by Zach Bass
Stephen and Sarah Dougherty know that great things often start small. In November 2012, the husband and wife team founded Dougherty Manufacturing in Edgewater. With just four employees, they built aluminum beds for a large truck customs firm in Georgia. Soon, they were taking on any project given to them, learning along the way and gradually enlarging their equipment arsenal and production capabilities.
Today, Dougherty Manufacturing has greatly expanded from its original niche market, producing everything from marine hardware, tornado shelters, and underground safe rooms to unique parts for theme park rides and other attractions. The company employs about 80 workers and expects to have up to 200 within a year as it continues to grow and diversify its product line. What started out five years ago in a small Edgewater garage has become a robust company boasting a facility that stretches over 200,000 square feet on 16 acres.
Dougherty’ s high-quality aluminum boat stairs are sold to hundreds of dealers across the United States and Canada. The company also manufactures radar arches for Monterey Boats, and one can find its innovative tornado shelters, underground fiberglass safe rooms( appropriately named“ Life Pods”), in Home Depot and Menards stores.
Stephen got his start in the marine manufacturing industry over 30 years ago when he began working under his father, Bob, at Boston Whaler in Massachusetts. In Florida, they founded EdgeWater Powerboats and Everglades Boats.
Typically, manufacturers specialize in one or two products or materials and services such as steel and welding. Dougherty Manufacturing, however, has a distinct competitive advantage due to its innovative team of product designers and engineers and the diverse equipment the company has acquired over the years that has allowed it to become a one-stop shop. Dougherty is also an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer, which assures top industry quality. Their business model maximizes efficiency and profits while generating cost savings for clients.
Theme parks and attractions have become key markets for the company. Creating fiberglass shells and frameworks requires expensive equipment, talented engineers, and a keen attention to detail. With any theme park ride, one must tread a fine line between realism and safety. The goal is to make the ride look amazing while ensuring the rider will be protected. Dougherty Manufacturing has completed major projects for Disney, Universal Studios, Six Flags, Daytona International Speedway, and more, with additional projects planned. Millions of riders use the company’ s products every year.
With all their success, Stephen and Sarah say they are most proud of the impact they have had on the lives of their employees and the surrounding community.
“ Other than ensuring that we always have the best quality products for our customers, the next biggest stress at our firm is not project-related, it’ s the families and communities we impact. Quality and happy employees go hand in hand,” said Sarah,
Other than ensuring that we always have the best quality products for our customers, the next biggest stress at our firm is not project-related, it’ s the families and communities we impact.
| 32 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE