Success Story: LaBARGE Products Inc.
St. Louis, Mo.

When Charlie LaBarge founded his namesake company 35 years ago in St. Louis it was as an industrial rubber products distributor. As time marched on, so did the size, goals and market of LaBARGE Products Inc.

Charlie LaBarge founded the St. Louis-based manufacturing and distribution company that bears his name in 1973.

In the 1980s LPI began supplying the Department of Defense, and grew in fulfilling various needs. With this growth LPI concentrated on contract manufacturing of component parts for fuel and water related needs.

By the early '90s government contract work contributed a larger portion of the company's business. LPI filled some big orders with the advent of U.S. military operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the first Iraq war.

"In just under 160 days we started and completed over 66 prime contracts with the Department of Defense," recalls Charlie. During that stretch LPI shipped more than 250 tons of material and equipment. More than half of that material was shipped via airlift to Saudi Arabia.

By the late '90s, LPI had evolved into a prime contractor of U.S. military support systems such as: refueling and water supply equipment, hydraulic power systems, air transportable hospital water distribution systems, portable latrine stations and C-17 engine maintenance platforms.

Today the company's government contracting efforts serve the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines with ground support equipment and fuel and water systems, including trailers, transport modules, anchors and hose reel systems.

LPI's founder, at age 84, still maintains an active role in the business. Charlie is involved with LPI's president and owner, John Hixson, in overall direction and operations at the plant on Bent Avenue in south central St. Louis.

Jeff McSorley (left), representing LaBARGE Products Inc., accepts a Client Showcase award from Morris Hudson, director of the Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers. McSorley is active in government systems sales at LPI.

Following Charlie, the new generation of company executives, led by John, directs the progress of the company's manufacturing evolution. Jeff McSorley, who supports the management team, is active in government systems sales.

"Over the years LPI has grown from a one-person distributor to a 120,000-square-foot manufacturing facility with over 100 employees" says McSorley. "Today we're recognized as an ISO-certified small business in government contract activities, which accounts for about 85 percent of our revenue."

Of course, bidding on federal government contracts takes a lot of time and patience. Required paperwork and complex regulations and certifications are part of the lengthy application process.

"Although we have been successful for many years working with DOD as a prime contractor, we continually have new people that have to learn the (government contract) process," says McSorley.

Among the products LPI contracts to produce for the U.S. military are a one-ton trailer (above) for the U.S. Army, a ground-lift trailer (below) for the U.S. Air Force, and a 2,000-pound mooring anchor (bottom) for the U.S. Navy.

To help deal with that process, LPI depends on the expertise of Rich Fyke, government contract specialist with the Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (MO PTAC).

"As a contract manufacturer, we believe all employees that work on a program need to have a working understanding of our obligations as the seller," McSorley explains. "MO PTAC helps many of our employees through the process of how to identify work, how to read contracts, prepare proper documentation, and access data."

MO PTAC is part of a nationwide network of centers that assist small businesses in obtaining federal, state and local government contracts. A statewide team of 10 procurement specialists assists businesses throughout Missouri.

Fyke's expertise has had a positive impact on an ongoing basis for LPI, according to McSorley: "Just as we 'team' internally with the required personnel resources as needed, we do not hesitate to contact Rich for the resources he and MO PTAC can provide. The value of Rich's expertise is as a seasoned individual in the field, in that he is able to provide accurate usable information and services in a timely, professional manner."

"We feel MO PTAC is a great resource. Not only do we get a positive professional response to our inquiries, but we also know MO PTAC is out there for future assistance and growth with our business."

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This story was featured in the December 2008 newsletter

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