In 2006, David Holdych, a PhD in mechanical engineering, joined Global FIA. Holdych is a skilled programmer and developed the company's versatile FloZF software. The company has added a number of other employees over the years who are involved in lab work, assembly, and other duties.
Just before Marshall and Wolcott joined Global FIA, Olson re-located the business to Gig Harbor, Washington where one of his first projects was proposed by Valco's President, Stan Stearns. Stearns tasked Global FIA with determining the sources of nutrients in Gig Harbor where he has waterfront property. The popular wisdom was that nutrients originated in the fertilizer run-off from water-front properties. This study revealed that the predominant source was a waste-water discharge in the middle of the harbor. This effort laid the foundation for Global FIAs in-situ measurement tools as well as some sampling technology. Following the study and a series of events, an environmental watchdog organization persuaded the Gig Harbor City Council to move the discharge pipe of their wastewater treatment plant from the harbor out into Puget Sound.
Shipboard Analyzer Monitoring Gig Harbor
Cartoon Published in the local Gateway newspaper
A DOE-funded project provided the financial support for Global FIA's first data acquisition and device control software and also expanded know-how in the use of membranes for sampling. Several process analyzers were developed to meet specific customer needs in the industrial pharmaceutical, mining, petrochemical, and brewing industries.