How an Expanding Client List in the Steel Industry and a Growing Team Shaped R.E. Warner
As the 1960s began, R.E. Warner & Associates was no longer a young firm finding its footing. Building on the momentum established in the 1950s, the firm entered a decade defined by expansion at a time when steel manufacturers were investing heavily in new facilities and modernization. R.E. Warner increasingly found itself at the center of that work during a pivotal chapter in steel industry history.
1960s Timeline at a Glance
Growing a Firm Alongside a Growing Industry
By the early 1960s, the firm had grown to more than 25 employees and was steadily adding engineering disciplines to support increasingly complex industrial projects. Much of that growth aligned with the steel industry’s need for specialized electrical and mechanical engineering services.
That alignment was strengthened in January 1961 with the addition of Stanley L. Jameson, a well-respected electrical engineer whose expertise complemented the talents of Bob Warner and Jack Ochse. Jameson also brought with him several key clients, including Detroit Steel.
As new clients and projects arrived, expectations inside the office grew as well. Multiple former employees described the environment as focused on productivity: “The office was basically one big, wide-open room with drafting tables (nicknamed “the pit”),” one retiree recalled. Another said, “If we looked up from our desk, Jack, the piping department manager, always seemed to be looking at us, haha!”
“Even though it was very businesslike, the people made it a very enjoyable place to work.”
A former draftsman remembered that while the atmosphere was professional, there was a strong sense of camaraderie among the staff: “Even though it was very businesslike, the people made it a very enjoyable place to work.” Another described the firm as “very close-knit, with a lot of interaction between employees,” a sentiment echoed by many.
Office Space, Early Technology, and Life at the Firm
R.E. Warner moved to the Engineers Office Building in Lorain, OH in 1966.
The firm’s physical workspace also evolved during the decade. In 1966, R.E. Warner & Associates relocated from the Broadway Building to the Engineer’s Building on West Park Drive in Lorain, chosen for easier highway access as projects increasingly required regional travel. The initial lease was $3.50/square foot annually.
Inside, drafting remained entirely manual: pencils, parallel edges, triangles, and drawing boards filling large open rooms. “My tools were pencil and paper,” one former engineer said. Another added that preparing drawings by hand, as they did then, would be “unthinkable today.”
The firm took an early step toward modernization in July 1968 by issuing its first computerized payroll, a small but symbolic entry into the computer age.
A blend of focus and camaraderie defined office life during the 1960s, creating an environment where people took pride in their work while genuinely enjoying the company of their coworkers, even with the long hours. As one retiree later reflected, “Even though we did a lot of clowning around at times, we always did a good job and got our projects out on time.” Another noted pride in “helping projects come together with few errors,” a mindset that helped sustain long-term client relationships in a demanding industry.
“Even though we did a lot of clowning around at times, we always did a good job and got our projects out on time.”
Even amid that focus, there was room for lighter moments. One engineer remembered: “Most of the time we worked hard, but it wasn’t always business. One of the funniest things I remember was when our surveyor put a radio in one of the desk drawers. When someone walked near that area, he would say, ‘Help, help—let me out of here!’ It was comical to see the reactions.”
That spirit extended beyond the drafting tables. During the decade, employees formed the company’s first bowling team, though the shirts bore the Wakefield Brass name rather than R.E. Warner & Associates, since Bob Warner believed an engineering firm shouldn’t sponsor a bowling league. At the time, the firm was performing work for Wakefield Brass at the GM Styling Studio in Detroit, making the arrangement both fitting and memorable.
Supporting Major Steel Producers Across the U.S.
Throughout the decade, R.E. Warner expanded its client roster to include Colorado Fuel & Iron in Pueblo, Colorado; McLouth Steel in Detroit; and Republic Steel in Cleveland. These relationships positioned the firm as a consulting engineering partner during a transformative period for steel manufacturing.
Projects from the 1960s reflected both geographic reach and technical sophistication. The firm completed designs for a 12-inch bar mill for U.S. Steel in Lorain, a tube mill for Republic Steel in Indiana Harbor, and the electrical design of a bar mill for CF&I Steel in Pueblo. Each assignment reinforced the firm’s growing reputation as engineering consultants contributing to the steel industry through large-scale industrial work.
Leadership Evolution and Broader Governance
As the firm expanded, its leadership structure evolved to ensure broader input and continuity. In January 1962, the Board elected Stan Jameson as 2nd Vice President and elevated Jack Ochse to 1st Vice President, recognizing their growing responsibilities within the firm.
By April 1965, sensing the need for additional perspective, the firm added Carl Schluederberg and Norman Franks to the Board of Trustees. These trustees were business acquaintances of Bob Warner and served as outside board members. They were compensated $50 per meeting, an arrangement that reflected both the formality and practicality of governance at the time.
That same year was also marked by a significant strategic effort: an attempted merger with R.J. Shafer, a Youngstown-based engineering firm. Discussions dominated much of 1965 before the merger effort ultimately ended on November 11. While the merger did not proceed, the experience underscored the firm’s willingness to explore growth opportunities during a rapidly changing engineering landscape.
Shared Ownership, Open Management, and Support for Employee Growth
Consistent with Bob Warner’s long-held belief in shared ownership, the late 1960s brought meaningful changes in how employees participated in leadership. On December 19, 1967, employees Walter Fedoriw, Bill Skellenger, and Ray Radde were elected Trustees. At the same time, Joe O’Brien, Jack Keysper, J.P. Fabanich, Carl Pennebaker, and Sergey Podwalny were named the firm’s first associates.
Bob Warner’s open management style became even more evident on February 21, 1968, when the firm held its first associates meeting. These meetings, held every other month, created a formal space for discussing management issues and sharing ideas directly with the President.
Employees also remember a culture where leadership was accessible and growth was possible. One team member, who began as a draftsman, later reflected proudly on the opportunity to advance to a designer and checker role.
Looking Ahead to the 1970s
By decade’s end, R.E. Warner had firmly established itself as an influential engineering firm defined by technical excellence, collaborative leadership, and trusted client relationships. The groundwork laid in the 1960s would soon support even greater change.
The story continues in the 1970s, when new leadership and new priorities—including the launch of an environmental division—would guide the firm into its next era. Stay tuned for more!
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