Protomet | Impact in Action

“The initial support from Pathway to invest in the best equipment proved invaluable as it fueled our business’s sustained growth and success.”

With a vision to establish an engineering design and manufacturing company focused on aerospace and military parts to serve the Southeast, Jeff Bohanan started Protomet Corporation in 1997.

Faced with the challenges of securing traditional startup financing, Protomet, based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, turned to bootstrapping its operations.

In 2000, Protomet connected with Pathway Lending for additional capital. The infusion of capital for new equipment proved pivotal, enabling Protomet to prioritize cutting-edge machinery over used alternatives, ensuring operational efficiency and setting the stage for sustained expansion, free from the constraints of maintaining outdated equipment.

Over the span of 15 years, Protomet leveraged Pathway’s support to acquire additional equipment and commercial real estate, experiencing a twentyfold increase in growth. Today, Protomet is more stable than ever, empowered to make strategic decisions, and is equipped with mature banking relationships for continued growth.

Protomet’s commitment to growth extends to community impact too, notably recently fulfilling its pledge to generate 200 new jobs over 5 years in Loudon, Tennessee, after expanding into its second location in 2018.

In 2024, Protomet announced the creation of its fourth engineering and manufacturing facility in East Tennessee, which will create 250 new jobs.