MERA – The Remanufacturing Association has announced the formation of the Michael Cardone Leadership Award. The award will recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in remanufacturing and sustainability. The inaugural award will be presented at the MERA-Golisano Annual Conference, Oct. 4, in Troy, Michigan.
The Leadership Award is named in honor of Michael Cardone Jr., co-founder and chief strategy officer, CARDONE Industries Inc. a global supplier of new and remanufactured automotive products with headquarters in Philadelphia. Cardone Jr. co-founded CARDONE Industries with his late father, Michael Cardone Sr., in 1970. Today, the family business, spanning three generations, is the largest family-owned remanufacturer of automotive parts in the world.
Cardone Jr. is the founding chairman of MERAWhile serving as a member of the board of directors of MEMA, the parent organization of MERA, he led a group of executives that launched MERA in January 2011. MERA experienced rapid growth and is recognized internationally as an organization focused on excellence in remanufacturing and sustainability. Today, Cardone Jr. is a special adviser to MERA. His son, Michael Cardone III, serves on the MERA board of directors.
The goal of the MERA Board of Directors is to recognize exceptional executives who have a proven track record of advancing the remanufacturing industry. Nominations for the award – which will be given annually or as-deserved – are welcome throughout the year.
“The Michael Cardone Leadership Award exemplifies key traits of Michael Cardone Jr.: vision, passion, teamwork and excellence,” said John Chalifoux, president and chief operating officer, MERA. “With this award, we will honor the legacy of the Cardone family and recognize other outstanding leaders in our industry.”
“Michael Cardone Jr. is a true leader,” said MERA Chairman Peter Butterfield, who also serves as chairman and CEO of Omega Environmental Technologies. “The Cardone family’s legacy of business success and industry stewardship continues to be a leading example of excellence that drives others to achieve.”
Over the years, Cardone Jr. has received numerous awards for his achievements, including the MEMA Triangle Award (2014), EY Entrepreneur of the Year – Lifetime Achievement Award for the Philadelphia region (2014), AWDA Automotive Leader of the Year Award (2001) and Automotive Hall of Fame Young Leadership and Excellence award (1982), among others.
