o Each week, The Columbian offers a brief snapshot of an interesting Clark County business. Send ideas to Mary Ricks: mary.ricks@columbian.com; fax 360-735-4598; phone 360-735-4550.
Business name: Phoenix Industrial.
Owners: Joe Hutton, president; Ken Johnson, vice president; and Jon Scott, vice president.
Address: 2111 S.E Columbia Way.
What the business does: Phoenix Industrial constructs new facilities or improves, alters or maintains existing facilities for heavy manufacturing customers such as paper mills, steel mills, power plants, cement plants, gas plants, and mining facilities.
Building your business: President Joe Hutton said despite the downturn in the overall economy over the past few years, Phoenix Industrial has been able to grow its business profitably, with revenue growth from approximately $20 million in 2008 to about $30 million in 2011. He said his business is highly dependent on capital spending by manufacturing clients. When capital spending slowed for many manufacturers in 2009 it picked up in other sectors, especially those related to precious metals, minerals and recycling. The company shifted its focus to customers in the expanding sectors and was able to continue to grow. This shift required Phoenix to take on projects for customers outside the Vancouver area, and the company how operates in 15 states, primarily in the West.
