BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week

POTSDAM — A technology company with Department of Defense contracts and ties to Clarkson University has opened offices in Potsdam.

State and village officials, along with representatives from the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce and Clarkson University, joined representatives from the firm Ombra at an official ribbon cutting ceremony at their new offices at 19 Market St. recently.

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.

“Ombra’s tagline is everything between underwater adhesives and space,” Ombra president and founder Michael Fieldson told North Country This Week. “Our engineers have led or supported product development across this vast spectrum with a focus on biometrics, space technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, power and energy and undersea technology. We also have achieved success in Chemical Engineering through our Chemical Detection Testing Technology (CDTT), and Advanced Water Testing Technology (AWTT). CDTT was delivered to the Air Force this month to finalize our contract and bring new technology to the battlefield.”

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.

The company has collaborated with Clarkson University students and professors to support many of its ongoing projects.

“We have used them as subject matter experts in many engineering fields, especially chemistry. Several of our current interns are Clarkson students and moreover, a few of our full-time employees have converted from our Clarkson internship program. We value this connection and see it as a prime location for recruiting talented employees,” Fieldson said.

Currently the firm employs over 30 people between its two locations and has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce program Hiring Our Heroes to bolster its workforce with veterans transitioning from military service into the private sector.

Ombra is currently recruiting several positions in mechanical, electrical, software and chemical engineering.

The company has experienced consistent growth and expansion into new markets and expects to expand with a larger footprint in 2024. “Ombra is currently determining how to split the projected growth between the two offices and the possibility of future locations,” Fieldson said. “Ombra is always looking for new opportunities for growth. We have recently signed reseller agreements for data encryption software and look to broaden our business into government services over the next year.”

“Ombra is committed to supporting the community of Potsdam and is proud of our personal and business relationships that have been built over the last year. We plan to continue our support of Clarkson University and to rely upon their raw talent to join us in providing the highest quality products to the US Military. We recognize that the support that the people of Potsdam give to Ombra is equally important to Ombra’s business position in town,” the president said.

“We are glad to join with the Chamber and other local businesses to do our part in lifting the proud people of Potsdam to new heights. We wish to thank the Chamber and the local population for their support and providing us with this great opportunity to further our service to the nation,” said Fieldson.

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