Op-Test

Some still flourish in down economy; local businesses prove exception to national recession

The Great Recession that hammered the U.S. economy is a world away from Dan Morrow.

Morrow's Redding company, Op-Test, manufactures products for overseas clients, many headquartered in Asia.

"All of our customers are really not even in the United States," Morrow said. "We sell into a global supply chain, so the demographic of the U.S. and how it is doing really doesn't matter to us."

It is why, in the face of the worst economic slump since before World War II, Op-Test's workforce has grown from six employees to 18 in two years.

Op-Test, which is headquartered inside a former appliance store, builds electronic assemblies for people who make semiconductors. The company also designs the equipment that tests LED lighting systems.

"We are coming through it pretty well," Morrow said, chuckling. "I hate to laugh, but it's pretty amazing."

Morrow also believes Opt-Test is thriving because its business model is not attached to government spending.