[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 169 (Thursday, October 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING WALSH ENGINEERING SERVICES

 Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, Idaho is home to many innovative, 
ambitious, and industrious small businesses. Today I would like to 
honor a small business that represents all of these qualities. As 
chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and 
Entrepreneurship, it is my distinct privilege to recognize Walsh 
Engineering Services as the Small Business of the Month for October 
2018. Walsh Engineering Services is a woman-owned design and 
architectural engineering firm, which provides high-quality technical 
and design services to various public and private sector customers 
throughout Idaho and around the country.
  Located in Idaho Falls, ID, Walsh Engineering Services was founded by 
Stephanie Walsh along with a group of dedicated engineers. An Idaho 
Falls native, Stephanie was raised in a potato farming family and went 
on to graduate from the University of Idaho with a degree in mechanical 
engineering. After graduation, Stephanie returned home and began 
working for the Department of Energy's Idaho National Lab. While at the 
INL, Stephanie recognized the emerging need for expert contractors at 
one of our country's most important nuclear research centers. In 2005, 
Stephanie finally took the plunge and founded Walsh Engineering 
Services. Owning her own business and working with the INL as a 
contractor allowed her to continue to work to meet the needs of the 
INL, as well as those of a growing Southeastern Idaho.
  Since its founding, Walsh Engineering Services has grown from a small 
group of dedicated engineers and designer-drafters, to a full-service 
engineering and architecture firm staffed by architects, cost 
estimators, and support personnel. Their goal has always been to 
provide high-quality, reliable, and responsive professional technical 
services to their customers. Their clients have expanded over the years 
from the INL to other DOE National Laboratories, the State of Idaho 
Department of Public Works, and fabrication firms located throughout 
the country. Stephanie is an outstanding example of Idaho's unique 
entrepreneurial spirit and is an inspiration to women entrepreneurs 
across the great State of Idaho.
  As you may know, October has been designated as National Women's 
Small Business Month. This month, we celebrate the critical 
contributions that women like Stephanie Walsh make to our country's 
economy every day. There are more than 9.9 million women-owned small 
business in the United States, employing over 8 million people. In 
2017, women-owned small businesses generated over $1.4 trillion in 
sales. I am pleased to honor a great women-owned small business this 
month in Walsh Engineering. Stephanie Walsh and her employees at Walsh 
Engineering exemplifies the perseverance and hard work that lead women-
owned small businesses to success.
  Stephanie's team at Walsh Engineering Services is committed to 
supporting INL's mission of clean energy, national security, science, 
and the environment. While Stephanie founded the company to support the 
changing needs of the INL, Walsh Engineering Services is also focused 
on training the next generation of workers to continue the history of 
professionalism and success at the INL. The firm not only offers jobs 
to recent graduates of Idahoan universities but also develops the next 
generation of engineers through the firm's internship program.
  Stephanie is proof of Idaho's unique entrepreneurial spirit. Through 
her hard work, expertise, and reputation for quality work, Stephanie's 
company has grown over the past 13 years and now employs approximately 
75 Idahoans who provide valuable contracting services to public and 
private entities. Stephanie Walsh is a great example to both young 
female engineers and woman entrepreneurs throughout Idaho and the 
Nation. I would like to congratulate Stephanie and all of the employees 
at Walsh Engineering Services for being named the Small Business of the 
Month for October 2018. I wish you good luck in your future endeavors 
and look forward to watching your continued growth and success.

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