Decatur entrepreneur among 2025 Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductees

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A total of nine people, products and companies have been named to this year’s Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame class, and one inductee has ties to Macon County.

On Tuesday, the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) announced the 2025 class of inductees, which recognizes individuals, products and companies that have had a lasting impact on the manufacturing industry across Illinois. One of the people being inducted is J. Gerald Demirjian, a Decatur engineer and entrepreneur.

Demirjian acquired the York Division compressor line in 1987 and started TCCI Manufacturing, a global innovator in compressor and thermal management technologies. From Central Illinois to customers across the world, TCCI has created jobs, driven innovation and strengthened communities.

His legacy continues to live on through a family-led company that is powering future generations of commercial transportation.

Established in 2024, the Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame celebrates over two centuries of manufacturing in Illinois. Additionally, manufacturing is the largest contributor of any industry to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), supporting almost one-third of all jobs statewide and contributing over $580 billion to the state’s economy each year.

“For more than 200 years, Illinois manufacturers have created iconic products to improve our daily lives, built companies that have transformed communities, fostered visionary leaders dedicated to building a brighter tomorrow, and are reimagining the future and creating it with cutting edge technology,” Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, said. “This year’s Hall of Fame inductees reflect our state’s proud manufacturing legacy and demonstrate that the future of manufacturing in Illinois remains strong.”

Outside of Demirjian, the other eight 2025 inductees include:

• People
  • Barry L. MacLean: An engineer by training, MacLean grew MacLean-Fogg into a global manufacturing leader with three dozen locations around the globe.
  • Suad Muthana: Muthana represents the American dream, immigrating to the United States without a formal education before co-founding M&M Quality Grinding in Hodgkins.
• Products
  • Kraft Mac & Cheese: For over 85 years (introduced by James Lewis Kraft in 1937), Kraft Mac & Cheese has been serving up comfort and smiles one bowl at a time.
  • Red SOLO Cup: Created by Leo Hulseman, the iconic and best-selling red SOLO Cup is the original sign of good times.
  • Tootsie Roll: Manufactured in Chicago since 1968, Tootsie Rolls are a chocolate taffy candy and the first penny candy to be individually wrapped in America.
• Companies & Organizations
  • C. Cretors & Company: Founded in 1885, C. Cretors and Company is a 5th-generation, family-owned global leader in food processing and concession equipment.
  • Ford Motor Company: Founded by Henry Ford in 1903, Ford Motor Company is a global manufacturer of automobiles, with their oldest continuously operating factory in Chicago.
  • Horween Leather Company: Founded in 1905, Horween Leather Company produces premium leathers for a wide variety of top-quality products.

“Illinois has a storied reputation as a global hub for innovation and manufacturing, and the ongoing success of industry leaders and companies small and large is a testament to our unmatched legacy,” Governor JB Pritzker, said. “I am proud to congratulate this year’s Illinois Manufacturing Hall of Fame Inductees, who have made significant contributions not just in manufacturing – but to the cultural and commercial fabric of America as well as communities across Illinois.”

The Hall of Fame inductees will be honored during a ceremony at 11 a.m. on June 26 at the Westin Chicago Lombard. At the event, the IMA will also partner with the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center to unveil the 2025 Manufacturing Excellence Awards winners: recognizing companies, organizations and individuals in eight key categories.

For more information on the IMA, visit ima-net.org.