{"id":733,"date":"2024-10-04T11:39:43","date_gmt":"2024-10-04T08:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lahdenteollisuusseura.fi\/society\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T13:54:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T10:54:40","slug":"society","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lahdenteollisuusseura.fi\/en\/society\/","title":{"rendered":"Society"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lahti Industrial Society<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Influencing Regional Development<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Influencing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Society takes a stand on current issues from the point of view of business life and is involved in regionally significant projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having Fun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporting Excellence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We support the development of knowledge and skills of the representatives of our member companies, thus increasing their competitiveness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Society has 83 community members and they have more than 300 representatives. The Society has about 80 personal members. Lahti Industrial Society\u2019s activities are governed by the rules drawn up for it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Board and the Executive Director<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Valtteri Simola<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Executive Director<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 S\u00e4\u00e4st\u00f6pankki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

valtteri.simola@lahdenteollisuusseura.fi
050 555 6827<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Juha Luhtanen<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Chairman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Johanna Vuopala<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Vice-Chairman<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 P\u00e4ij\u00e4t-H\u00e4me Regional Association.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Daniel Ward<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019 Delegation of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), and a board member of Lahti Basketball.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mikko M\u00e4kel\u00e4<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Susanna Rinne<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Olli Vormisto<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olli, who has served as the CEO of Osuuskauppa H\u00e4meenmaa since 2014, is also the Chair of the Board of the H\u00e4me 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Anssi Pyysing<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Topi Paananen<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Topi Paananen is the CEO of Peikko Group and a second-generation family entrepreneur. He has served as CEO since 2010.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mika Kivim\u00e4ki<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Member<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mika, CEO of OP H\u00e4me, has held various expert, supervisory, and executive roles within OP Pohjola since 1997. In addition, he serves in several positions of trust within OP Pohjola and regionally, including the H\u00e4me Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Medal of Merit of Lahti Industrial Society<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The medal was designed by Pirkko Saarnio<\/strong>, who won the medal design competition held for students of the Lahti Institute of Art and Design. The jury included Bernt Starckjohann<\/strong> as chair, Lasse Aaltonen<\/strong>, and Heikki Simola<\/strong> from our society, as well as Olli Auvinen<\/strong>, Tapani Aartomaa<\/strong>, and Kari Lohko<\/strong> from the Lahti Institute of Art and Design, with Antti Hassi <\/strong>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.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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So far, the Medal of Merit has been awarded to:<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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1. City of Lahti
2. V\u00e4in\u00f6 Immonen
3. Artturi Arjala
4. Ossi Kivek\u00e4s
5. Viljo V\u00e4in\u00f6l\u00e4
6. S.O. Ruotsi
7. Heino Leskel\u00e4
8. Bernt Starckjohann
9. \u00c5ke Jankola
10. Heikki Mustakallio
11. Tauno Eskola
12. Erkki Tuominen
13. Jaakko Heikinheimo
14. Jaakko Ukkonen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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15. Bert Renwall
16. Mauno Rekola
17. Olavi J\u00e4msen
18. Heikki Simola
19. Pekka Luhtanen
20 Harald Relander
21. Jaakko Pohtio
22. Heikki Vehn\u00e4m\u00e4ki
23. Jarmo Rytilahti
24. Olavi Mikkola
25. Osmo V\u00e4nsk\u00e4
26. Tuomas Kinberg
27.Antti Kivek\u00e4s
28. Jukka Ottela <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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29. Heikki Vilppunen
30. Hannu Katajam\u00e4ki
31. Jouko Kemppi
32. Vesa Luhtanen
33. Antti Norrlin
34. Kari Salmi
35. Pekka Koivisto
36. Kalle Puttonen
37. P\u00e4r-Gustaf Relander
38. Heikki M\u00e4kinen
39. Jari Havukainen
40. Martti Lipponen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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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. 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