The continued struggle to find and retain workers, along with a key network connection, led Roemer Industries to join Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition. Like many businesses, the company needs help building its workforce.

Roemer specializes in custom graphic industrial identification products like nameplates, signs, labels, overlays and panels. The company has more than 150 customers. Most of them fall in the transportation, railroad, automotive and aerospace industries.

“We’re not just fabricators, and we’re not just printers. We marry the two, and that makes us more unique,” said Alyssa Pawluk, marketing specialist at Roemer Industries.

The company originally started in Sharon, Pa. in 1937. Decades later, Roemer moved to Masury, where it’s been for more than 30 years. Dave Gurska is the owner and president. He also owns AML Industries in Warren, another MVMC member. Roemer currently has 41 employees.

Complying with material certifications

Roemer has certain standards to abide by for various jobs – including government contracts.

“A lot of customers require certifications for materials and documentation for jobs. When we deal with the metals and materials, we’re very specific about what we use and how we apply it,” said Jill Palumbo, Roemer’s chief operating officer.

Paula Lazzari is the business development specialist at Roemer Industries, and she recently got an inquiry about a possible government contract. A business that makes military helmets was asking about Roemer’s certifications for materials and doing research.

“The company is deciding if we comply, and they might send us something to quote, and then we’ll see if we can build that relationship,” said Lazzari.

Palumbo says sometimes those contracts can be difficult. It’s usually a long process and includes mountains of paperwork.

The process of making products

Various metals and materials are used to make the products like stainless steel, aluminum, brass, vinyl and polyester, to name a few. Depending on the customer’s needs, a product can be made heat and weather resistant, reflective or tamper-evident. Some of the processes used at Roemer include etching, screen printing, laser marking, milling, CNC punching, welding, engraving, digital printing and vinyl cutting.

“We have custom tools to make nameplates and labels. There are certain requirements for every order. Some of the products can be made different ways, but it’s about finding the best way based on the quantity,” Lazzari said.

Roemer can also add a barcode or QR code on any label. This allows it to be scanned for inventory purposes or to pull up maintenance information.

The etching process and washing the print screens requires close attention because they involve hazardous chemicals. There’s extensive training for employees in those jobs in case of an emergency.

A special company comes in to remove and dispose of any extra chemicals that aren’t used.

Why join MVMC?

Palumbo says besides hearing about MVMC through AML Industries, the company’s interest in membership is because of the resources and training programs offered.

“We need people on the floor in our production areas. Every place has turnover. Covid was an adjustment period, but we’ve been growing since then,” she said.

Some people were laid off due to the pandemic, and others quit, but the company was fortunate to survive. An entry-level job at Roemer starts at $16.50. In production, there is a certification program where employees can earn higher wages for reaching certain milestones.

“There isn’t a huge population in this area, so it’s hard to find people willing and able to work. We have geographical challenges because it can be a long drive from other communities,” Palumbo said.

She adds that having contact with local manufacturers through MVMC is beneficial. Roemer has the chance to communicate with businesses going through the same things and establish relationships.

Palumbo recently had the chance to see the WorkAdvance program in action. She visited a bootcamp cohort and talked with participants about Roemer, which is a committed employer.

“They were definitely engaged and wanted to be there. That was encouraging to see,” Palumbo said.

Alcon Mechanical in Niles believes that creating partnerships is the best way to serve the community. The company hopes to continue building on that mission now that it’s joined Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition.

Bob Summers, director of development at Alcon, wants people to know the company is familiar with manufacturing and is glad to already be serving businesses that are also members.

“We are equally focused on promoting MVMC and what the organization does – just as it recognizes Alcon. Ultimately, this leads to benefits for both parties. There’s more to Alcon than just mechanical work,” Summers said.

A history rooted in partnership

The company has been around for nearly 30 years and serves mainly commercial and industrial clients in northeast Ohio and into Pennsylvania. It’s licensed and certified to perform process piping, HVAC and hydronics, plumbing and food equipment service. There are 125 employees – which include two engineers and 12 people in the front office.

Alcon isn’t hiring right now, but owner and president, John Deraway, sees the challenge ahead of not having enough veteran, skilled workers.
“We’re facing issues like other companies. The aging, skilled workforce is retiring. We’re training the new people as fast as we can, but there’s going to be a gap that isn’t going to be filled. It takes time to make these employees,” Deraway said.

He got his start as a pipefitter, then worked his way up at the company for more than 20 years. Deraway bought Alcon in 2019 from George Poschner Jr. whose family also worked at there.

In the early days, Alcon was called Commercial Piping and partnered with Diamond Steel and Compco Industries before all the companies went on their own. About a decade later is when Commercial Piping changed its name to Alcon Mechanical.

On-site service

When it comes to fabricating products for customers, a lot of work is done at the job sites.

“Before we make anything, we have conversations with everyone on the ground to make sure they can handle it. There’s a lot of coordination, and our engineers do all the logistics,” Summers said.

He says the advantage of working on site means they can roll with changes and eliminate the possibility of extra costs to a project. Summers added that Alcon does quite a bit of welding when it comes to parts. Those are typically then shipped or transported to customers.

Big name projects

One of the most significant projects for Alcon, which is still in the works, is the Ultium Cells battery plant in Lordstown. Summers says the mechanical contract went to a Michigan company, but for Alcon, it was a case of being at the right place at the right time.

