Current address: 11844 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23606
Contact and title: Brent G. Meadors, president
Product or service: Engineering, manufacturing and calibration
Year business was established: 1947. In the heat of World War II, founder Thomas Hodge began repairing watches and doing precision work on a jeweler’s lathe at his home after working a full day at The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), now NASA. Hodge recruited five coworkers from NACA to help him perform precision work on film drums for flight instrumentation after working their day jobs for his first contract with NACA.
Reason for locating in Oyster Point: In 1951, Modern Machine & Tool Co. (MMTC) acquired a one-story, 4,000-square-foot building on Hosier Street in Newport News, building onto it over the years before relocating to the newly built Oyster Point Business Park in 1973. The new 53,000-square-foot building was the first in the office park. Meadors says it was a great location with room for expansion.
How long have you been with company? 55 years
Significant milestones: In February
1984, the company held an awards ceremony, recognizing 24 employees who served a combine 454 years at MMTC. Meadors was elected president in 1991 after founder Hodges died, and the
company celebrated its golden anniversary in 1997.
A significant story: In 1973, when MMTC decided to relocate to its present location, the company did so with some hesitation, as drainage issues abounded. “It was a brave thing to do,” Meadors says. “They called this the alligator farm,” he adds with a laugh.
Why has your Oyster Point location been beneficial to your growth? “Many of our clients are in this area,” Meadows says, pointing to long-time customers such as NASA and Dominion Virginia Power (now Virginia Energy). Many of his clients are acquired through word of mouth, he says. “We have a lot of satisfied customers who spread the word about us, especially in the aerospace industry.”
Plans for future growth: Meadors says business fluctuates, based on the number of contracts awarded to the company, but it is always looking to grow its client base. “We’re opportunists,” he says. “When we see opportunities, we take advantage of them.”
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