Pegasus manufacturing Awarded Manufacturer of the Year

SBA Award: Pegasus Manufacturing Named Illinois Manufacturer of the Year at Jupiter Open House

On June 5th, 2025, Pegasus Manufacturing proudly hosted the Meet The Makers Open House in collaboration with Jupiter Machine Tool — a landmark event that brought together innovators, engineers, and industry leaders to celebrate the future of American manufacturing.

Guests were welcomed into the heart of Pegasus’s Galesburg facility for an immersive experience that included live demonstrations, guided tours, and a hands-on look at cutting-edge CNC and hybrid technologies pushing boundaries in aerospace, defense, and high-performance industrial manufacturing.

SBA RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE

The pinnacle moment came during the award ceremony, when Ray and Ruth Whitehead, co-founders of Pegasus Manufacturing, were honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as the 2025 Illinois Manufacturer of the Year.

The award was presented by Willette LeGrant, District Director of the Illinois SBA Office, who praised Pegasus’s leadership and purpose-driven innovation:

"There are thousands of great manufacturers in this state, but these folks represent the best of the best — and they have a heart for this world!"

WILLETE LEGRANT

District Director of the Illinois SBA Office

This recognition affirms Pegasus Manufacturing’s deep commitment to excellence, sustainability, and technical advancement in mission-critical sectors.

A Hands-On Innovation Tour

Attendees explored Pegasus’s advanced workflows, including Jupiter’s WLMD hybrid machines, 5-axis automation, and demonstrations of additive-subtractive capabilities that define the next generation of production.

But beyond machines, the event celebrated the people — the engineers, operators, and visionaries — who bring American manufacturing to life.

Ray Whitehead, CEO of Pegasus Manufacturing, shared:

"This is just the beginning. We’re building the future of manufacturing with automation, aerospace and defense innovation, and 3D metal printing — the processes that will define tomorrow’s economy."

Ray Whitehead

CEO of Pegasus Manufacturing

READ SBA PRESS RELEASE

Pegasus manufacturing Awarded Manufacturer of the Year

June 16, 2025 1 Comment

On June 5th, 2025, Pegasus Manufacturing was honored as the 2025 Illinois Manufacturer of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration during the “Meet The Makers” Open House. The event showcased Pegasus’s innovation in aerospace, defense, and 3D metal printing, with live demonstrations, guided tours, and remarks from SBA District Director Willette LeGrant, who praised Pegasus as “the best of the best.” Co-founders Ray and Ruth Whitehead emphasized the company’s vision for advanced automation and future-ready manufacturing systems.