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Company Facts
Founded 1886
George B. DeArment began hand-forging farrier’s tools and selling them from the back of a wagon.
Location
For over 133 years, Channellock, Inc. has manufactured high-quality pliers on American soil in Meadville, Pennsylvania.
Trades Support
Channellock® supports the trades through our partnership with SkillsUSA and with our Trade School Trade Up competition.
Our Team
With more than 350 full-time associates, Channellock, Inc. is among the largest employers in the region.
Products
The company manufactures more than 130 different sizes and types of pliers and hand tools.
Global Sales
Channellock, Inc. has more than 4,000 U.S. wholesale and retail customers and ships to customers in 45 countries.
Guiding Principles
- Good management is never far from the factory floor.
- People are more important than machines.
- Bigger doesn’t always mean better.
- Dedication to excellence is the surest way to surmount adversity and to prosper.
Resources
Contact Info
Leadership
William S. DeArment
CEO and Chairman of the Board
William S. DeArment
CEO and Chairman of the Board
Bill DeArment has been with CHANNELLOCK® for 50 years. He is the great-grandson of the company’s founder, and is proud to lead this fifth-generation, family-owned company as CEO and Chairman of the Board.
Bill helped secure a patent for the Perma-Lock® fastener used on all CHANNELLOCK® tongue and groove pliers and all slip-joint pliers. He also worked to get the company’s signature CHANNELLOCK BLUE® trademark protection by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Throughout the 90's, the company’s marketing efforts were defined by motorsports marketing. Bill lead the effort to establish CHANNELLOCK® as one of the early corporate sponsors of the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series, beginning a 13-year relationship.
Bill previously served as president of CHANNELLOCK®. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University.
Bill is proud of his work helping to grow and keep the company together for the next generation, which he attributes to a lot of help from great people. He’s very pleased to see his sons, Jon and Ryan, and daughter, Joanie, stepping up into leadership.
Jon S. DeArment
President and COO
Jon S. DeArment
President and COO
Jon DeArment has been with CHANNELLOCK® for more than 20 years. As President and COO, he is proud to be part of the fifth-generation that’s helping to lead the family-owned company.
His experience includes positions in nearly every department at CHANNELLOCK®. He began his career working in the plant during summers while on break from college. Over the years, Jon worked his way through different areas including maintenance, the machine shop, human resources, sales and marketing, and the manufacturing section of the business. He served as Vice President of Manufacturing and Engineering before becoming President and COO in 2014.
Jon takes pride in making pliers that pros depend on to earn a living and provide for their families. One of his best memories is sitting next to the President of the United States, who told Jon that “CHANNELLOCK® pliers are of the highest quality” and “you won’t find any better!”
Jon earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management from Gannon University. He also graduated from the Bell Leadership Institute’s Masters in Leadership Program. He was awarded the 2016 Gannon University SBDC Presidents Award and was a 2017 Pittsburgh Smart 50 Award honoree. He serves as the Vice President for the Hand Tools Institute Board of Directors.
In his spare time, Jon enjoys riding his motorcycle and boating at the lake with his wife, Dana, and their three children.
Ryan DeArment
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Ryan DeArment
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Ryan DeArment has been with CHANNELLOCK® for more than 20 years and is part of the fifth-generation that’s leading the company. As Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Ryan is responsible for the profitable maximization of the company’s sales and products, as well as the continued development of the CHANNELLOCK® brand name.
He has served in several different management and director roles throughout the years, most recently as Director of Marketing. He began his career during college working summers on the shop floor.
Ryan earned his bachelor’s degree in business economics from Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. He has also completed several leadership development programs with The Bell Leadership Institute.
Ryan is a board member for both the Hardware Marketing Council and the Meadville Area Recreational Foundation Board of Directors. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys riding motorcycles and spending time with his wife, Terra, and their three children. He is also a past champion of the CHANNELLOCK® chili cookoff!
Marc Johnston
Vice President of HR & Workforce Development
Marc Johnston
Vice President of HR & Workforce Development
Marc Johnston has been with CHANNELLOCK® for more than 20 years. Finding and recruiting dedicated and trainable employees is at the forefront of his job as Vice President of Human Resources & Workforce Development. His goal is to train them to become safe, engaged and productive members of CHANNELLOCK® for years to come.
Marc takes pride in his role at CHANNELLOCK® to find and recruit employees that are dedicated to hard work and ensuring CHANNELLOCK® tools are of the highest quality.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering and business administration from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He currently serves as the board president and chairman for the Western Crawford County United Way and is a board member of the Crawford County Career Educational Alliance. He is also a 2007 CHANNELLOCK® Falcon Award winner, an award dedicated to CHANNELLOCK® associates who best demonstrates dedication and commitment to the company.
Marc enjoys all things fishing in his free time in addition to archery, hunting, downhill skiing and walking his three dogs, Crosby, Max and Penny with his wife, Jen, and daughter, Jaeda.