In an industry where specialized knowledge can take decades to master, one family-owned manufacturing company in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is feeling the lasting impact of experience. For generations, this rural Pennsylvania business has built and designed drill supplies that power the industry, and its long-term employees have been the backbone behind the reliable quality for which the company is known. Today, these long-term employees are stepping up to guide new faces who will carry the legacy forward.

Decades of Dedication

Situated among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, Star Iron Works, Inc. has long benefitted from a high number of long-term employees. Many start right out of high school, trade programs, or college primarily learning the industry while employed at Star. Retiring CNC and drafting supervisor Randy Shaffer began his career at Star in 1976 when he was only 17 years old. He was part of a three-person production management team including general shop supervisor Doug Ball who has been with the company for 41 years, and welding supervisor Russ Fox who has been with the company for nearly 50 years. Randy’s years of experience helped the CNC shop at Star Iron Works to run with overwhelming efficiency. When Randy informed the company of his retirement and CNC machinist Tyler McKenrick was promoted, he trained for months side-by-side with Randy. Randy retired in March of 2025 with almost 50 years of experience. For Tyler, who had already been with the company for nine years, experience in the CNC shop, management courses, and extensive training with Randy have combined to bolster his qualifications for the position which he is already beginning to make his own. Tyler’s gratitude for his time with Randy is apparent. He noticed Randy’s “endless knowledge and ability to train” have helped him “feel prepared to take on this new role” at Star.

The knowledge—passed from Randy (Left) to Tyler (right)—covering everything from custom tooling techniques to personnel management has been crucial as Star evolved alongside the drilling industry's changing demands. Photo courtesy of Star Iron Works

Mentorship Rooted in Tradition

Just as the production team is evolving, Star’s sales force is passing decades of experience on to three new hires. Despite his twelve years of experience, Tim Andrulonis was still one of the newer sales persons at Star when he announced his retirement in 2023. Partially in jest, Tim was told that in order to retire he had to find his replacement. When Tim recommended his son’s friend Anthony Benanti, however, it was no laughing matter; Tony was well-suited for a sales position at Star. Once Tony started, Tim took on the on the role of mentor, helping Tony learn not only the technical aspects of the job but also the mindset needed to succeed in a field that values knowledge and reliability. Tony, who has now been with the company for almost two years, trained under Tim for months before his retirement. Tony described Tim as an extremely patient and easy teacher stating, “Tim’s training made the transition from being in the field to the office much easier. He emphasized the importance of working with the customer to help deliver customer-centric sales.” Tony was only the junior most salesmen for about a year as the team continued to evolve.

Adam Crytser had a similar experience to Tony: he was hired in October of 2024 and trained under retiring salesman Kevin Lenz. Having been at Star for 26 years, Kevin had a tremendous amount of knowledge to pass on, and Adam’s previous background and unique ties to Star gave him an extra edge that helped him absorb quickly. Adam is the son-in-law of Russ Fox. Adam explained that his background in building and construction sales, supplemented by Kevin’s ability to impart technical knowledge, has helped him handle multiple customer accounts with ease. Adam also described that his father-in-law’s decades of experience helped him understand the internal logistics of the company even before he started in his new position explaining, “Russ would talk to me about work and explain how sales interacted with production. It’s part of the job I did not have to learn under Kevin.” Nine months in, Adam has hit the ground running, and has enjoyed tradeshows and visiting customers in his new role, but—like Tony—Adam did not serve a long tenure as the junior most salesperson. 

Kevin Lenz, Franklin Stockdale, Frank Stockdale, and Larry Reinhart (left to right) attend a tradeshow in 2023. Photo courtesy of Star Iron Works

Chris DeMotte, the most recent hire to the sales team, still trains alongside longtime salesman Gary Reinhart. Gary is slated to retire this year after 25 years of experience with Star. Chris has trained with Gary for a little over a month, but as the tradition continues Tony has also been very helpful training Chris due to their similar oilfield backgrounds. Tony can relate to the transition from field to office and help Chris navigate it. When prompted about his training, Chris noted that the two senior salesmen both teach in relatable ways. “Gary is the encyclopedia of Star Iron Works. He can give a part number and price dating back decades. Tony and Gary both relay things in a manner that I am able quickly pick up on.” Chris is excited to broaden his experience with sales and continue his knowledge of the industry as he prepares to attend his first tradeshow, the South Atlantic Water Well Jubilee. 

