Optimation Technologywon the Manufacturing Innovation award from the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Awards. Sean DeNeef, an Optimation pipefitter apprentice, won the Apprenticeship of the year award. DeNeef began the program in October 2018. He is a veteran of the United States Army, serving overseas in Afghanistan and Korea as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. He attained an Auto Mechanical Technical Certificate from the Wayne Technical Career Center in High School and has worked as a mechanic in a variety of jobs. DeNeef chose to pursue the NYS sponsored Apprenticeship Program with Optimation to expand his trade knowledge and skills, and to broaden his horizons with a dynamic company that works within a wide variety of industries.