ROCKFORD – September 27, 2024 – We Make Byrne. It’s a motto that’s been used by the Rockford, MI-based company for many years, embracing both the benefits of keeping job opportunities local and promoting the diverse talents of its employees. But this fall, you’re bound to hear another phrase being shared among those same employees: We Make Art!

To better understand, let’s go back a few years.

Shortly after Grand Rapids’ international ArtPrize competition began in the fall of 2009, so too did Byrne’s very first art show. Since its inception, ArtPrize has powered countless conversations and spirited debates about what art really is, and for Byrne—an industry leader in power and charging solutions—the question has always been a compelling one.

From the products Byrne envisions to the team members bringing them to life, creativity comes in countless forms. And sometimes the best way to capture that inspiration is through art. So, in 2011, CEO Dan Byrne and VP of Operations Tim Warwick conceived the idea to celebrate—in a very real way—the talents they saw at play, every day, at Byrne. And for many Septembers since then, employees have been showcasing their achievements for co-workers to marvel at and enjoy.

“There was so much excitement surrounding the first Art Prize in Grand Rapids, MI, we wanted to bring some of that imaginative energy up the road to our community here in Rockford,” says Dan Byrne. “We’ve always fostered a culture of creativity, and we thought it would be a great way for the whole Byrne family to show what they can do.”

Sketches, paintings, photos, canvases, even sculptures—for Byrne’s We Make Art event, the only limits are that the piece must be freestanding (or displayed by easel) and that it be created solely by the participant within the past year. Oh…and family friendly content only, please.

This year’s event includes both of Byrne’s manufacturing plants in Rockford, as well as their Lakeview site, making it a true West Michigan affair. And as one might imagine, with hundreds of employees across multiple locations, a great deal of talent can be found even in the planning and execution of the event itself. This year’s exhibition is being led by Plant Manager and three-time We Make Art winner, Ann Sokolowski.

“We Make Art gives me a chance to push my boundaries, to try new mediums and new approaches that I normally wouldn’t.” says Sokolowski. “I feel like the event also shows a different side of people outside the daily work stuff. I love seeing all of the talent everyone brings to the table!”

According to Ann and her team, pieces have been streaming in prior to the submission deadline of September 27. From there, Byrne employees have a week to review the entries on an internal social media platform and “like” their favorites. After the votes are all tallied, top picks will be announced during a special company-wide breakfast on Friday, October 4. Those winners will be awarded everything from a Frederik Meijer Gardens membership to a first-prize hotel stay in Downtown Grand Rapids with passes to the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

For the Rockford employer, celebrating powerful design has been a company through line for decades. Beyond We Make Art, Byrne has also collaborated with professional artists to provide a platform for their work, exposing them to a broader audience.

The Artist of the Year program at Byrne has enlisted a diverse group of global and local artisans over the past two decades to create a graphic inspiration piece that would serve as the company’s “finish of the year,” applied to both products and materials.

During the 2021 ArtPrize, Byrne’s cordless Vesta fueled charging stations in 27 outdoor spaces throughout downtown with each unit covered in a custom design by Nina Lu—Byrne’s most recent Artist of the Year. Her work illustrated what the “power of connection” meant to her, and for Byrne, it was an opportunity to showcase her talent while also helping the public to see how power solutions like these can be personalized to tell their own story.

In truth, the company has always been moved by what it calls “powerful connections.” Connections that grow innovation, that foster community…and celebrate doing what you love. This fall, We Make Art is one more meaningful way for employees to connect to the creativity inside themselves—and to each other.

For more information on Byrne’s We Make Art event or the company’s ongoing Artist of the Year program, please contact Stephanie Parrish at parrishs@byrne.com or check out https://www.byrne.com/blog/our-culture/powerful-design-byrne-s-collaborative-journey-toempower-artists.html and https://www.byrne.com/blog/the-archives/byrne-charging-stations-helpvisitors-plug-in-at-this-years-artprize.html