THE PEOPLE BUILDING
LANCASTER COUNTY
From a small family business founded in 1995 to a growing construction operation with more than 125 employees, Will Hutchins is helping carry forward the Lineberger Construction legacy while building opportunities for the next generation.
For Will Hutchins, Vice President of LCI-Lineberger Construction, the company’s story is about more than asphalt, equipment, and construction projects. It’s about family, relationships, and building something that will continue to serve the community for generations.
LCI-Lineberger Construction was founded on September 7, 1995, by Will’s mother, Kimberly Lineberger Thomas. She started the company with four trucks for material hauling and four pieces of heavy equipment for grading and reclamation. Over the past three decades, the company has grown into a full-service heavy highway and civil construction operation, employing more than 125 people and operating more than 200 pieces of equipment and commercial vehicles.
Today, Will helps guide the company’s operations and continued growth, overseeing a business that supports roadway construction, site development, and infrastructure projects throughout Lancaster County and the surrounding region.
Despite its growth, LCI remains grounded in the family-oriented values that have shaped the company since its beginning.
According to Will, preserving those values while creating opportunities for employees and contributing to the communities LCI serves is an important part of the company’s continued success.
A Family Business Built to Grow
Since its founding, LCI has expanded its operations to meet the needs of a growing construction industry.
The company now operates a full-scale asphalt plant, producing materials for its own construction projects while also supplying asphalt to outside contractors and municipalities.
Approximately 80% of the asphalt produced at LCI supports the company’s own projects, with the remaining 20% sold to other contractors and municipalities. Because asphalt must be applied at the proper temperature, the company primarily serves customers and projects within an approximately 75-mile radius of its operations.
LCI’s work spans multiple projects at any given time, with grading crews, mainline paving crews, and additional teams supporting preparation and cleanup.
For Will, the company’s growth reflects both the demand for dependable infrastructure and the dedication of the employees who make its operations possible.
As development continues throughout Lancaster County and the surrounding region, LCI’s grading and site work operations are helping support new commercial growth, while its asphalt crews contribute to the construction and maintenance of the roads that connect communities.
It’s a business built around local needs, local workers, and the infrastructure that supports everyday life.
Keeping the Family Culture as the Company Grows
In an industry increasingly shaped by large corporations and business consolidation, Will believes LCI’s family-owned structure gives the company an important distinction: its people remain at the center of its operations.
With more than 125 employees, maintaining strong relationships between leadership and field crews is a priority.
Will describes a company culture built around transparency, accessibility, and communication. Leadership maintains an open-door approach, communicates directly with employees, and makes an effort to explain the reasoning behind important business decisions.
For Will, explaining the “why” matters. When employees understand the purpose behind a decision, they can better understand how their individual roles contribute to the company’s broader goals.
That approach also helps employees feel connected to the organization and the people leading it.
LCI places a strong emphasis on long-term employee relationships, with some employees approaching 20 years with the company. Rather than viewing positions as temporary stops along the way, Will says the company looks for people interested in developing their skills and building a future with the organization.
By investing in employees who want to grow alongside the business, LCI works to create an environment where people can advance their careers while contributing to the company’s continued success.
Building Lancaster County’s Infrastructure and Economy
With Lancaster County continuing to experience growth, LCI plays a role in supporting the infrastructure and development needed to accommodate new residents, businesses, and investment.
Through its asphalt manufacturing, grading, and paving operations, the company contributes to projects that support transportation, commercial development, and the maintenance of existing roadways.
Will also recognizes that infrastructure projects often involve complex processes that extend well beyond the work taking place on a construction site. Environmental permitting, public bidding requirements, and unexpected safety concerns can all influence when projects begin and how quickly they progress.
For example, certain projects require environmental approvals from agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before construction can move forward. Public infrastructure projects may also be subject to bidding requirements and other regulatory procedures.
Understanding these processes helps provide context for the timelines associated with road construction and infrastructure improvements.
For Will, the work LCI performs is closely connected to the community’s long-term needs. Roads experience ongoing wear from traffic and weather, creating a continuing need for maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
As Lancaster County grows, that need creates opportunities for local construction companies and the skilled workers who support them.
