In
Logan Hartle
Profile
Logan Hartle always knew he wanted a business career and originally enrolled in Business Administration at WVU. He was also fascinated by manufacturing. When he discovered that Industrial Engineering combined both of his passions, he found his major.
While in college, Logan had a co-op experience at Toyota. This experience gave him hands-on knowledge of lean manufacturing which has been critical to his career. The following year, Logan decided he wanted an internship in Florida. He started calling different companies and was hired by Sea Ray Yachts because of his lean experience.
When Logan graduated, he started working for Tecnocap LLC, a business that was 5 minutes from his home. Tecnocap produces metal closures. Logan started as a process engineer and was advanced to the engineering supervisor after being at Tecnocap for just over a year. “It was tough gaining the respect of those I supervised at such a young age,” Logan says.
Logan had a family friend in Florida who recruited him to be the Vice President of Sales and Marketing of McFadden Roofing.
The plan was that Logan would eventually take over the business. “I learned a very important lesson in the year I was at McFadden,” Logan describes. “You have to love what you are doing. I didn’t love the roofing business.”
Logan returned to Tecnocap for a short time, but a new opportunity presented itself. Warwood Tool Company became available to purchase. “Warwood Tool was founded prior to the Civil War. Its owner was 90 years old and he needed to find someone to continue the business. His children weren’t interested in the business.”
After 13 months of working out the transfer of ownership, Logan and a friend purchased Warwood Tool. Logan was 28 years old. They were able to get a bank loan and had a private investor to fund the business.
Warwood Tool sales were flat for a number of years and Logan and his partner were able to grow sales back to levels last seen in the 1990s. “My IE background gave me great preparation for the business. We are taught to challenge existing practices by thinking outside the box. We also have the practical problem solving skills that I use every day,” Logan says.
Logan and his partner have helped sustain one of the oldest businesses in West Virginia. “We have kept a core business in West Virginia. Their motto is “Earn It.” Read the story of Earn It at http://www.warwoodtool.com/History/earn-it/.
Bio
Logan Hartle, President of the Warwood Tool Company in Wheeling, WV, prides himself on his entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to act.
He studied Industrial Engineering at West Virginia University were he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering.
While at WVU he secured an internship with Toyota Motor Manufacturing, he was hired by Sea Ray Boats in Merritt Island Florida as an Industrial Engineering Intern, he launched a decorative concrete business and won the WV State College Business Plan Competition.
After completing his studies, he was hired as a Process Engineer by Tecnocap LLC, a stamping plant in Glen Dale, WV that makes metal closures. Logan would ultimately become the Plant Engineer at Tecnocap.
Logan’s experience is not limited to engineering and manufacturing, however, as he spent a year in sales and marketing at McFadden Roofing in Orlando, FL.
After his tenure at Tecnocap and McFadden Roofing, Logan’s entrepreneurial spirit took hold again as he and two business partners purchased Warwood Tool Company in 2015.
Logan is currently the President of Warwood Tool Company and enjoys the challenge of adding revenue streams to the 163 year-old forging company while looking for creative ways to increase the efficiency of manufacturing and business operations.
