Season’s greetings, from the Sonnhalter team! We are grateful for another successful year, and we couldn’t have done it without our wonderful clients, business partners and friends like you. The Sonnhalter team will be taking some time off over the holidays from December 23rd to January 1st. We hope that you enjoy this holiday season and time with your family and friends! We’ll see you in 2025! Sonnhalter, your B2T partner – let’s build something together.
The week of November 17 of this year is National Apprenticeship Week. We celebrate all that comes with internships and apprenticeships for the trades. Being that this year will be the 10th anniversary of this holiday, makes National Apprenticeship Week even more special. Whether you are in the electrical, plumbing, welding or carpentry trade apprenticeships and internships are where you start out and gain the skills you need to continue your career.
Here are five facts about apprenticeships to help celebrate this nationally recognized week:
This year, we celebrate Sonnhalter turning 48! In 1976, John Sonnhalter founded Sonnhalter with a focus on industrial manufacturing accounts. Over time, our focus evolved, and we coined the term B2T, encompassing markets such as plumbers, electricians, machinists and others working in the trades.
At Sonnhalter, our focus as a manufacturing marketing agency is to serve companies that target professional tradesmen in the construction, industrial and MRO markets. To this day we stand by our motto, “Not Afraid to Get Our Hands Dirty.”
From Berea to Downtown Cleveland
One of the biggest changes since our founding was our move from Berea to Downtown Cleveland in February 2015. This relocation to a larger, more central location downtown brought us closer to a vibrant and thriving hub of activity.
A New Presidency
In its 48 years of service, Sonnhalter has undergone significant changes, including the retirement of founder John Sonnhalter and the appointment of his son, Matt Sonnhalter, as president. This father-son duo has made a notable impact in the B2T world. Upon John’s retirement, Matt stepped into his father’s role and continued the legacy of leadership. Matt has successfully guided the company, leveraging his extensive industry experience to drive Sonnhalter’s success.
Award Winning Work
At Sonnhalter, we take pride in our work and the clients we are fortunate to partner with. Our expertise has earned us numerous accolades, including awards for our work with Franklin Electric, General Pipe Cleaners, Kapro Tools and Weldcote. We’ve received ten gold and silver awards from the Davey Awards, and six gold and bronze awards from the PRSA Cleveland Rocks Awards competition. We were also recognized as one of BtoB magazine’s top business-to-business agencies in the U.S. for five consecutive years. These honors reflect our dedication, and we look forward to achieving even more in the future.
101 Days of Summer Photo Contest
Since 2004, Sonnhalter has held its annual summer photo contest, where every employee has the opportunity to submit photos that creatively reflect their summertime activities. Through this competition, each employee has the chance to win a cash prize and more importantly, bragging rights for the year.
Sonnhalter’s Annual Tool Drive
For 15 years, Sonnhalter has figured out a way to give back to the community, tradesman style. In 2010, we started our Annual Tool Drive and it has been a huge success. Overall, we’ve raised more than $517,000 to benefit Greater Cleveland’s Habitat for Humanity, in the hopes of eliminating substandard housing in our community. For the Tool Drive, we ask members of the community to donate old or unused tools and building materials that they might find in warehouses, garages and sheds.
We are extremely proud of our journey and where we stand today as a company. From the days of keylining and desktop publishing to sending snail mail press releases and embracing social media and influencers, our industry has evolved significantly. With the dedication of our Sonnhalter team and the support of our clients, we’ve navigated these changes and continue to thrive. Looking ahead, we’re excited about the future and ready to embrace new opportunities and challenges.
Recently, Sonnhalter’s president, Matt Sonnhalter, was featured on the Appetite for Construction podcast, where he reflected on the 2024 PHCC CONNECT held in Birmingham, Alabama. Matt emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing within the industry, particularly in engaging with younger professionals in the trades.
Matt discussed the engaging sessions and networking opportunities that contributed to a productive atmosphere, allowing attendees to address the evolving challenges they face. Listen to the episode here to hear more about Matt’s thoughts on the event and its lasting impact on the industry.
By Sofia Zipparo, PR Intern
Every first Friday in October, National Manufacturing Day occurs. This day was organized nationally by the Manufacturing Institute, in hopes of inspiring new generations of up-and-coming manufacturers. On this day, we hope to change perceptions about this industry and empower manufacturers to come together and make a difference towards the future. Skilled workers, engineers, technicians, and managers all play crucial roles in ensuring that the manufacturing processes run smoothly and efficiently. If we did not have manufacturers, we would not be where we are as a society today. This day is an opportunity to honor their hard work, dedication, and ingenuity. To learn how you can participate in a future National Manufacturing Day, click here!
