“Fishcamp” Strange Name, Unique Business
Fishcamp Engineering is a three-man operation run by Bob Piatek, Ralph Schmehl, and Larry McCrigler out of the old bank building on the corner of Clark and Broadway in Old Town Orcutt.
Originally started as a part-time endeavor out of Bob’s garage in 1989, Fishcamp has grown to a full-time design engineering services consulting firm. The trio create electronics designs for companies who may not have the necessary time or technology, and specialize in wireless communication and electronic imaging.
“We build communications systems,” says Piatek, “and we also design cameras for industrial uses. We offer very special services.”
Wondering what fish have to do with engineering? When naming the company, Piatek and Schmehl took inspiration from an interesting source.
“We do a lot of camping and there’s a place near Yosemite called Fishcamp,” explains Piatek, “With the internet really coming onto the scene and the availability of worldwide delivery services from UPS and FedEx we said, ‘we could even do this from Fishcamp’. And there was our name.”
In the years since then, the Fishcamp crew have truly taken advantage of the internet and those delivery services, which allow them to work with clients from all over the world.
Having worked for a satellite communications company in Santa Maria, when a job change became inevitable, they decided that they wanted to try and stay in the area. “There really weren’t a lot of high-tech opportunities here,” says Piatek, “so we decided to make our own.”
After nearly twenty years, Piatek happily admits, “We really enjoy working here.”
by Rebecca Ross
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