THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 18, 1997 TAG: 9701180352
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY YOUNG, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 55 lines
In 1954, when Rafael Torrech III first came to Hampton Roads as a young Hispanic-American from Brooklyn, his expectations were modest.
``I was just a young fellow looking for a job so I could buy something to eat,'' said Torrech.
Now Torrech is the one supplying the jobs.
On Friday, he and more than 150 business associates, family and friends gathered to celebrate the expansion of Torrech's company, Tecnico Corp., which already employs more than 300 people and will be looking for more soon.
In 1991, Torrech said he and five others - some of whom were working as volunteers - started Tecnico Corp., a ship-repair company in a deserted industrial park in South Norfolk.
Among those who spoke at the ceremony celebrating the opening of the company's new building at 831 Industrial Ave. were 4th District Rep. Norman Sisisky, Chesapeake
Vice Mayor John W. Butt and Edward Woodard, chairman of the Urban Business Development Corp.
``We have some very exciting things going on,'' Torrech told those gathered for the ceremony. The new building, which is adjacent to the old, adds 17,000 square feet, roughly doubling the plant's operating capacity.
``We were in a condition where we were very cramped, and we needed to expand,'' said Torrech.
Since 1991, Tecnico has built on its ship-repairing roots and now has divisions in research and development as well. The company has contracts with Norshipco and the Coast Guard, among others, and is working with Lockheed Martin in developing component parts for the mid-body of a missile.
The company also makes furniture and safety equipment for ships such as the Enterprise, the America and the George Washington. The safety equipment, such as fire- and gas-detection systems, have also been used on training ships at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
Woodard called the new plant a ``monument to the civic spirit Tecnico stands for'' and estimated that the company brings $19 million in revenue to Hampton Roads each year.
Sisisky praised Torrech for his decision to continue operating at the same location, which is part of an urban enterprise zone.
``These are good, high-skilled jobs that anyone would want,'' said Sisisky, adding, ``I hope and expect Tecnico to continue to grow and as it crosses each new milestone Tecnico will bring new benefits to the community.''
Torrech said he named the company to emphasize its Hispanic roots - ``tecnico'' means ``technician'' in Spanish. He said he was ``overwhelmed'' at how much it has grown.
``These are hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars which otherwise would have gone to companies outside Hampton Roads,'' Torrech said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Norman Sisisky
KEYWORDS: TECNICO CORP.