Winderosa In The News
Article taken from: http://www.sba.gov/me/mewinderosa.html
SBA Number: For immediate release For info, contact Bonnie Erickson
at
(207)
622-8242
LOCAL FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS IS A
WINNER
-
AUGUSTA, ME - Peru, Maine - In 1968 did you notice that there were
over 70 companies
distributing snowmobiles? Rachael Carignan, President and CEO of
Winderosa
Manufacturing & Distributing Co., USA, Inc., realized the
distribution pattern, and she also
realized that there were no parts available for necessary repairs.
With a few hard earned
dollars in her pocket, Carignan took off to Vermont, purchased as
many parts as her initial
investment would allow, returned to Dixfield and sold out before
she could turn around!
That was the beginning of a company that now does over $1.5
million in sales. Winderosa
USA is located in a newly renovated 14,000 square foot facility in
Peru, Maine. The
refurbished chicken coop is a dream come true for the owners.
Wonderful pine woodwork,
arched windows with a view of the mountains, an abundance of
defined shelving and air
conditioning all add to the comforts of a manufacturing
environment. Carignan is quick to
point out that her son, Jay Windover, who is plant Production
Manager and 1/3 owner,
designed the facility. Carignan's 11 employees, all local
residents, enjoy their workspace
along with the benefits available. Winderosa covers 90% of the
employees insurance, both
health and dental, encourages and pays for training and offers an
excellent retirement
package. As a result, the employees are tenured, loyal and proud
of the work that they do.
One of the employees has become a certified EMT, which adds to the
safety at the plant.
Another of the "offerings" is daily low impact aerobics to keep
everyone healthy and active.
Carignan's dedication to her employees is obvious. "We are like
family here," she stated,
"without the 8 women and 3 men on my staff, I would not be where I
am today." Lisa
Bonney, Carignan's daughter, is in charge of distribution and
public relations and owns 1/3
of the company. Hard working, like her mother, when she was in
college, she would
package gaskets at school, and take them home on weekends. 15
years later, she is an
integral part of the business. In addition to two children and a
maple syrup business,
Bonney Farms, managed by her husband Curt, Lisa is dedicated to
the Winderosa name and
its accomplishments. Bonney is responsible for domestic and
international distribution of all
Winderosa product. Winderosa will package product under
distributor's logos as a part of
their customer service and it's Bonney's responsibility to see
that this is accomplished
successfully. "The finance language of business is English, but
the exchange of logo's via
computer disk can be a challenge", Bonney stated after trying to
transfer information from a
company in Norway. Recently the owners were named as Small
Business Exporters of the
Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and were
honored at a banquet at the
Augusta Civic Center following the Blaine House Conference. Now
exporting to over 38
countries, Carignan estimates that approximately 45% of their
sales are in the international
market and projects that it will continue to increase over the
next five years. The largest
sales volume countries are currently Canada, Australia, Sweden and
France. "Businesses
here in Maine are so fortunate to have the Maine International
Trade Center and Perry
Newman, President, available to provide information on marketing
globally," said Carignan.
"The secret is to ask for help". The Maine Manufacturing Extension
Partnership (Maine MEP)
is another source that Winderosa USA reached out to for
assistance. It was the relationship
that they established with Brud Stover, Project Coordinator, Maine
MEP, that enabled
Winderosa to obtain their ISO 9001 Certification. "This company is
a very progressive
company with a very aggressive management team, always on the
cutting edge", said
Stover. Rachael Carignan, President and CEO does most of the
company's research and is
the problem solver. When asked what makes Winderosa a successful
business, she said,
"There are two words ……… quality and service. Ours is the best. I
also feel that a successful
business needs four liaisons…… a banker, an accountant, a lawyer,
and an insurance agent".
She added, "I have made them a part of the Winderosa family. Don
Cummings, Vice
President and Manager of Franklin Savings Bank in Rumford is proud
of the relationship he
has with the principals and the business. "They are a lenders
dream account. I've worked
with Rachael for over 7 years, seen the business grow and prosper,
and they still have the
Maine work ethic. They work hard, work smart and are an
inspiration to the community and
small business". Carignan serves on the Board of Directors of
Maine MEP, a corporator of
Franklin Savings Bank and sits on the Revolving Loan Fund
committee at Androscoggin
Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG), one of the SBA's Maine
Small Business
Development Center sites. Winderosa USA and its principles support
the local fire and police
departments, St. Athanasius
& John's
Church in Rumford and local youth activities.
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