JWF Industries President and Chief Executive Officer, William C. Polacek, has been named a Pittsburgh Smart 50 Award Honoree for 2020, presented by Smart Business Magazine. He also received this award in 2015.

The Smart 50 Awards was created in 2014 to recognize executives in the Greater Pittsburgh region for their ability to effectively build and lead successful organizations. Honorees were picked from nominations focused on innovation, impact, and sustainability. Special attention was paid to success of the organization, impact in the community, and special initiatives established during the COVID-19 pandemic (sbnonline.com/events/smart50pit/).

“Your leadership has fueled great success at your organization and the judges were impressed,” said Meredith Rankin, Event Manager for Smart Business, regarding Polacek’s selection to the group. “Congratulations on this tremendous honor.”

“This award is representative of our employees and positive change in our community that shows Johnstown isn’t just getting through COVID,” said Polacek. “We are and will continue to flourish through this pandemic because of our innovation and resilient mindset that has crossed multi-generations and will continue into the future.”

Polacek was one of two Johnstown leaders to be recognized with the Smart 50 Award. The second is Frank Janakovic, Executive Director of Alternative Community Resource Program (ACRP).

“Congratulations to Frank Janakovic from ACRP for also receiving this award,” said Polacek. “Johnstown is getting recognized as an innovative, community impact-driven, and sustainable town.”