2-24-11 - Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly

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Road extension may spur commerce 2A Mayor touts business development 2A Malt-O-Meal proposes expansion plan 43A

AARON VEHLING JOHN GESSNER AARON VEHLING

dakotacountytribune.biz dakotacountytribune.biz

DATE ##, 2009 FEBRUARY 24, 2011

VOLUME 30, NUMBER # VOLUME 31, NUMBER 52

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Celadon Systems: More workers wanted

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INSIDE BIZ FORUM

Apple Valley technology company is a super conductor for creating jobs in a bad economy by Stacey Ackerman DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

During a time when layoffs, job instability, foreclosures and decreased consumer spending have ruled the nation, state and community, there is a local company that has another problem – finding enough qualified employees to keep up with its international growth. Celadon Systems of Apple Valley, which builds test equipment for the semiconductor industry, has continued to grow during the recession, with revenues of $4 million to $5 million expected in 2011. The company was founded in 1997 by engineer and entrepreneur Bryan Root of Apple Valley. Root is not new to starting businesses. In 1987, he started Sienna Technologies, which he was able to fund through angel investors and venture capital funds. The company went public in 1991 and was sold in 1993. Root was able to take those proceeds to form Celadon Systems, which is privately held by him and his wife. Celadon Systems has 27 employees and is adding an average of one employee a month. “We are being constrained in our growth because we are having trouble finding enough employees,� Root said. The company has been on a rapid hiring frenzy since November 2009 and is currently interviewing engineers and assemblers. “The issue is that there is a mismatch in skills versus what we need,� Root said. “We

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need people that can work under a microscope with steady hands, have a solid work ethic and are reliable.� While Celadon Systems’ main office is in Apple Valley, it truly is a global company. It has an office in the Netherlands staffed by local people and plans to enter the Asian marketplace later this year with expansion in Japan, Singapore and Taiwan. “We offer high-paying work for assemblers and engineers, but we’re up against companies in Japan and Taiwan (that pay a lot less), so we have to be very competitive,� Root said. Celadon Systems’ competitive advantage comes from a streamlined and efficient process, producing products at a faster rate than its Asian counterparts. “We have to work smarter and be more productive with our time,� Root said. Celadon Systems has the ability to test minute currents, something so specialized that the company has become well-known in the semiconductor industry, which is worth billions. “When nobody else can figure out how to test it, they call us,� Root said. Celadon Systems has cornered the marketplace by saving major technology corporations vast sums of money. It tests computer chips that are used to manufacture computers, cell phones, refrigerators, headlights and just about anything electronic. The company See Celadon, 10A

JOE NATHAN FORUM

KURT BILLS BUSINESS 101

TOM GLADER

Photos submitted

There are many simple ways people can improve the speed and eff iciency of their work and home computers. 5A

CAPITOL COMMERCE

MARK DAYTON

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Celadon Systems of Apple Valley builds test equipment for the semiconductor industry and tests computer chips that are used to manufacture computers, cell phones, refrigerators, headlights and just about anything electronic.

Bill would provide scholarships for early high school graduates to pursue post-secondary education options. 4A

Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton proposes a budget that includes a tax increase for Minnesota’s richest households. 7A

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In Brief

For more information on Celadon Systems, go online at www.celadonsystems.com.

U.S. Secretary of Education poses a challenge that Minnesota should address one of the nation’s largest achievement gaps. 4A

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