Paul Stallman

Paul Stallman

Age 39: Owner and Creative Director, Alias Solutions

Paul Stallman can tell you a thing or two about Hummers. After all, he compiled a welding specifications handbook “a mile thick” for the armored parts of the military vehicle — not what you’d expect for someone who now runs a marketing outfit.

Stallman, who grew up in the Midwest, kicked his career off as a mechanical engineer. He wrote the Hummer book in 1990 as an engineer for GMP Metal Products in St. Louis. Later he switched over to Ford Motor Co. in Detroit, where he also met his wife, who happened to be from Chicopee.

Working five years at Ford gave Stallman a taste for Web development. He left to co-found a Web design company with several partners. They worked for big guns like Anheuser-Busch and Boise Office Supplies, but eventually the partners parted ways.

Stallman relocated to Western Mass. to be closer to his wife’s family, and launched Alias Solutions in 2003 to serve the design needs of smaller businesses.

“I don’t need the ego boost of big-company names,” he said. “I would rather be more important to my clients.”

He has since grown his company from a one-man operation to a full-service design agency with five employees and an office in Indian Orchard.

Amidst his busy schedule, Stallman, who has three young boys (including a set of twins), still finds time for the community. He an assistant scout leader for Chicopee Scout Pack 138. He’s also involved in a school program called Crash! that teaches kids responsible driving habits via science. His company, Alias, has also contributed its services to local nonprofits, including YEAH! Network, which works to stem the tide of teen pregnancy.

The Hummer tome, however, is unfortunately no more. “My wife made me throw it out,” said Stallman. “She asked me when I was planning on welding up a Hummer.”

—Amy Castor