A business owner is aiming to use his experiences on a recent trip to the United States to benefit his Sylvan Lake based company.
Scott Getschel, owner of Fiber-Werx International — a fiberglass manufacturing company — travelled to Missouri in late October to connect with other similar businesses, and to tour their facilities.
Along with Central Alberta: Access Prosperity and a delegation of other Central Alberta companies, he undertook the trip to promote his company’s products and seek potential new partners.
“It was a great experience for all,” he said. “We made some really good contacts down there, and I’ve got a lot of follow-up to do. I think we’ll probably end up doing some business down there.”
The trip was the result of collaboration between Red Deer College (RDC) and Missouri State University.
RDC students, in conjunction with Missouri State students and state economic development officers, set up meetings for each of the companies represented.
The students were then given the opportunity to sit in on the meetings.
Getschel was looking for the opportunity to partner with another manufacturer or distributor for his company’s Rizor truck bed tonneau cover.
While he initially felt “a little bit reluctant” about going on the trip, he admitted it was well worthwhile.
“Since going on it, I’m very much glad that I did,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity there and we have a lot of interest in that area in our product. I think that’s going to be beneficial.”
Fiber-Werx manufactures a large range of products, which includes everything from water slides to tanks capable of transporting dangerous goods.
“We’re one of only four companies in Canada that can do that,” said Getschel.
“We can virtually make anything out of fiberglass.”