Dantae Phillips started at Medart cleaning floors. Today, he runs a division.
That kind of upward mobility is no accident. It’s part of a company-wide approach to workforce development that recently led Medart to join the Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition, a growing partnership of manufacturers working together to address shared challenges and build talent pipelines across Lawrence and Mercer counties.
Phillips joined the company as a high school student in 2018 and quickly showed initiative, working his way from entry-level support into leadership. Now overseeing Medart’s processing division and expanding into a sales role, his career path reflects a broader company culture that prizes growth, opportunity and long-term commitment.
“We’ve been investing in employees like Dantae to help them develop and create that future for the company,” said Mike Friello, president of Medart. “Developing internal talent is how we ensure long-term success.”
To support its hiring and internal growth efforts, Medart uses the Predictive Index, a science-based tool that assesses behavioral traits and cognitive abilities to help match employees to roles where they’re most likely to thrive. The tool aids in making better hiring decisions and developing employees into future leaders.
Like many manufacturers across the region, Medart is navigating persistent workforce shortages. Fitters, machinists, welders and mechanical assemblers are in especially high demand. That urgency is what led the company to join LMMC in hopes to collaborate with peer manufacturers on solutions that serve both businesses and the broader community.
Founded in 1872 in St. Louis, Medart has long been known for its bar peelers and straighteners used in cold-finish steel operations. The company’s equipment is in use across the U.S. and in global markets including India, Australia and the U.K. While its history began elsewhere, Medart’s core operations today are based in Ellwood City, where more than 60 employees work across two shifts.
The company also owns and operates RBS Manufacturing, a fabrication shop in East Palestine, Ohio, acquired in 2019 to bring more control to its supply chain and reduce delays from outsourcing.
Medart has also built strong relationships with local schools, particularly Riverside School District, where it regularly hosts tours and presentations. That outreach, and a shared mission to increase visibility into manufacturing career paths, helped draw the company to LMMC.
“I think that it’s really important for us to be plugged into the community, because community is important,” said Angela Pierce, owner of Medart. “When you have a group of manufacturers working together to solve some of the issues we face today, then it just strengthens the community even more.”
Through its LMMC membership, Medart aims to expand its reach, connect with training and education partners, and play a more hands-on role in building the future of manufacturing across Lawrence and Mercer counties.
