As we bid farewell to a valued member of our team, we take a moment to celebrate the impressive career of Joseph Lamanna, who is retiring after 37 years of dedicated service at Brainard Rivet. Joseph, or Joe as we know him, has seen it all—from the company’s early days of Information Technology (IT) to its current innovations—and has played a key role in shaping Brainard into what it is today.
A Legacy of Innovation
Joe joined Brainard Rivet in 1988 as a young, eager professional and quickly became integral to the company’s growth. With a background in IT, he was drawn to the opportunity to start with the company during the infancy of its IT infrastructure. Joe recalls. “When I joined BRC in 1988, we were a very different company. We had very few computers and systems. Most jobs were done manually.” Joe was determined to make a difference, and over the years, he built and customized the systems that would allow the company to grow and evolve. He sat with every employee to understand how each person performed tasks. Joe shared, “Then I custom-coded our entire application software, and that’s something I’m very proud of.”
A Changing Landscape
When Joe first started at Brainard, it was part of a large company called Textron. When Brainard Rivet briefly closed in 1998 and then reopened as 100% employee-owned under the umbrella of Fastener Industries, Inc., Joe was one of the first few employees brought back. The rehired workforce had to start from zero sales and rebuild the brand, customer relationships, and revenue stream. The landscape of how manufacturers supplied fasteners had changed.
During the earlier Textron days, the company was shipping directly to the Big Three automotive manufacturers—Ford, GM, and Chrysler—and the business model was far more straightforward. However, much has changed over the years. The company transitioned from supplying the automotive giants directly to working through Tier Two and Three suppliers, and the workforce has also shrunk from 70 employees to a smaller but highly skilled team today.
Despite these changes, Joe has remained steadfast in his commitment to maintaining the highest standards. “There is no typical work week. As General Manager, I’m responsible for managing the entire operation, and as IT Manager, I have to ensure that everything is running smoothly,” Joe explains. “IT has evolved so much from the early days—back then, we were working with DOS-based programming, and now everything is much more sophisticated in a Windows-based language.”
A New Chapter
As Joe looks ahead to retirement, he says he will miss the people he’s worked with and the constant challenge of creating new systems. “The people here are what made this job so rewarding,” he reflects. “And the challenge of continually improving our systems kept me motivated every day.”
When asked about his future plans, Joe is excited to focus on home improvement projects, something he’s been looking forward to for some time. And while he’s stepping away from his role at Brainard, he’s confident that the company will continue to thrive under new leadership. “Leslie Phillips will be taking over my role as General Manager, and Shawn Budd will take over as IT Manager,” Joe shares. “I expect Brainard to continue to make upgrades and innovations, and I see a bright future ahead.”
Beyond Work
Joe and his wife Laura, have been married for 20 years. They enjoy dining at new restaurants and look forward to traveling after retirement. When Joe is not working, he enjoys staying active—especially playing softball. He’s part of several senior softball leagues and plays for a tournament team that travels the country. In addition, Joe has a passion for cross-stitching, a hobby many of his colleagues may not know about. “I’ve won several awards for my pieces. It’s a complex and rewarding craft,” he says.
Joe is also an avid fan of Cleveland’s sports teams, following the Guardians, Cavs, and Browns. And, if given the chance to have any superpower, he would choose the ability to change people’s lives by granting them a wish, hoping to help those less fortunate.
Thank You, Joe
Joe, thank you for your dedication and hard work over the past 37 years. Your contributions to Brainard Rivet will not be forgotten, and you leave behind a legacy of innovation and leadership that will continue to guide the company. We wish you all the best in your retirement and look forward to hearing about your next chapter—whether it’s a new cross-stitch masterpiece or a softball championship. Congratulations!
