FAIRBORN — The Fairborn Military Veterans Memorial Project is well underway with the committee recently attending the Laser Imaging and Design Shop in Lebanon to see how the memorial engraving process is done.
They were chosen because of expert quality work done all across the nation and reside in Ohio.
It opened its doors in August 2001 and within a few years company gained numerous projects to take on. Featured in multiple publications, the company gained international attention as one of few that can handle large complex scale jobs in the art of laser etching. They have spent hours in research and development stages to reach quality their competitors have called the best laser etching in the industry. In January 2007, the company moved to a new 8500 square foot facility specifically designed and built for its needs.
During the expansion, it purchased more lasers and larger lifting equipment for better service. The company’s work includes laser etching, water jet cutting, sandblasting, deep engraving, glass etching, custom flooring , back splashes and three-dimensional design.
Over past 10 years, jobs have grown in size and grander scale. Large scale veterans and war memorials are its primary focus, but architecture field for commercial and residential applications are included.
Jim Smith is its CEO/owner. Before starting the company, Smith spent 10 years designing and hand etching memorials for Lebanon Monument Co., which was bought out by one of the largest companies in Ohio, Dodds Monuments and he was the only employee they kept. The combination of his hand etching and computer design abilities as well as the incorporation of the laser was an easy transition as he took stone etching to new level. He later told his boss at the time, Eric Fogarty who owns Dodds Monuments, that he was gong to start his own etching company and asked him if he would use his services. Fogarty was receptive to idea also offered to assist financially.
Sean Donahue is the vice president/creative director and has been with company since day one. He has the ability to edit, combine and alter photographs. Nancy Murphy is the company’s office administrator. She brings more than 30 years of customer service experience to Laser Imaging & Design, helping clients from ordering to shipping. Dirty Dale is the greeter and security for the company. Born in August 2012, the full-blooded English chocolate Labrador earned his position at just 8-weeks old.
Its first International order was to Panama; it has also completed work for Hospice of Dayton, and this year the company was commissioned to do Navy Seal Memorial at Virginia Beach.
“We feel very confident and pleased to be working with them to bring respect and pride to our Fairborn Veterans Military Memorial as we are working with what we feel is the best in the USA,” The committee wrote in a press release.
The Fairborn Veterans Memorial Project is a 501c3 tax deduction and said it hopes all local businesses and citizens will support this memorial. For more information, check out its web site at http://www.fairbornvetsmemorial.com or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/fairbornmemorial.
