MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC), a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing of solutions to reinvent how the world cleans, has announced the grand prize winner chosen in the company’s inaugural Custodians Are Key contest. The eight-month recognition program rewards the great work K-12 custodians are doing in schools around the country and honors them and their school with a $15,000 prize package.
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Kris Kantor, grand prize winner of Tennant Company K-12 Custodians are Key contest. (Photo: Business Wire)
Kris Kantor of Hayes Elementary in Lakewood, Ohio, was one of 12 finalists chosen from more than 2,000 nominations from around the United States. During a surprise event at his school Friday, June 26, Kantor received a prize valued at $5,000 while his school received $10,000. The Custodians Are Key program launched September 9, 2019, and concluded on April 29, 2020.
“We had so many amazing nominees for this contest, which made it challenging to whittle down to 12 finalists, much less identify a single person to win the grand prize. Kris Kantor’s clear devotion to students and staff is what gave him the edge,” said Lisa Hrpcek, channel marketing manager, Tennant Company. “There’s never been a more important time to herald the important work these heroes like Kris and the other nominees undertake for our schools.”
Kantor was nominated last November by School Health Aide Maureen Yantek who described him as fastidious about organization and cleanliness, making his school the best building in the district. But it is Kantor’s attention to detail that elevates him, learning everyone’s name, including more than 300 students and staff. He created a program called “Kids with Kantor” where he works with students on special projects once a week during his lunch hour, building everyday objects like bird houses, decorative wooden boxes and toy helicopters while teaching kids about safety, tool use and teamwork.
“Kris lives by the motto that he has painted outside his office: ‘work smarter not harder.’ This enables him to get his regular job duties completed efficiently and effectively, which leaves him time to engage with others. What truly sets Kris apart is the respect and kindness he shows to all students, faculty, and staff,” said Yantek.
“We’ve always been proud to count Kris as one of our own. This acknowledgement of his great work is extremely deserved,” said Eric Fortuna, principal at Hayes Elementary. “We are lucky to have Kris on our team and look forward to celebrating him when school is back in session.”
Principal Fortuna said he will consult with Kantor on how best to spend the $10,000 prize money because he always has great ideas.
Custodians Are Key Program Details
Tennant received more than 2,000 nominations from around the country of school custodians who are making their schools better, going above and beyond their daily jobs, and showing students and staff they care.
The second annual Custodians Are Key contest will kick off September 15, 2020. When the contest opens, simply submit your nomination at . A committee of judges selected by Tennant will select finalists and winners based on the quality of the nomination and the impact the custodian makes on his or her school. View this to learn more.
Visit to learn more about Custodians Are Key and to submit your nomination.
About Tennant
Founded in 1870, Tennant Company (TNC), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing solutions that empower customers to achieve quality cleaning performance, reduce their environmental impact and help create a cleaner, safer, healthier world. Its products include equipment for maintaining surfaces in industrial, commercial and outdoor environments; detergent-free and other sustainable cleaning technologies; cleaning tools and supplies; and coatings for protecting, repairing and upgrading surfaces. Tennant's global field service network is the most extensive in the industry. Tennant Company had sales of $1.14 billion in 2019 and has approximately 4,400 employees. Tennant has manufacturing operations throughout the world and sells products directly in 15 countries and through distributors in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit and . The Tennant Company logo and other trademarks designated with the symbol “®” are trademarks of Tennant Company registered in the United States and/or other countries.
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