Needless to say, Gary has a great deal of experience to share with Chris, Adam, and Tony. Fortunately, he’s had some practice: seven years ago Gary also trained his twin brother Larry when he joined the company. Larry and Gary had always been close, but working together took it to a new level. The twins both came from previous jobs in the gas field. Their similar backgrounds combined with knowledge of each other helped the training go smoothly. Seven years later, Larry has enjoyed going from being a trainee himself to part of the training team for the new hires. The members of the sales team pride themselves in working together and sharing knowledge freely to prioritize customer outcomes. When a customer calls in to Star with a question that one salesperson cannot answer they work as a team to problem solve, often enlisting help from President and CEO, Frank Stockdale, and his son, Operations Manager Franklin Stockdale.
 

Franklin, Frank, Marisa, and Mary Lou Stockdale at the South Atlantic Water Well Jubilee in 1997. Photo courtesy of Star Iron Works

Balancing Heritage and Growth

Production and sales have evolved right along with management at Star. While the company is proud of its history, it is also investing in new equipment, training, and modern manufacturing practices to stay competitive in an evolving drilling market. Bringing on the next generation of leaders has helped these initiatives tremendously. Frank, President and CEO, and Mary Lou Stockdale, Vice-President, work alongside their children, Franklin and Marisa, in making these decisions. Marisa has been with the company since 2016 and works primarily on human resources, accounts receivable, and industry advertising. Meanwhile Franklin works side-by-side with his father Frank. “We took Franklin and Marisa to tradeshows throughout their childhood and had them working at the business from young ages. Franklin started sweeping floors at 16 and has been learning production since. Now he works with me on quotes and sales,” said Frank. While both Franklin and Marisa, assist their parents in all aspects of management, they also individually focus on slightly different spheres and initiatives. Marisa has updated the website, tradeshow displays, and advertisements, while Franklin has streamlined systems on the sales floor as new salesmen have arrived and been trained. Both kids regarded the opportunity to come home and be part of something that their family (first their grandfather and then their father and mother together) has built, as a privilege.

According to an article from the Journal of Family Business Strategy, only 30% of businesses make it to the second generation and only around 10-15% survive to the third generation (Stamm and Lubinski, 2011). That is not the case here. Frank has over 5 decades of experience in manufacturing and the drilling industry, has worked hard to pass his knowledge of the industry on to his children, and is excited about the future of the company. 

Building a Lasting Legacy

For the Stockdale Family, watching experienced employees train and bring in the next generation is a testament to the company's resilience and to the character of the people who have shaped it. "In a rural town like Punxsutawney, your workforce isn't just employees; they're your neighbors, your friends, and that was true for my father and it will be true for my children," said Frank. Creating a workplace environment where employees are collaborating, sharing knowledge, and developing a positive culture, also serves Star’s customers. 

In an industry where precision and experience are everything, this evolving family business is showing how the lessons of the past can prepare a new generation to lead. From a small corner of Pennsylvania to drilling sites across the world, their work—and the team behind it—continues to make a difference. When calling Star you know you are reaching out to a sales team that is a well-trained and evolving that works with an equally well-trained and evolving production team. In a world that changes faster every day, the story from Star is clear: sometimes, the best way to build what's next is to honor what's always worked and to share it with those just starting out.

Sources:

Stamm, I. & Lubinski, C. (2011) Crossroads of family business research and firm demography—A critical assessment of family business survival rates. Journal of Family Business Strategy, Volume 2(Issue 3), 117-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfbs.2011.07.002