Construction has begun on a 41,000 square foot corporate headquarters and production facility for Leader International Corporation at the Port Orchard Industrial Park on Old Clifton Road.

Leader, with three divisions, produces more than a hundred products, including high-quality commercial lobby and floor point-of-purchase displays, and countertop mirrors and displays for retailers, jewelers, optometry and cosmetics counters. Its health care division manufactures state-of-the-art treatment and exam tables for chiropractors, physical therapists, osteopaths and massage therapists.

Leader’s Fair Weather Site Furnishings division manufactures indoor/outdoor site furnishings and amenities, including institutional-grade park benches, trash receptacles, picnic tables, bollards and other architectural site accessories. The firms products are marketed around the world.

According to Miles Yanick, architect and designer for the project, construction will be completed this fall. The company will then move from two cramped, pre-W.W.II buildings at the Port Orchard Airport to the new facility.

The expansion of facilities became necessary when owners, Richard and Catherine Flaherty successfully added two divisions and numerous product lines to their business.

Yanick said they chose the Port Orchard Industrial Park site primarily to keep their team of employees, most of whom reside in the South Kitsap area, in place. Another plus was that the site was also ready-to-build.

Key business objectives which were incorporated into Yanick’s building design are facility management, workflow efficiency and cost-containment.

Stephen Johnson, Inc., of Belfair is the general contractor on the project. Major sub-contractors include: Merl J. Reed Construction; Fox Fire Prevention, Inc.; Thompson’s Plumbing; Bird Electric, Inc.; Sullivan Heating & Cooling, Inc.; Ace Paving Co., Inc.; and Superior Curb and Stripe.