[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 77 (Thursday, May 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4080-S4081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING ALCOM, INC.

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, next week marks National Small 
Business Week, a time when we honor our Nation's entrepreneurs and the 
tremendous accomplishments they have made. As small business owners and 
advocates from across America gather in Washington, DC, for several 
days of events, among that group will be two Mainers who have earned 
the U.S. Small Business Administration's prestigious 2010 Maine Small 
Business Persons of the Year award. Today I wish to recognize Trapper 
Clark and Tom Sturtevant, the president and corporate vice president, 
respectively, of Alcom, Inc., a major manufacturer of aluminum trailers 
located in the town of Winslow.
  Alcom got its start in 2006 when Trapper Clark opened the firm in 
8,000 square feet of space at the historic Wyandotte Mill in 
Waterville. Trapper, a graduate of the University of Maine, had 
previously worked for aluminum sport and utility manufacturer SnoPro, 
giving him a deep familiarity with the industry and how it operates. 
When he decided to open his own small business, he approached Tom, his 
stepfather who had been retired for a decade, to help get his company 
off the ground. Mr. Sturtevant is an entrepreneur in his own right, 
having founded Gazelle Products--the third-largest fiberglass-canoe 
manufacturer in the country when he sold it in 1990--and Benton 
Plastics--the third-largest manufacturer of plastic bed liners in the 
world when he sold the firm in 1994. Clearly,

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both Trapper and Tom had the knowledge, background, and expertise to 
launch Alcom in early 2006.
  When the company opened its doors, it employed just a handful of 
people but sold 105 of its trailers to dealers on its first day of 
operation. Business continued to stay strong, and within a year, Alcom 
was using all 46,000 available square feet at the mill. Facing a 
dilemma that could have easily forced their company out of State, 
Trapper and Tom instead chose to utilize a $1.1 million SBA loan 
guarantee to move into an expanded, 70,000 square foot facility in the 
Winslow Industrial Park. In part because of the expansion, Alcom now 
employs 80 and is slated to complete $18 million in sales in 2010. The 
company sells its trailers to 200 dealers throughout the United States 
and Canada. Additionally, the company's 5-year plan anticipates the 
company having 196 employees and $44 million in sales in 2013, an 
incredible measurement of the company's success and growth.
  The ability of Alcom to grow and thrive during such difficult 
economic times is a testament to the dedication and commitment of 
Trapper Clark and Tom Sturtevant, who vividly represent America's 
entrepreneurial spirit. Indeed, Alcom is truly one of our Nation's 
shining small business success stories, and has quickly become a 
nationwide leader in the design and manufacturing of recreational 
aluminum trailers. I am proud that Maine is home to such a vibrant and 
resilient firm, and I am optimistic for the company's future prospects. 
Once again, I congratulate Trapper and Tom for being exceptional models 
for Maine and the Nation, and I wish them and everyone at Alcom all the 
best for many more successful years to come.

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