Local company wins small business award

Published 6:00 am Thursday, May 17, 2018

Allison Bonin and Hannah Vedrines, New Iberia natives who live in Lafayette, are doing more than following in the footsteps of their parents who started Advanced Graphic Engraving in 1997.

Chris and Cheryl Vedrines’ daughters are developing the Iberia Parish company into a regional, state and national business, which has gotten the attention of the Louisiana Economic Development. During National Small Business Week, Advanced Graphic Engraving was announced as the winner of the MEPOL Small Manufacturing Award at a private reception two weeks ago at the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge.

It was a whirlwind week for Bonin, 37, and Hannah Vedrines, who both left a trade show in Houston, traveled to Baton Rouge to accept the award, returned to their homes in Acadiana and then went back to close out the trade show in Texas.

Bonin said they were filled with pride for the company and for the women who work at the site at 1410 Easy St.

“Yes, we are,” Hannah Vedrines said.

“It’s definitely a big honor to be honored by the state for our effort in growing and diversifying,” Bonin said. 

The sisters, who both went to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, were pleasantly surprised, too, by the award for the contributions of their small business to the state’s economy.

“Pleasantly surprised and a little bit, ‘Are you sure?’ I’ll take it,” Bonin said, modestly and with a chuckle.

The award was taken to the office on their first day back to work and placed in the customer window where visitors who walk through the front door can see it, she said.

“We want to showcase our people who work here. It’s as much theirs as it is ours,” the oldest of the two daughters said.

Bonin, who graduated from New Iberia Senior High, is the business development coordinator while Hannah Vedrines, who graduated from Catholic High School, is the manager at Advanced Graphic Engraving, which specializes in laser and rotary engraving on stainless steel and plastics, industrial, marine and architectural signage, commercial embroidery, screen printing, acid etching, printed materials and promotional products on the 10,000-square-foot site.

The Vedrines’ daughters have been in charge ever since the parents decided to step back from the day-to-day operation. They have taken the business to new heights with more and more advanced technology, as the name suggests.

The company’s 17 employees are all women, which was duly noted when Advanced Graphic Engraving received  national certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council South in March 2016.WBENC South’s certification is a meticulous process requiring, among other criteria, an in-depth review of the business and site inspection.

The women were as proud of that achievement as they are of their latest award from LED.

“This is really neat because it means a lot to have our people recognized by the state for good work,” Bonin said.

Their goal is to expand the company’s reach outside Louisiana. By doing so, the business won’t be impacted as much by any downturn in the oil and gas industry. 

“We keep trying to add jobs to bring in money from other states … Canada and Mexico as well. We’re trying to do that,” Bonin said.

Toward that goal, AGE launched a new website in July 2017, part of “a three-year growth plan,” Chris Vedrines said.