SML | Consulting

“As long as they are not carried into practice, inventions are economically irrelevant. And to carry any improvement into effect is a task entirely different from the inventing of it, and a task, moreover, requiring entirely different kinds of aptitudes...”

Joseph Schumpeter
Economist and Political Scientist

Helping Companies Stay Relevant Through Diversification

CHALLENGE: When the recession took business away and forced layoffs (over 300 jobs) at a world-renowned luxury yacht builder headquartered in Vancouver, Wash., Christensen Shipyards Ltd. realized it needed to diversify its business or face the real possibility of closing its doors after over 25 year of operation.

SOLUTION: After consultation with SMLC, Christensen formed a sister business -- Renewable Energy Composite Solutions, LLC. (RECS) -- to provide its composites manufacturing expertise to the renewable energy market. SMLC advised RECS on how to market its highly skilled workforce, composite expertise, vast manufacturing space and ideal location on the Columbia River to the renewable energy industry.  SMLC introduced RECS to its first two business partners – Skyron Systems, Inc. and Oregon State University (OSU). RECS is working with Skyron on developing a Vertical Access Wind Turbine, and OSU awarded a joint contract to RECS and SAIC to build a mobile test berth to test hydrokinetic technologies.

SMLC identified federal funding opportunities to further leverage the mutually beneficial relationship between Skyron and RECS. SMLC helped RECS register and apply for federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) funds to retrofit its facility to fabricate and manufacture renewable energy technologies and to seek federal funds to retrain Christensen’s workers. The project was supported by U.S. Representative Brian Baird, State Representative Jim Jacks, Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard, the Columbia River Economic Development Council and the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council.

SUCCESS: Within the first seven months of working together, SMLC helped RECS win a $1 million federal stimulus grant under the Washington State Energy Program (SEP) to fund its retooling and production startup for manufacturing of vertical axis wind turbines and a $350,000 commitment in workforce retraining funds. The RECS project was one of 19 public and private projects selected from among 120 applicants. This award resulted in favorable media coverage and an increase in unsolicited request for proposals from domestic and international sources. Skyron has also benefited from increased investor interest in the company.

RECS Articles of Interest: