In 1997, Jonathan S. DeArment earned his Bachelor of Science in business management from Gannon and was welcomed directly into the challenging, evolving world of American manufacturing. The DeArment family has founded and owned Channellock, a tool manufacturing firm located in Meadville, Pennsylvania that ships their 120 products worldwide.
In 1996, Jonathan formally joined his family’s business, soon overseeing the opening of the firm’s third manufacturing plant. Today, he holds the position of vice president, admitting that it is a “challenging and rewarding responsibility,” but still an “awesome opportunity.” As one of very few remaining U.S. plier manufacturing firms – and with the globe’s volatile business environment – Jonathan must help to continue leading Channellock into the future.
With the firm on its fifth generation in the DeArment family, he mentions that he feels as though his experiences at Gannon have set a comfortable foundation on which to lead and carry on family tradition. “To be in business,” Jonathan says, “students have to develop good people skills and be able to work as a team.”
The same well-rounded business education that Jonathan has received and cherished continues to be taught inside Gannon classrooms, further instilling ethical and successful business practices into the world’s business leaders of tomorrow.
(Published August 2014)