Month: April 2022

Categories
Faces of Manufacturing

Lake Park lathe operator takes professional-grade snapshots

During the day, Terrance Jones is a lathe operator at Lake Park Tool and Machine in Youngstown.

At night and on weekends, he’s a photographer.

Jones got his start in photography in 2010 when his daughter graduated from high school, and “I had to pay for those senior pictures,” he said.

Prior to that, Jones usually had a camcorder in tow, documenting life around him.

Mostly self-taught, Jones photographs weddings, senior portraits and maternity sessions. For training, he attends workshops and watches YouTube.

Then, Jones gets out and practices, as his goal is to do as little editing to the file as possible.

Building out

He’s looking to branch into business-to-business photography, putting a creative flair on portraits.

Originally, Jones used Canon digital single-lens reflex cameras, or DSLRs, but now has a mirrorless Sony that he carries with him to work.

Terrance Jones holds his new camera.
While he is a lathe operator at Lake Park Tool and Machine, Terrance Jones also is a photographer when he’s not at work.

“I love it,” he said of the newer investment. “What you see is what you get.”

His precision at work with the lathe has lent itself to Jones having a steady hand for photography, he said.

Looking back

When he was growing up, Jones didn’t think he’d be building things by day and creating lifetime mementos as a side hustle.

“I can see from my childhood” that he would have gone down his exact path, watching his father work on lawn mowers, installing dry wall, Jones said.

He applies the same approach to working in manufacturing, by working with his hands, that he does with photography.

“I’m all hands-on” during the learning process, Jones said.

Terrance Jones works at the lathe.
Growing up, Terrance Jones knew he would work with his hands. Now, he’s not only a lathe operator at Lake Park Tool and Machine, but also a photographer in his free time.

Industrial support system

Calling Jones a “fantastic machinist,” RJ Fryan, CEO of Lake Park Tool and Machine, and the Lake Park team overall support Jones in his photography, which like his daytime work, has a lasting impact.

“How many miners did you make this week, Terrance? Great, you hit your number. You also helped a couple have the happiest day of their life,” Fryan said.

He and Jones have discussed advertising options and different ways to explore getting the word out about Jones’ photography skills.

[View Jones’ portfolio here.]

“It’s beholding on us as the manufacturers now to support” employees in their extracurricular activities, Fryan said.

“How many lathe operators exist in the world that do this?” Fryan said, referring to Jones’ photography.

Working within a company where he’s encouraged to grow with his hobby and passion is rare, Jones said.

“It’s beautiful. You don’t get that too often.”

Categories
Member Manufacturers

Valley Partners, a nonprofit funding source for local businesses

Are you preparing to finance a project to expand your business?

Look no further for option than to MVMC new member Valley Economic Development Partners.

Since 1978, the nonprofit has helped local small businesses with loans.

“We offer and facilitate a variety of loan programs to support small businesses with specialized flexible lending solutions.,” said Teresa Miller, executive director.

Think of it as bridge or gap financing packages.

There are a number of options, including larger SBA-partnered programs, where Valley Partners mitigates risk to the bank and client by funding a portion of the project.

“We take a second position on collateral behind the bank,” Miller said.

Valley Economic Development Partners employees pictured, left to right, front row, are: Julie Swauger, office manager/trust manager; Madison Hoover, loan assistant/marketing manager; Teresa Miller, executive director; Cassie Wyatt, business coach. Left to right, back row, are: Mario Nero, director of economic development lending; Greg Lutz, financial specialist; Maureen Stenglein, SBA lobal officer; and Wendy Walters, director of servicing.

If a business applies for a loan at a bank, the bank can say the business must have 20 percent equity for a $5 million project.

Valley Partners enters, offering funding for 40 percent of the project, while the bank offers 50 percent. That will leave the business portion to 10 percent.

There are smaller loan programs, where Valley Partners is able to fund without bank participation as well.

A long-time popular option which will likely see a resurgence Miller said is a loan fund from the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) called the Regional 166. It is targeted for the manufacturing industry.

While interest rates are on the rise, Regional 166 loans will most likely remain around 3 to 4 percent.

This is great for expansions, equipment purchases, location moves or purchasing a new building, Miller said. If a company wants to finance on their own, Valley Partners can utilize the Regional 166 loan for 75 percent of the project if the business funds the remaining 25 percent.

“This is a perfect loan fund program for fixed assets a manufacturing company might be looking for.”

For more information or to being the application process, visit www.valleyedp.com.

“We’re here to help and partner with their banks to make the best loan package that’s possible for small businesses in the Valley.”

Categories
Member Manufacturers

Member PanelMatic aims to grow staff

How many times when you’re driving along a stretch of interstate, and you come up behind a massive building-like structure creeping along, escorted and plastered with “WIDE LOAD” signs?

Chances are, some of those could be modular buildings manufactured by MVMC newer member PanelMatic Building Solutions of Brookfield.

The modular buildings are largely used as substation control buildings, power distribution centers and switchgear motor control centers.

PanelMatic can also create modified shipping containers, mull pulpits, operator cads, large enclosures to shelter equipment, battery storage enclosures and general heavy fabrication skidded equipment.

Founded in 1957 in Youngstown, PanelMatic split from Dearing Compressor years later.

Founder Bud Dearing was making his way into electrical controls, and to keep distribution, the company had to separate the electrical side, said Dan Vodhanel, general manager of the Brookfield location.

Splitting further in 2019, PanelMatic moved the modular building out of the Youngstown Plant, which now handles control pandels. That’s when PanelMatic Building Solutions was born.

Since 2019, employees have worked in a 73,000-square-foot facility at 6882 Parkway Drive in Brookfield.

PanelMatic Building Solutions in Brookfield builds and then ships specially crafted modular containers and buildings.

“We’re a very large job shop. Every order is custom to suite our customers’ needs,” Vodhanel said.

There are currently 30 employees, and Vodhanel aims to hire another 20 in the next two years to cover positions in manufacturing, engineering and electricity.

The process of creating a modular building begins when the engineering team reviews a quote and specifications. Then, the design is drawn up and sent to the customer for approval. After that, crews begin manufacturing the building.

Once the building is erected, it’s painted, then electricians from IBEW Local 2241 – PanelMatic’s union – install electrical components.

When the building is done, it’s shrink-wrapped and shipped.

Vodhanel has taken advantage of various programs to help upskill his employees, including On-The-Job training payment programs and TechCred for welding certification and software for engineers.

PanelMatic in Brookfield was also awarded the Excellence in Manufacturing in 2020 from the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.