An aquarium-technology company co-founded a decade ago by Lehigh alumni Tim Marks and Pat Clasen has been named a “Small Business Exporter of the Year” by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Philadelphia District and Mid-Atlantic Region offices.
EcoTech Marine, whose growth in international markets accounts for 33 percent of its total sales, received the prestigious award for the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia.
“We are proud to have been awarded this honor,” said Clasen. “As a small business—now in our 11th year—we have tremendous respect for the unique challenges presented to a business like ours, as well as for the other entrepreneurs chasing their dreams to make their own success. “
The company was created in an Integrated Product Development class at Lehigh where it won the grand prize at the 2002-2003 Joan F. & John M. Thalheimer ’55 Student Entrepreneurs competition. Revenues of $3.8 million in 2009 helped place them into Inc.com’s Top 500 companies in 2010.
Two years ago, EcoTech Marine expanded from Bethlehem into a 36,000-square-foot facility in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
Clasen ‘04 ‘07G is the company’s director of finance, and Marks ’04 ‘06G, director of manufacturing.
“It is incredibly humbling to have been selected for this award knowing so many other businesses that are doing such great things,” Clasen said. “It is a true honor to have been selected for this designation and it is one that we will take to heart as we continue to grow and evolve.”
The Exporter of the Year awards recognize the accomplishments of companies that have shown creative overseas strategies, increased export sales and profits, found creative solutions to business strategies and encouraged other small businesses to export.