On Monday, Sept. 11, Warren-based company AVTECH (16 Cutler St.) welcomed Congressman Jack Bergman (R) of Michigan for a visit to discuss the potential future implications of climate change.

The Congressman has been making appearances in Rhode Island with Gerry Leonard in recent weeks, the Republican nominee for the District 1 Congressional seat vacated by David Cicilline.

AVTECH founder and chairman Michael Sigourney clarified that the company hosting the appearance was not a political endorsement, but found the visit important because Rep. Bergman, a retired Marine Corp General and a U.S. Congressman since 2017, serves on the Congressional Climate Committee.

“This committee will continue to grow in importance as the world addresses our changing planet and the impact on food, health, housing, safety and economies worldwide,” Sigourney said in an email. “Given recent record setting extremes in temperature, rainfall, fires and more, Rep. Bergman will have an opportunity to influence future policy that affects us all.”

AVTECH’s flagship piece of technology, Room Alert, is a multiple-award-winning environmental monitoring device which can alert property owners of sudden changes in humidity and temperature, which could indicate a potentially serious issue occurring within a building. It is utilized by all branches and departments of the United States government, as well as in thousands of private and public facilities found in all 50 states, every continent, and even in outer space.

“They even monitor the White House,” Sigourney said.

The visit to AVTECH, Sigourney said, was part of an effort by Jamestown native and Republican Congressional candidate Gerry Leonard to introduce Rep. Bergman to local small businesses in the East Bay that have a worldwide impact.

Sigourney and Richard Grundy, AVTECH President & CEO, welcomed the politicians and their teams with a tour of Cutler Mill and the AVTECH manufacturing facility.

“It was a genuine pleasure to welcome Congressman Bergman to AVTECH and discuss our changing world and some of the ways it can be monitored to maintain readiness, track and monitor changes that impact worker safety, and ways in which we help save billions of dollars each year for the U.S. government and organizations of all types,” said Sigourney. “I believe he really cares and will share some of what he learned today with others in Washington.”

Also present for the visit was Herbert Durfee III, Director of Planning & Community Development for the Town of Warren, and Andy Arruda, local businessman and incoming Chairman for the East Bay Chamber of Commerce. Durfee also clarified in an email that his participation was strictly as a representative of the Town, and not to endorse any political candidate.

“Their conversations strengthened the image of our community as they shared insights as to why Warren is a popular choice for many small businesses and rapidly becoming a destination for tourists and local visitors,” Sigourney said. “They stressed the growing base of artisans and fantastic restaurant culture. With Warren's unique history here on the shores of the Narragansett Bay, the best of Rhode Island was on display for our visitors.”