WASHINGTON, D.C. -Raven Industries Inc, a persified technology corporation headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has been approved for membership in the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), the USUBC executive committee announced today on behalf of the entire USUBC membership of over 187 companies and organizations who have business operations, investments or other development programs in Ukraine.

Raven Industries designs and manufactures high-quality, high-value technical products.  Raven is publicly traded on NASDAQ (RAVN) and has earned an international reputation for innovation, product quality, high performance and unmatched service.  With strengths in engineering, manufacturing, and technological innovation, Raven serves the precision agriculture, high performance specialty films, aerospace, and electronic manufacturing services markets.  

Raven was founded in Sioux Falls, SD, in 1956 as a manufacturer of high-altitude research balloons for NASA and the American space program. From that single product line, they have evolved into a successful publicly traded corporation (RAVN:NASDAQ).

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS (GPS) FOR GLOBAL AGRICULTURE MARKETS

Raven Industries is represented in Ukraine by one of its major emerging growth businesses, the applied technology pision, which provides electronic Global Positioning System (GPS) products and information management tools designed to reduce operating costs and improve yields for the global agriculture market.

Raven is pursuing an information services strategy which complements their existing precision ag product strategy. This combination of products and services provides precision agriculture systems for growers, turning field data from their equipment into knowledge for improving productivity, efficiency and decision making, while reducing costs. 

RAVEN INDUSTRIES MAKES FORBES BEST SMALL COMPANIES LIST SIX YEARS STRAIGHT 
Raven Industries was awarded 49th place position on the 2011 Forbes America’s Best Small Companies list. Raven has been on this Forbes best small company list now for six years. This high honor was based on earnings growth, sales growth and return on equity over the past 12 months and the past five years.  Raven’s stock performance versus its peers was another key factor. 

“It is an honor to be recognized by Forbes on such a consistent basis.  We strive to be one of the best companies in America, and I believe our culture of service, innovation, quality, and peak performance sets Raven apart.  We believe in developing our team members and holding ourselves accountable for the company’s enduring success, ” said Dan Rykhus, President and Chief Executive Officer. 

DAN RYKHUS, PRESIDENT & CEO
In August 2010, Dan Rykhus assumed the title of President and Chief Executive Officer. Dan took over the helm with over 20 years of experience at Raven. He was the General Manager of the Applied Technology pision from 1998 through 2009, growing the pision’s sales from $15 million to over $100 million.

RAVEN INDUSTRIES AND USUBC 

"USUBC is very pleased to be working with Raven Industries," said Morgan Williams, President, U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC).  "Raven is very active in Ukraine especially with their products and services for precision agriculture that improve productivity, efficiency and decision making, while reducing costs,." according to Williams.

Jeff Rohlena, International Sales Manager, represents Raven on the USUBC board of directors.  USUBC also works with Maria Rathje, International Sales Assistant in Sioux Falls.  Andrey Gulko and Serhiy Donylchuk are located in Raven office near Kyiv, Ukraine.  They are regional precision agricultural specialists for Raven and have attended USUBC meetings in Kyiv. 

USUBC President Williams recently met with Andrey Gulko in Kyiv.  Gulko, who has been with Raven for five years after returning to Ukraine from several years in the USA, said business in GPS systems and other agriculture precision instruments such as auto pilots for tractors, sprayers and combines and rate controllers had remained strong even through the world financial crisis.  Raven precision equipment is used on equipment manufactured by the world's leading farm machinery companies and on equipment from smaller short-line companies.  Raven

REFERENCE 
For additional information about Raven Industries go to:  http://www.ravenind.com/

USUBC MEMBERSHIP REACHES 187  

USUBC membership has grown rapidly during the past six years. Membership now stands at 187. In January 2005 membership was eight; two years later it had grown to 22; in January 2009 it reached 100; and in January of 2011 topped 150. A complete list of USUBC members can be found at: http://www.usubc.org/members.php. For a list of the USUBC board of directors go to:http://www.usubc.org/site/u-s-ukraine-business-council-board-of-directors.