[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6132-S6133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING CONCEPT2 OF MORRISVILLE, VERMONT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, Vermont's business landscape boasts dozens 
of cutting-edge startups and successful small ventures. True to this 
entrepreneurial and independent spirit found throughout the Green 
Mountains, Concept2, based in Morrisville, VT, has once again put our 
small, rural State on the world stage.
  Concept2 is a manufacturer of rowing equipment, founded in 1976 by 
two brothers, Dick and Pete Dreissigacker, dedicated to the sport of 
rowing. There, they first designed and started selling composite racing 
oars. Many years and many innovative models later, these Concept2 
products have become an integral presence in the rowing community and 
have unmistakably changed an international sport.
  Propelled by these lightweight, Vermont-crafted Concept2 oars and 
sculls, 32 Olympic rowing teams recently brought home medals in the 
summer 2016 Olympic Games regatta in Rio de Janeiro. Bob Beeman of 
Morrisville was sent to Rio as a representative and on-site technician 
for Concept2. As a trusted and true employee, Beeman, too, was 
recognized with a medal and certificate from the International Olympic 
Committee for Concept2's continuous and fair support of the athletes 
and their equipment.
  With a nod to Vermont's core values of ethical business standards and 
giving back to our communities, the mission of Concept2 is to support 
the international rowing community and create equal opportunity for 
all. Regardless of nation or team flag, the crew has worked with rowing 
teams from around the world to combine Concept2 technology with human 
skill and training. Characterized by honesty, fairness, and integrity, 
these values of Concept2 embody the true Olympic spirit to level the 
playing field and allow the best team to win. As Vermonters, we are 
proud to see such a passionate and committed company rise to the global 
platform and help

[[Page S6133]]

athletes accomplish their Olympic dreams.
  My grandson, Roan, and I still talk of our visit to Concept2 when he 
was on his high school rowing team.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the September 2, 2016, 
article, ``Concept2 Oars Used in Majority of Olympic Rowing Wins,'' 
from the Stowe Reporter be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

              [From the Stowe Reporter, September 2, 2016]

         Concept2 Oars Used in Majority of Olympic Rowing Wins

                          (By Kayla Friedrich)

       With the help of Concept2 oars and sculls, 32 rowing 
     crews--76 percent of all medal-winning crews at the Olympic 
     regatta--were able to step onto the platform in Rio de 
     Janeiro to receive their awards this year.
       Nine of those medals were gold.
       Concept2 is one of the world's most prominent manufacturers 
     of lightweight oars. They're built by former U.S. Olympian 
     Dick Dreissigacker and his brother Pete in Morrisville.
       The company also produces an indoor rowing machine, and all 
     of the athletes have trained on the Concept2 Indoor Rower to 
     build their fitness to Olympic caliber.
       The company produces 80 to 90 percent of the world's market 
     of competition oars, and it sends an accredited technician--
     Bob Beeman of Morrisville--to the Olympics to make any 
     equipment repairs the athletes need.
       Sometimes oars are damaged in transit, practice or a race, 
     and Beeman is able to provide replacement parts and 
     adjustments if requested.
       Thanks to his decades of work at the company, Beeman became 
     a five-time Olympian this year, not competing, but helping 
     teams--regardless of what country they represent.
       ``Everything we do is free of charge,'' Beeman said. ``It's 
     all part of the service when using Concept2 oars.
       ``Some of the athletes look at me like I'm Santa Claus. 
     There are 70 countries in rowing, and we try to even the 
     playing field. One team didn't have good oars to use at the 
     Olympics, so we lent some out.''
       Beeman has been the on-site technician for Concept2 at the 
     Atlanta Olympics in 1996; Sydney, Australia, in 2000; 
     Beijing, China, in 2008; London in 2012; and now Rio.
       As a result, he's known some of the athletes for many 
     years.
       ``Athletes want to know that there is nothing wrong with 
     their equipment, and they rely on me. It makes me so proud,'' 
     Beeman said.
       U.S. rower Gevvie Stone was at the Concept2 tent every day, 
     not because she needed repairs, but because it gave her a 
     place to relax. Beeman said Stone's father thanked him 
     profusely. Stone took silver in the women's single sculls 
     using Concept2 oars.
       Beeman also was able to wear a gold medal at this year's 
     events. The gold-medal winning team from New Zealand, Eric 
     Murray and Hamish Bond, returned to the tent following their 
     men's pair final. Murray took off his gold medal and placed 
     it over Beeman's head for a photo-op.
       ``Just to be around this level of athlete is amazing,'' 
     Beeman said. ``They train daily, many of them two or three 
     times a day at a few hours each time. They train like that 
     not just for months, but for years.''
       For Beeman, Rio was the best of the five Olympics that he 
     has been to. Everything worked well logistically, there were 
     over 200 volunteers assisting at the rowing venue, and he had 
     a chance to watch some of the other events, including water 
     polo and table tennis.
       ``It was great to be right in the middle of it all,'' 
     Beeman said.
       This was also the first Olympics at which Beeman was 
     officially recognized for his work. Even a senior adviser 
     thanked him, and ``that was a big deal,'' he said.
       Before leaving Brazil, Beeman received a thank-you medal 
     and a certificate from the International Olympic Committee 
     for Concept2's support of the athletes and their equipment.
       The next Summer Olympics will be in Tokyo in 2020, and 
     Beeman looks forward to being a rowing-equipment technician 
     for the sixth time.
       ``I'm also super excited to go to some of the other 
     international regattas,'' Beeman said. ``One is in Serbia 
     this year, and Switzerland. The World Rowing Championships 
     will be in Florida.''

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