### Company Overview & Leadership
Stone & Associates (S&A), founded in 1995 by Michael Stone [11] [10] and headquartered in Portland, Maine [10], is a strategic research and consulting firm. S&A specializes in strategy development projects that require in-depth external research and analysis [11], focusing primarily on manufacturing growth, exporting expertise, and strategy work for small-to-mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs) [1]. The firm serves both government/nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting manufacturing sector competitiveness, and private sector clients ranging from SMMs to divisions of multinational corporations [1] [11].
S&A maintains deep expertise in export assistance, having co-developed and continuing to deploy ExporTech™, a highly lauded national export assistance program designed to accelerate export growth for SMMs [1] [13]. This public sector focus includes over one hundred projects for the U.S. Department of Commerce, specifically for the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and the International Trade Administration (ITA) [11].
The firm utilizes a highly experienced staffing model where Michael Stone actively leads every project, supported by senior consultants [1] [2]. All team members possess at least 20 years of experience, or have served as company executives or business owners [1]. This expertise allows S&A to employ a customized approach, navigating organizational barriers to consensus and change without relying on a fixed process [1] [2]. The firm’s methodology combines in-depth market analysis, competitive intelligence and strategy, and a sophisticated understanding of cost structure and economic drivers [4].
The firm's core focus areas and leadership include: * **Key Service Domains:** Export/International Growth Strategy and Planning, Market Assessment & Competitive Strategy, and Strategic Cost Analysis [12]. * **Primary Industry Sectors:** Manufacturing (SMMs and multinational divisions) [1] and industrial markets [3]. * **Michael Stone:** Founder of S&A in 1995 [11], he previously spent nine years at Telesis, the strategic consulting arm of Towers Perrin [11]. * **Melissa S. Kelly-McCabe:** President and CEO of Clear Intent Strategy, Inc., and one of the architects of ExporTech™ [7]. She holds a Master of Science in Organization Systems from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from the University at Buffalo [7].
### Federal Market & Contracts
Stone & Associates operates as a strategic research and consulting firm dedicated to supporting government and non-profit organizations focused on manufacturing sector competitiveness and growth [10]. The firm specializes in capturing market intelligence regarding the challenges, priority assistance needs, and purchasing behavior of the companies and clients served by these organizations [1]. Leveraging extensive business experience in industrial markets, S&A provides sophisticated insights into manufacturers’ drivers, mindsets, and needs [10].
S&A distinguishes itself through an unusual combination of skills, integrating in-depth market analysis, competitive intelligence and strategy, and a sophisticated understanding of cost structure and economic drivers [4]. This dual expertise in both public and private sectors allows the firm to assist government and non-profit organizations in better understanding and serving manufacturers and product companies [2].
The firm maintains deep expertise in export strategy, viewing international growth as critical to the long-term survival of U.S. manufacturing [10]. S&A is recognized as one of the architects of the *ExporTech* program, a highly lauded national export assistance initiative that has provided in-depth assistance to 950 small and mid-sized manufacturing and technology companies nationwide [16]. This expertise stems from numerous projects for the U.S. Department of Commerce, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and the Commercial Service [8].
Key service offerings for government and non-profit clients include: * Assessment of Client Company Needs & Purchasing Behavior [9] * Manufacturing, Industry & Regional Cluster Strategies [9] * Export Assistance Strategy Development & Program Design [9] * Strategy Development & Facilitation [9]
Specific export program engagements and research projects include: * Developing and managing a CEO Seminar Series for executive leadership of small and mid-size manufacturing companies, educating 3,500 executives overall [16]. * Advising the International Trade Administration (ITA) on improving its Trade Mission program return on investment and designing a future-state for its tradeshow programs [5]. * Conducting an audit of content on the export.gov site for the US Commercial Service to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement, specifically targeting small- and mid-sized exporters [5]. * Developing 13 separate industry analyses based in part on 160 face-to-face interviews with manufacturers nationwide, identifying competitive drivers and technical assistance needs for the MEP program [14]. * Conducting a study on the impact of RoHS-WEEE regulations in Europe on the electronics supply chain, identifying compliance requirements for small and mid-size manufacturers [3]. * Researching the migration of manufacturing to China, its impact on U.S. small manufacturers, and potential strategies for U.S. firms to successfully compete against China-based competitors, based on over 100 interviews with manufacturing executives [3].
### Certifications & Socioeconomic
Stone & Associates maintains extensive experience conducting "real world" research concerning the needs and competitive position of small to mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs) [1]. This expertise stems from executing dozens of projects for the US Department of Commerce, specifically supporting the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), and the Commercial Service [1]. The firm leverages its business experience to assist public sector organizations in better understanding and serving manufacturing companies, drawing on experience in both public and private sector clientele [1].
The firm developed and continues to deploy ExporTech, a national export assistance program that has provided in-depth assistance to 400 companies nationwide, helping them enter or expand in global markets [4]. This export expertise includes studying successful export strategies employed by small US-based manufacturers [5] and publishing the research paper *ON THE THRESHOLD: REFOCUSING U.S. EXPORT ASSISTANCE STRATEGY FOR MANUFACTURERS* in 2013 [3]. Furthermore, the firm conducted research based on over 100 interviews with manufacturing executives to study strategies for competing against China and other low-cost countries [7].
S&A’s highly experienced team ensures quality and strategic depth in every engagement: * All engagements are led by Mike Stone, and team members possess a minimum of 20 years of experience, or have served as company executives or business owners [10]. * The firm facilitated the annual strategic planning process for the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) for nine years, spanning 1999 through 2007 [9]. * A Market Research and Analysis Project for NIST MEP identified competitive drivers, technical assistance needs, and purchasing behavior of small manufacturers nationwide, resulting in 13 separate industry analyses based on 160 face-to-face interviews [2].
### Recent News & Recognition
Stone & Associates (S&A) developed and delivered the ExporTech program, an innovative national export assistance initiative designed to accelerate export growth for small and mid-size manufacturers (SMMs) [1]. S&A and its partner Clear Intent Strategy created the program design and content on behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) [1]. The program has provided in-depth assistance to 950 companies nationwide [2].
S&A leverages an unusual combination of skills, including in-depth market analysis, competitive intelligence, strategy, and a sophisticated understanding of cost structure and economic drivers, which informs its strategic recommendations [3].
Recent recognition and publications include: * Mike Stone, a principal, served as a speaker at the International Economic Development Council annual conference, presenting on “The Art of Exporting and Taking Your Community Global” [[LINK:http://www.iedconline.org/book-store/webinar-recordings/the-art-of-exporting-and-taking-your-community