Arizona businesses were nominated for the program, which was sponsored by Sundt Construction, Snap Fitness, Nova Home Loans, Desert Sports and Fitness, Inside Tucson Business, Diversified Print Solutions, Silverado Technologies, M&I Bank, Desert Diamond Casino, and the Tucson chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).

Ascension Wheelchair Lifts Expand Venue Accessibility

Did you know that AGM also manufacturers the world’s premier wheelchair lifts?

With the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, AGM realized there was an opportunity to provide improved access to stages and platforms for individuals with disabilities. In 1992, AGM began producing vertical portable wheelchair lifts and in 1992 it created the Ascension product division.

Attentive customer service and quality, American-made products are more important to consumers than ever in the current challenging economic climate. For AGM, these two vital elements have remained a priority throughout the 40 years they have been in business, which is why even smaller retail venues and restaurants are following the example of larger public arenas and looking to AGM to find the right wheelchair lifts for them.

As the manufacturer of Ascension Wheelchair Lifts, including the new high-quality, value-priced Ascension Protégé Vertical Portable Wheelchair Lift, AGM doesn’t limit their commitment to quality and customer service to just their manufacturing facility and sales practices. Even after a purchased lift leaves their facility and becomes part of a university, theater, restaurant, hotel, or other public venue, AGM ensures customer satisfaction through an extensive warranty, a satisfaction guarantee, and follow-up calls.

For those searching for a high-quality wheelchair lift to provide expanded accessibility to their restaurant or retail store, AGM’s Ascension Wheelchair Lifts offer a top-quality, aesthetically pleasing, American-made option. AGM’s knowledgeable sales staff help potential customers understand the benefits of Ascension Wheelchair Lifts, which provide those utilizing a wheelchair, walker or crutches an accessible route to stages, platforms, risers and more.

A portable vertical lift like the new ADA-compliant Ascension Protégé can help customers in wheelchairs safely and discreetly access split level elevation changes in restaurants and retail stores. The Protégé’s built-in safety features include slip resistant surfaces, high-impact strength plastic sidewall windows, and an emergency break that the user can control.

“Because the wheelchair lifts are manufactured right here at our Arizona facility, we can also tell potential buyers about manufacturing details, like the green element of our lifts…that they’re made using a high amount of recycled steel,” said Howard N. Stewart, President of AGM. 

Attesting to AGM’s commitment to durability and reliability in its products, the Ascension Protégé is backed by a standard warranty that’s longer than the average industry offering. The drive train is covered for 20 years under warranty, while additional parts are covered for up to five years.

With this level of information, customers like Amity Hall restaurant and bar in New York can feel confident about purchasing an Ascension Wheelchair Lift from AGM. To ensure this remains the case, the sales team follows up on their customers’ experience within six months of the purchase, to check that there are no concerns or questions hindering use of the product. At the same time, their customers’ informed feedback helps AGM improve their products as needed to allow for the best performance and overall quality.

Tucson’s 2012 “Family-Owned Business of the Year” Announced - AGM Container Controls recognized for increased employment, long term success

Tucson manufacturer AGM Container Controls has been recognized by the Arizona Small Business Administration (SBA) as the Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year for 2012. On May 1, the SBA will honor AGM and other multiple state-level award winners in varying categories at an awards ceremony at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. State award recipients will then go on to compete for similar awards on a regional and national basis.

Each year, the Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year award is presented to a business that has:

• increased employment opportunities for family members and non-family members
• demonstrated long-term business success and economic growth measured by sales and profits
• helped to strengthen family-owned businesses within the community

“We are very proud to be recognized for our commitment to teamwork, community support and business success,” said AGM President Howard Stewart, who took over from his parents, Joyce and Roger Stewart. “Everyone at AGM works together like a family to ensure our clients’ continued satisfaction, as well as AGM’s and Tucson’s success. Also, as an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) business, every employee here is quite literally invested in the company’s success.”

AGM has been recognized for years for top-quality products, unsurpassed customer service, and community contributions. As a result of the company’s dedication, they have enjoyed success and growth in both revenues and retention. Profits since Howard took over have more than quadrupled from $4 million to $17 million. The number of employees added to the AGM family has also grown, jumping from 23 employees to 216 between 2010 and 2011, one of the toughest years economically for the state of Arizona. Inc. magazine ranked AGM on its annual Inc. 5000 list, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies.