Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, has named Advanced Welding and Steel of Grangeville, Idaho as the “Small Business of the Month” for February 2018. Advanced Welding and Steel will be recognized in the Congressional Record of the Senate.
“Growing from a 6,000 square foot shop in 2003 to the current state-of-the-art 60,000 square foot shop, Advanced Welding and Steel is a great example of the determined entrepreneurial spirit found all across Idaho,” said Chairman Risch. “Ryan Uhlenkott's company provides an excellent product with exceptional commitment to their customers, and they make a sizable impact in the local and national fabricating industry. I would like to be the first to congratulate Ryan and his team on this well-deserved recognition.”
Ryan Uhlenkott, Owner and President of Advanced Welding and Steel, founded the company in 1998 with just one welder mounted on the back of a pickup truck. Today, the company delivers its products across the Western United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. A team of 15 highly qualified professionals work at the company, and over the years they estimate that they have delivered over 15 million pounds of steel to their customers. As a result, Advanced Welding and Steel was recognized in the July 2017 edition of Modern Steel Construction for their outstanding work as the prime fabricator for the new student center at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. The company is committed to excellence in their craft and also to the sustainable use of their products, as over 90 percent of the steel they work with has been recycled, adding to the overwhelmingly positive impact they bring to local Idaho communities.
The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to entrepreneurship and provides oversight of the Small Business Administration. The committee also researches, investigates and reports all problems relating to America’s small businesses to the full Senate. As Chairman, Risch honors America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Senate each month.
