Brainard Rivet Co. GM Joseph “Joe” Lamanna is retiring after 37 years.

“From shaping our IT infrastructure to leading operations as General Manager, Joe has played a vital role in our company’s success,” Brainard Rivet stated.

Lamanna joined Brainard Rivet (then owned by Textron) in 1988 with a Bachelor of Applied Science - BASc, Computer Tech/Computer Systems Tech degree from Youngstown State University.

“We had very few computers and systems,” he noted. “Most jobs were done manually.”

Eager to improve operations, he sat with every employee to understand each task so that he could custom code the company’s entire application software.

After briefly closing in 1998, Brainard Rivet reopened as 100% employee-owned under the umbrella of Fastener Industries, Inc. Leaner than its 70-strong workforce under Textron, Brainard Rivet transitioned from supplying the Big Three automotive giants directly to working through Tier 2 and 3 suppliers.

Founded in 1916 to manufacture fasteners for the hoops on wooden kegs, Brainard Rivet operates a 65,000 sq ft facility in Girard, OH, to manufacture small and large rivets, clevis pins, knurled, threaded, grooved and trimmed products, as well as hex weld nuts.