MASON BIODIESEL: A FAMILY'S NEW VENTURE IN A NEW INDUSTRY.

Mason Biodiesel, LLC was a family business that opened in the spring of 2006 as the first biodiesel manufacturer in the state of Rhode Island. Phil Mason was already the owner of a Service Master Clean franchise, but was looking for another source of revenue and more predictable work hours. Acting on the initiative of his middle son, Phil studied the emerging biodiesel industry, wrote a business plan, and borrowed about $700,000 from a local bank. With the help of his three sons he designed and built a manufacturing facility that was certified for production in the summer of 2007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]