“I ended up getting ahold of the main coordinator, and through that, he offered us work. Although we didn’t do all the mechanical work, we were the first area mechanicals to be working there, besides the Michigan company,” Summers said.

The work is still going on at Ultium. Summers says many of the plans from a few years ago in terms of EV batteries changed, so the companies recently worked together to make adjustments.

Alcon is also planning to work on Ohio’s new Intel plant in Columbus. The company will be supplying piping systems for chemicals and the gas lines. The hope is to make most of the products at Alcon and then ship them to the site. The company has also done  significant projects for Howmet Aerospace and NLMK Steel.

Implementing health and safety initiatives

There are two new initiatives for the company when it comes to health and safety. The first is advanced leak detection technology that Alcon hopes to offer customers. Management is working with the company Fluke to learn the system and how it can be implemented for local businesses.

“We can walk into plants with a handheld device to see where leaks might be,” Summers said. “The results will show how much is being lost, return on investment, as well as how much it would cost to fix the problem.”

He stresses the most important aspect of this technology is knowing how it can affect a business from a health standpoint. Summers says even small amounts of certain gases or chemicals can be dangerous to people and the environment. Right now, Alcon is going out with engineers to learn how to detect issues and finding out what customers need most.

The company is also looking into a new-to-market air quality system. It uses plasma-style technology which creates ions that attach to contaminants. This makes it easier for them to be caught in a filter.

“Common sense tells you that if your work environment is better, people will be healthier, feel better and overall be more productive,” Summers said.

Keeping the service department steady

Looking to the future, the owner says the money is in the service department when it comes to a career.

“It’s going to get expensive, and it already is,” Deraway said. “You try to retain workers as best you can, but it’s just one of those things.”

He is fortunate to have stayed busy over the last decade but notes the continuous battle with a tight supply chain. Deraway is also always willing to jump in and work with the crew on a job.

“Sometimes it’s a break from what’s going on in the office. No one can say I don’t know how hard something is because I’ve done it,” he said.

He has some honest advice, too, when it comes to job seekers.

“Money shouldn’t be the first thing on the list when it comes to a job. If you can have a conversation with someone, shake someone’s hand, look them in the eye and stay off your phone you will flourish compared to everyone else,” Deraway said.

Creative thinking isn’t a foreign concept to engineers. They understand what it takes to “manufacture” things we use every day. John O’Neil, senior vice president at Integrity Technical Services (Integrity Jobs) in Akron, Ohio, knows this all too well.

Why join MVMC?

Integrity Jobs echoes MVMC’s mentality when it comes to the “stronger together” motto. O’Neil says it’s great to be able to recruit in the manufacturing world. He says doing things with integrity is something he takes seriously.

“Everyone is looking for good talent. I believe in a good reputation. I want people to know we did the best we could. I take it very personally when things don’t work out for everyone,” O’Neil said.

He first heard of MVMC through the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber, and then was put in contact with senior project manager Alex Hertzer.

“Alex is the best person you could meet as the first impression of an organization. Very helpful in this process,” O’Neil said.

He was surprised to see the list of current members because he noticed he’s already done business with most of them. He’s looking forward to building those relationships and continuing to help fill open positions. Integrity Jobs deals with at least two thousand companies, and manufacturing is a big portion of the requests for skilled labor workers.

Back to the beginning

O’Neil started out as an engineer with Syntonic Technologies, which is no longer in business, as a field technician for the Ohio Turnpike Commission. He serviced all the electronic equipment, mainframes and even the Ohio State Highway Patrol communication systems.

Five years later, he ended up at Diebold solving problems with ATM machines. He closed that chapter in 1989, and then was contacted about working for a career staffing service.

O’Neil was a sales associate for a year before leaving to partner with two former bosses. Together, they formed a company called North Star Resources, which was outside Cleveland. He was vice president of sales.

“The owners were great people, and I worked closely with them. Unfortunately, they both passed away. One in 1995, and the other in 1996. They were always in the staff services field,” O’Neil said.

Rebuilding a business

Since most of the staff was from Akron, the company was relocated and changed names to Integrity Technical Services (Integrity Jobs). O’Neil’s wife, Judy, was named the CEO. She owns 100 percent of the company and takes care of all the financial business.

“In 1996, Integrity Jobs was born, and we’ve been growing from the bottom up ever since. Coming from engineering, it was easy to grow a network. The first few months of business brought in about $2 million, and then it was up to $6 million within a couple years,” O’Neil said.

During the Covid pandemic, the company took a hit like many small businesses. Several people were laid off, but it’s starting to pick up again.

“We are hiring in sales and recruiting to build things back up. We have a new sales rep for the Youngstown area now,” O’Neil said.

Putting people first

He stressed the staff is constantly reaching out to employers to see what jobs need filled. They’re also dedicated to helping job seekers. He says good candidates are scarce, and shortages are hard to overcome. It also takes some convincing to get employers to sometimes choose people who aren’t the perfect fit.

“We get new jobs coming in every day. Late in the year, the numbers increase. You never know what’s going to happen day-to-day. With turnover rates, there’s not enough time in the day to replace people,” O’Neil said.

Improving his clients’ lives is something he credits as making everything worthwhile.

“If I was in this for the money, I would’ve left a long time ago. It’s a rush when you put someone to work that hasn’t had an opportunity. People thank me for finding them a job they’ve been looking for a long time to find. I had the chance to help them, and that’s important,” O’Neil said.