BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- A defense contractor with ties to the North Country is looking to expand operations with a manufacturing facility in Massena. 

Ombra President Mike Fieldson is a Massena native who established the firm in Florida before opening an office in Potsdam in 2023. 

The firm, which maintains its headquarters offices in Tampa, Fla., develops technology products in the areas of biometrics, space technologies, AI, machine learning, power and energy, chemical detection, undersea and more, Fieldson told North Country This Week. 

With close ties to Clarkson University, Fieldson said the defense contractor has established close ties locally that have allowed for expansion opportunities. 

“That’s always the goal, to expand and thrive in the North Country,” Fieldson said. 

Why set up shop in St. Lawrence County? 

“Massena is home and this is a great way to give back to the North Country. That’s what I want to do, to bring good paying, high quality jobs home,” Fieldson said. 

Though the area has been economically depressed with the closure of operations like General Motors and Reynolds, Fieldson said he still believes in the North Country. 

“There is so much potential here and Massena is a prime location to expand operations,” he said. 

Fieldson acknowledged that cheaper power is a motivating factor, as it is for any manufacturer  who may look to settle in Massena, however the desire to expand goes beyond that. 

“There are great people here with great skillsets that would lend themselves to what we’re doing, especially as drone technology expands,” Fieldson said. 

He commented that he is uniquely positioned in the market with his expertise in the field, coupled with his contacts on Capitol Hill. 

Though a number of pieces need to fall in place, Fieldson said he was confident he could get the job done. 

“Our mantra was always ‘crawl, walk, run’ and it remains that way right now. We’re continuing to work on our federal contracts and expand those opportunities. We’re also working with local organizations like the county’s Industrial Development Agency, RVRDA and Power Authority to bring all of the necessary pieces together,” Fieldson said. 

The company has secured several prime and subcontracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, but are not limited to military contract work.

“Ombra is very flexible in terms of our technological capabilities and is supported by a team of diverse engineers across multiple disciplines,” Fieldson said.

That has led to a direct pipeline with Clarkson, which is why Fieldson opted for an office in Potsdam. 

“That’s our way to integrate interns and hire engineers right out of Clarkson. They can come downtown and do that work, gain the experience necessary and find the right fit for themselves,” he said. 

Currently, the Potsdam location employs around 35 employees, he said. 

“We have a little more room to grow there, which we intend to do. Once we’re full there we’ll be in a position to begin operations in Massena,” he said. 

Fieldson said the planned Massena location is still in the works, with no set location in mind. “We’re certainly looking at all options, whether that means building something, leasing a space or something in between. We aren’t ruling anything out, so if we find the right space and the right opportunity we’ll push forward with those plans faster,” he said. 

Fieldson said it was his hope to employ 50 or so staffers in Massena, however those figures are tied to a number of other factors. 

“It depends on power allocations and raising capital. You can’t invest just a million dollars and expect to employ 50 people to start. I’m confident those pieces will fall into place for us,” Fieldson said. 

One aspect of the North Country that has benefited Ombra is the close proximity to Fort Drum, where the firm has access to veterans transitioning out of the military. 

Fieldson said that will also be a focus moving forward. 

“We always hope to offer opportunities for veterans who have operated in that space, understand the end goal here and can be valuable assets as we continue to expand,” Fieldson said. 

In the meantime, Fieldson said the firm is continuing to hire in Potsdam. 

“We’re looking for employees to cover a wide range of positions, not just engineering positions. It’s everything from administrative work, to Human Resources, entry level positions and the like. We have a wide range of needs,” he said. 

For more information on the company or to apply for a position with Ombra, visit https://ombra.us/ .

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