McCall moves forward with Invis

     Donny McCall of Sparta has turned his practical solution to a personal need into a new product with strong financial potential for himself and others.
     McCall, owner of McCall's Construction, is the inventor and owner of the Invis-A-Rack, a collapsible ladder rack that fits on pickup bedrails.
     When extended, the Invis-A-Rack's four vertical arms will support ladders, pipes, lumber, canoes, tents or whatever else needs to be hauled (up to about 500 pounds) 30 inches above bedrails and six inches above the cab on a pickup. When not needed, hinges at the base of the arms let it collapse and become flush with the top of the bedrails.
     McCall conceived the new product while driving from one construction site to another in September 2005. He had been looking for a ladder rack that was sturdy enough for his work, but not too big and bulky.
      "I wanted to be able to take my wife out to dinner and have my vehicle not look like a work truck," said the 38-year-old Alleghany County native. "I wanted to have the four wheel drive of ladder racks - there when you need it, but not used all the time."
     McCall filed for a patent in 2006 and worked with a structural aluminum extrusion company to produce a prototype in 2007 for his personal use. "After seeing the response from people's faces when I told them what was on my truck and how it worked, I made the decision to become a manufacturer."
     Michael Hettleman of Sparta, a real estate broker with an extensive business background, helped McCall develop a business plan for raising operating capital to market the Invis-A-Rack LLC. "As soon as I saw the prototype in operation, I knew Donny had a great product" said Hettleman.
     Invis-A-Rack LLC was established and this past June, McCall applied for a loan from the Miles J.O.B. Fund. Donald W. and Barbara M. Miles of Sparta established this fund in 2008 by contributing $100,000, with a goal of helping to create jobs in Alleghany by loaning business startup funds to local entrepreneurs. They were motivated by appreciation for the support they received from people they have done business with in Alleghany County.

Article is courtesy of the Alleghany News

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McCall moves forward with Invis-A-Rack ladder rack invention