Warm Springs firm earns SBA minority honor
Fire door maker has 34 employees, $4 million in sales

PORTLAND - Warm Springs Composite Products has been named Oregon Minority Small Business of the Year by the Portland District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Robert Macy, chairman of the board, was scheduled to receive an award honoring the business for its success during Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week celebrations Friday at the Oregon Convention Center.

Warm Springs Composite Products is a tribally owned enterprise and specialty manufacturer of components for fire doors. The business began 11 years ago with five employees, limited technical support, no trained personnel, and limited capital. Today they employ 34, with sales exceeding $4 million, and 80 percent of the workforce are Native Americans or married to a tribal member.

The company has its own research and development department and maintains a fire testing facility. From their base product, they have developed several value-added products, including a patented, fire-rated doorjamb system, special products for the fire door systems, pre-banded door cores, and pre-coating applications. Each of these systems requires special machinery and specific employee training. All products are produced under a patented process and are fire certified for use in fire rated door systems. Composite Products is one of only two companies in the United States currently producing fire rated and certified products for fire doors.

Warm Springs Composite Products is a big supporter with both time and money of their local community. They are especially active in supporting young people in education, sporting events, cultural projects and social events. Robert Macy, Chairman of Warm Springs Composite Products, has been a longstanding and active member of the Warm Springs business community. In addition to owning and operating a family grocery/dry goods store Mr. Macy has served on boards and committees of several tribal owned enterprises and is a past general manager of Warm Springs Forest Products.