Lahti Industrial Society
Influencing Regional Development
Lahti Industrial Society promotes the vitality of the business life of the Lahti region by influencing several regionally important projects, developing the design thinking and expertise of companies in Lahti and its region, and ensuring the supply of future skilled labor in our region through cooperation with educational institutions. The three main pillars of our activities are:
Influencing
The Society takes a stand on current issues from the point of view of business life and is involved in regionally significant projects.
Having Fun
The mutual enjoyment and networking of members and stakeholders has been at the center of the Society’s activities throughout its history. The entertaining events hosted by the Society maintain this tradition.
Supporting Excellence
We support the development of knowledge and skills of the representatives of our member companies, thus increasing their competitiveness
The Society has 83 community members and they have more than 300 representatives. The Society has about 80 personal members. Lahti Industrial Society’s activities are governed by the rules drawn up for it.
The Board and the Executive Director
The Society’s affairs are managed by the board, which includes the chairman, vice-chairman and eight members, two of whom resign each year. The board chooses a vice-chairman from among its members. On the first three occasions, the members who are on the way out are chosen by lot. The board elects the executive director of the Society for one year at a time, as well as other necessary officials who do not have to be part of the board. At its discretion, the board can establish committees or commissions from among its members for the preparation of matters.
Valtteri Simola
Executive Director
Valtteri has been the Executive Director of the Lahti Industrial Society since 2014. He has been involved in executing several corporate restructurings and developing board operations in various organizations. Valtteri is also the secretary of the Lahti Industrial Society Foundation and serves as the chairman of the Finnish Maritime Rescue Association and the board chairman of Helmi Säästöpankki.
valtteri.simola@lahdenteollisuusseura.fi
050 555 6827
Teresa Kemppi-Vasama
Chairman
Teresa is a third-generation family entrepreneur and serves as the Chair of the Board at Kemppi Oy. She is also the Chair of the Board at LUT University.
Juha Luhtanen
Vice-Chairman
Juha represents the family company L-Fashion Group on the board of the association. He has been with the company since 1998, holding various roles, including CEO since 2021.
Daniel Ward
Member
Daniel is a third-generation family entrepreneur and the CEO of Eurokangas Oy. He is also a board member of the Finnish Commerce Federation, a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Delegation of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), and a board member of Lahti Basketball.
Johanna Vuopala
Member
Johanna is the CEO of the Makron Group and a second-generation family entrepreneur. She is a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Committee of the Technology Industry and also the Chair of the Päijät-Häme Regional Association.
Susanna Rinne
Member
Susanna is the Strategy and Development Director of UPM’s Plywood Business. She has diverse experience in leadership roles in sales, marketing, product management, and product development.
Olli Vormisto
Member
Olli, who has served as the CEO of Osuuskauppa Hämeenmaa since 2014, is also the Chair of the Board of the Häme Chamber of Commerce, the Vice Chair of the Board of Lahti Region Oy, and a board member of the Finnish Commerce Federation and S-Pankki Oy.
Anssi Pyysing
Member
Anssi is the owner and founder of Teerenpeli companies, alongside his wife Marianne. The group includes nine restaurants, as well as a brewery and a distillery.
Ahti Haataja
Member
Ahti is the CEO of LähiTapiola Vellamo. Previously, he has worked as the Development Director and Integration Director at the LähiTapiola Group.
Tuija Suur-Hamari
Member
Tuija is the CEO of Wipak Oy.
Medal of Merit of Lahti Industrial Society
The Medal of Merit can be awarded to a private person, company or community in the name of the Lahti Industrial Society and by decision of its board for long-term and meritorious work in the administration of the Society or for significant merits in fulfilling the aims of the Society. The medal can be awarded to a person, company or community outside the Society in recognition of significant merits for the realization of the Society’s purposes or as a special distinction. Merit medals have been awarded since 1985.
The medal was designed by Pirkko Saarnio, who won the medal design competition held for students of the Lahti Institute of Art and Design. The jury included Bernt Starckjohann as chair, Lasse Aaltonen, and Heikki Simola from our society, as well as Olli Auvinen, Tapani Aartomaa, and Kari Lohko from the Lahti Institute of Art and Design, with Antti Hassi serving as an expert. The medal was manufactured by Jalosepot Oy. The case for the medal was also designed by students, and additional cases were commissioned from Markku Tonttila.
The medal, which deviates from the subjects typical of Finnish medal art, describes the connection between the technostructure and the urban environment and at the same time the interaction between people.
So far, the Medal of Merit has been awarded to:
1. City of Lahti
2. Väinö Immonen
3. Artturi Arjala
4. Ossi Kivekäs
5. Viljo Väinölä
6. S.O. Ruotsi
7. Heino Leskelä
8. Bernt Starckjohann
9. Åke Jankola
10. Heikki Mustakallio
11. Tauno Eskola
12. Erkki Tuominen
13. Jaakko Heikinheimo
14. Jaakko Ukkonen
15. Bert Renwall
16. Mauno Rekola
17. Olavi Jämsen
18. Heikki Simola
19. Pekka Luhtanen
20 Harald Relander
21. Jaakko Pohtio
22. Heikki Vehnämäki
23. Jarmo Rytilahti
24. Olavi Mikkola
25. Osmo Vänskä
26. Tuomas Kinberg
27.Antti Kivekäs
28. Jukka Ottela
29. Heikki Vilppunen
30. Hannu Katajamäki
31. Jouko Kemppi
32. Vesa Luhtanen
33. Antti Norrlin
34. Kari Salmi
35. Pekka Koivisto
36. Kalle Puttonen
37. Pär-Gustaf Relander
38. Heikki Mäkinen
39. Jari Havukainen