St. Dom’s grads come full circle with purchase of furniture maker.
By Trevor Maxwell
Business Writer

LISBON – They were a pair of local kids, gone to walk the high wires of international business.

Bill Keefe became an engineer and lawyer, practicing in Boston, logging thousands of sky miles to Eastern Europe.

Dan Chasse built his own firm as an accountant, and was chief financial officer for an Austrian development company.

Neither expected those careers to lead them back here, driving familiar stretches of Route 196.

“When we narrowed it down, we both looked at each other and said, ‘Can you believe this is in Lisbon?'” Keefe said. “It sealed the deal.”

That deal is for Bradco Chair Co., a well-known wood furniture maker, with 18,000-square-feet at Peppermint Corner. After searching for an investment along the eastern seaboard, Keefe and Chasse purchased Bradco, and are moving up from the Boston area.

“We have grand plans,” Keefe said, enjoying his first week on site. “We’re thrilled to be coming back. Our families are quite excited that Dan and I have teamed together.”

Operating as The William Daniel Corp., the partners take over the company Bill Ambrose ran since 1988.

At that time, Bradco had only four employees and annual sales hovered around $250,000. Returns climbed steadily as Ambrose expanded production and shifted away from wholesale, toward custom retail markets. By 2000, the work force topped 20 people and sales broke $1.2 million.

Ambrose, 65, put the company up for sale a few years ago, when it was clear that none of his family members wanted the reins. He had purchased Bradco from the Bradbury family of Lisbon, which started the business in 1956. Ambrose was looking for certain qualities in a buyer.

“I was struck by their youth and intelligence, and their excitement about the business,” said Ambrose, who is staying on for this month as a consultant. “I just knew they wanted to get in here and take it on.”

There are more than a few surreal elements to the return of Keefe and Chasse.

The two grew up as friends in Lewiston, graduating in 1986 from St. Dominic Regional High School. They both married St. Dom’s graduates, as well, Kellie Blanchard and Celeste Vallee. All four have strong roots in the Twin Cities.

Keefe attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and later the University of Maine School of Law, while Chasse attended Merrimack College.

“Dan and I started working together probably three years ago; we had clients in common,” Keefe said. “We found that our skills complemented each other. We also got along very well personally.”

The two joined as business partners and started looking for an investment. They kept their search to the East, from Maine to Georgia. They identified several potential purchases. Bradco kept showing up on their analysis sheets.

“The more we looked into it,” Keefe said, “the more we saw it as an opportunity. Bill Ambrose has done a great job.”

In January, the partners visited and the process was fairly quick. The deal was made final earlier this month; terms of the sale were not disclosed. The new owners intend to maintain the emphasis on high-quality craftsmanship, Keefe said, and they will highlight the “made-in-Maine” label.

The Bradco House, at the corner of Littlefield and Lisbon roads, was a residence for more than a century before Ambrose turned it into a furniture showroom. In the adjacent factory, workers build several styles of tables and chairs, including Windsor, Shaker, Ladderback and Mission. The company uses Maine ash, maple and pine, as well as Pennsylvania cherry.

“It is possible to compete and thrive in the United States and to keep manufacturing jobs here,” Keefe said. “We plan to continue making some of the highest quality furniture for the best price.”

tmaxwell@sunjournal.com