News about Miles Fiberglass and Composites
Ron Wyden pays Visit to MFC
On October, 16th, 2009 United States Senator Ron Wyden paid a visit to Miles Fiberglass and Composites, Inc. On October 6th, 2009 the United States Senate passed the fiscal year 2010 Department of Defense appropriations bill, which includes over $60 million for Oregon based projects. Included, at the request of Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, the funds will allow these projects to provide research and development of clean energy technologies, provide equipment to help ensure military personnel land aircrafts safely in extreme weather conditions, and lastly updated data and voice communicational systems. The bill also includes funding for the Oregon National Guard Reintegration Program, which helps soldiers transition back to their normal lives, once their highly valued services are complete.
The Senators appropriation bill also included $1,000,000 worth of funds for MFC, Inc. to produce HMMWV Repair Hood Kits for the men and woman overseas. Senator Wyden took time to answer employees’ questions on health care, tax reform, and any other issues we, as an American society face on a day to day basis.
Portland Business Journal Article
Partnership puts Sabin skills center MILES ahead
By Melody Finnemore/ Special To The Business Journal/ October 12th, 2007
For Mark Lynch, his students’ participation in internships and job shadows at Miles Fiberglass & Composites Inc. offers a priceless chance to see the seeds he plants in the classroom take root as the youth enter the work force.
Lynch is an instructor in the manufacturing and engineering department at Sabin-Schellenberg Skills Center, a professional-technical school in Milwaukie. Lynch has partnered with Miles Fiberglass for the last 5 years to provide professional development opportunities for students in his program. Each year, the students are paired with employees at the company to learn various aspects of the trade as they work toward completion of a senior project. Last years group of students built a 1932 roadster that was shown at the Portland Hot Rod Show. MFC president Lori Luchak said education is a high priority for the family owned- company, which opened in 1963.
Miles Fiberglass typically works with 6 student interns each fall. Another 6 to 10 students participate in a job shadow in January. The internship and job shadowing program benefits both the students and the industry, Luchak said.
"We realize not all kids are going to go to college and sometimes they don’t get a chance to view other career opportunities. We want to do everything that we can to show them what is out there and all the different things they can do," she said. "Their eyes light up when they find out about things like that."
MFC also supports the Clackamas Community College Military Families Endowment Fund, and has pledged $50,000 to help create an endowment so families of military personnel can attend college at no cost and receive free daycare while in class.
"We’re trying to do something for them since they are out there doing something for us," Luchak said. "They don’t make a whole lot of money, and its hard for them to send their families to college."
In addition, MFC participates in a Business Education Compact program that encourages local businesses to hire teachers each summer. Sabin’s Lynch has done a variety of jobs at Miles Fiberglass since he began working there during the summer four years ago.
"My big benefit there was that they trusted me enough to hire me as a supervisor for 21 other guys," Lynch said. "I was disappointed my summer ended so quickly because I really enjoyed working with that team.
Portland Streetcar
In 2007 Miles Fiberglass won the bid to be the supplier of composite parts for the Portland Streetcar manufactured by Oregon Iron Works. The Portland Streetcar will be manufactured in 2008 and completed by 2009 for Portland Oregon. We are excited to be a part of this project and proud to be the supplier of choice for composite parts. The parts to be completed by Miles is the skirts, parts of the front and back as well as parts around the window.
New Vacuum Forming Machine
On January 17th, 2008 Miles Fiberglass announced the arrival of their highly anticipated vacuum forming machine. This machine is the one of the largest vacuum forming machines on the west coast and can produce parts 110" x 110". We look forward to producing vacuum formed parts to the RV, Light Rail, and the recreational industry as well as many other markets that require vacuum formed parts.
Community Involvement
On October 12, 2007 Miles Fiberglass was awarded The Corporate Philanthropy Award given by the Portland Business Journal. Miles was given the award for its partnership with the Owen Sabin Skill Center and the skateboard project with students there and the seed money for establishing a Military Families Endowment Fund at Clackamas Community College established to offer scholarships family members of Oregon Military service people. Miles Fiberglass enjoys working and supporting the community in which it resides.
