2015 ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY
MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR
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ORAMCO, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, was
formed in 1979 to design, construct and manage a
bulk active pharmaceutical ingredient plant in
Wilmington, Delaware to support Ortho-McNeil
Pharmaceutical's Tylenol® with codeine business. In 1982, an
expansion of the company occurred with a site added in Athens,
Georgia and NORAMCO now contributes to a billion dollar
franchise in pharmaceutical products worl dwide. Specifically the
Athens, GA site which employs 210 employees has maintained a
positive economic impact of over 20 million dollars including
employment and community service programs.
NORAMCO’s excellence in manufacturing goes back to the
source of raw material. They are the only US manufacturer
vertically integrated backwards to the field. This means that they
maintain a distinctive and reliable supply chain for their opiatederived API’s (active pharmaceutical ingredients) by developing
and growing their own patented poppy strain. To support their
booming business, Noramco employs a global API supply chain,
manages dual US facilities and utilizes affiliate and partner sites
in Switzerland, Belgium, UK, and Australia.
Athens Technical College President Dr. Flora Tydings (3rd from left) presents Susan Daniel,
Sandra Mathis & Dominique De Jaeger (all NORAMCO) with the 2015 Manufacturer of the
Year Award at the Industry Appreciation Dinner on April 8, 2015.
Additional programs supported by NORAMCO employees
include the Adopt-A-Highway, Rivers Alive, American Red Cross,
Empowered Youth Program, Prevent Child Abuse Athens, Power
of the Purse (a women’s leadership program), and the Georgia
4-H Foundation.
NORAMCO has a reputation as an excellent corporate citizen
and was recently recognized with an O.W.L. Award (Outstanding
Workforce Leader) by the Athens Technical College Foundation.
Noramco has developed valuable partnerships with educational
institutions, from kindergarten through college, and has donated
time and funds to various local charitable organizations.
Some of the volunteer efforts of NORAMCO employees and
management team include the Military Youth Advisory Council,
Boy Scouts, YMCA, the American Cancer Society, Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society, Athens Regional and St. Mary’s Hospitals,
Day of Caring Program, and the Angel Tree. NORAMCO
management supports these efforts in multiple ways including
issuing leave hours in exchange for employee involvement in
For example, NORAMCO is a tremendous supporter of the volunteer service to the community.
United Way of Northeast Georgia. The average donation for the
United Way is $250 per employee. The Athens NORAMCO site Education partnerships include Athens Technical College and the
employees almost double that amount at close to $500 a head. K-12 community. NORAMCO recognizes and embraces their role
Employees and the management team are also one of the in working together with educational entities to have a skilled
biggest contributors consistently to the March of Dimes.
and qualified work force. Their partnership with Athens Tech
led to NORAMCO being awarded the Outstanding Workforce
Dominique De Yaeger, General Manager, has shared how very Leadership Award by the Athens Technical College Foundation.
proud he is of his employees and team members. Dominique
has personally stated that his employees and management team This has been an exciting year for NORAMCO. Along with their
truly rally around community causes. One such cause includes local awards and community achievements, the company also is
employee Sam Salamone who was a member of LEAD Athens anticipating the release of innovative new products. A new line
and along with three other members, they created an event and of bio-absorbable hemostat cloths which are used to stop
fundraiser called Automatic for Autism. Autism is the fastest bleeding during and after surgical procedures is awaiting
growing disability in the United States. With the help of the approval and will result in a $25 million investment. The
Chamber of Commerce’s LEAD Athens program and NORAMCO company is working on getting a Kickstart project approved.
member, Sam Salamone, an endowment fund at the University
of Georgia has been created to offset costs for families that
cannot afford the necessary clinical support for autistic children.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT www.AthensBusiness.org 706-613-3233
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