Copeland Corporation has been a Sidney area cornerstone of industry and employment since its arrival from Detroit in 1937. The refrigeration leader was acquired by Emerson Electric in 1986 and eventually became Emerson Climate Technologies. One unchanged facet of the business is that the company along with the people who work there are very generous toward their home community.
A career Emerson executive who also enhances the Sidney area outside of business hours is among four alumni who will be inducted into the Sidney City Schools Hall of Honor on Friday April 17 in a 7:30pm SHS auditorium ceremony followed by a gymnasium reception that are both open to the public. Ken Monnier (SHS 1977) is joined by the late Donald Manning (1933), Todd Bassett (1957), and Todd Taylor (1990) to raise the Hall of Honor to 115 members since its 1993 inception.
Monnier will become the first inductee to graduate from SHS through the current Upper Valley Career Center (formerly JVS) in Piqua. "My dad encouraged me to take this route toward engineering studies at the University of Dayton," Ken recalled. "I agreed that I would benefit from having this hands-on training in high school. When I got to UD, I saw what a good choice it had been." His mechanical engineering degree would follow in 1983. Ken has special memories of the SHS music faculty of the mid-1970's including Hall of Honor member Frank Fahrer.
He has held positions of increasing responsibility since joining Emerson in 1984 and is now Vice-President of Air Conditioning Engineering with ten patents to his name while serving key roles in numerous new product rollouts. "Scroll technology" has been a key ingredient of the Emerson success and Ken has been at the forefront. Though based in Sidney, national and worldwide travels are part of his itinerary.
Nominator and co-worker Frank Wallis documented Monnier's business and community accomplishments. Wallis cited Ken's resume' as being consistent with the Hall of Honor's mission of "reinforcing and enhancing a positive image of the Sidney City Schools." Monnier has been a leader with the Community Foundation, Wilson Memorial Hospital, United Way, Raise The Roof For The Arts, career education, scouting, Holy Angels Church, and Sidney Civic Band where he is also a drummer.
His hospital service is a personal favorite. "Wilson Memorial Hospital is right here in Sidney when the injured and sick have immediate needs. It is also a big employer providing excellent jobs and bringing skilled medical professionals to our community," he indicated. "It's a quality of life staple for Sidney."
Ken resides near Maplewood with his wife Mary Beth. They have two adult children. Ken is the third member of the class of 1977 to receive this highest honor bestowed by the Sidney City Schools.