Creating Career Opportunities for the Next Generation
One of the challenges Will sees across the construction industry is the need to attract and develop the next generation of skilled workers.
The industry experienced significant workforce disruptions following the 2008 housing market collapse, and years of emphasizing traditional four-year college pathways have also contributed to a gap in awareness about careers in the trades.
Will said he believes Lancaster County offers opportunities for individuals interested in a wide range of career paths, from agriculture and manufacturing to heavy equipment operation and infrastructure construction.
At LCI, employees who demonstrate a willingness to learn, work hard, and take on new responsibilities can find opportunities to advance within the company.
Promoting from within is an important part of LCI’s approach to workforce development. By helping employees gain experience and take on leadership responsibilities, the company creates pathways for individuals to build long-term careers without necessarily following a traditional college-to-career route.
For Will, the goal is to help people recognize the opportunities available in the skilled trades and understand that a construction career can offer professional growth, stability, and the chance to contribute to the community.
As Lancaster County continues to develop, those opportunities will remain important to the region’s workforce and economic future.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
For Will, being part of LCI means helping carry forward the company his mother, Kimberly Lineberger Thomas, founded more than 30 years ago while continuing to adapt to the needs of a growing region.
The company has evolved from a small operation into a significant regional construction business, but its commitment to family, communication, and long-term relationships remains central to its identity.
Through its work in asphalt manufacturing, grading, and paving, LCI is helping build and maintain the infrastructure that supports Lancaster County’s communities and businesses. And through its investment in employees, the company is creating opportunities for individuals to develop skills, advance their careers, and become part of a team that takes pride in its work.
According to Will, the future of LCI is about continuing to grow while staying true to the people and values that built the company. As Lancaster County moves forward, he and the LCI team will continue building the roads, supporting the development, and creating the career opportunities that help keep the community moving.
With 30 years of experience in the asphalt industry, Ricky Ard is helping build Lancaster County’s infrastructure while showing the next generation that a successful career doesn’t always begin in a classroom.
For Ricky Ard, Asphalt Plant Division Manager at LCI-Lineberger Construction, building roads is about more than asphalt and heavy equipment. It’s about building connections, supporting communities, and creating opportunities for people to develop rewarding careers close to home.
With three decades of experience in the asphalt and heavy civil infrastructure industry, Ricky has spent his career working his way through the ranks, gaining hands-on experience and developing the knowledge needed to lead manufacturing and production operations. In February 2024, he joined LCI to help establish and develop the company’s asphalt plant and manufacturing operations.
Today, Ricky plays an important role in overseeing the production side of LCI’s asphalt operations, helping ensure the materials and processes necessary for roadway construction are in place to support projects throughout the region.
For Ricky, the opportunity to help build something at LCI while contributing to the infrastructure that keeps communities moving has made his work especially meaningful.
A Career Built on Experience
Ricky’s journey into the asphalt industry began shortly after high school. Although he briefly attended college out of state, he quickly realized that a classroom setting wasn’t the right fit for him. After returning home, he took an entry-level job at an asphalt plant, just seven miles away, initially intending to earn a living and pay his bills.
What began as a practical decision turned into a 30-year career.
Working his way up through the industry, Ricky gained experience across different aspects of asphalt manufacturing and heavy civil construction. Over the years, he remained with the same operation through several changes in ownership, taking on new responsibilities and advancing into leadership.
His experience has shaped his belief that there is no single path to professional success.
While Ricky recognizes the value of formal education, he believes that a strong work ethic, a willingness to learn, and the right attitude can open doors to meaningful opportunities in the skilled trades.
For him, education extends beyond the classroom. Knowledge, practical experience, and the ability to apply what you’ve learned are what ultimately allow someone to grow and succeed in a career.
Building More Than Roads
After joining LCI in 2024, Ricky took on the opportunity to help build and develop the company’s asphalt manufacturing and production operations.
It’s a responsibility he approaches with pride, knowing that the work happening at the plant directly supports the infrastructure residents depend on every day.
Unlike many industries where products can be manufactured overseas and shipped around the world, road construction depends on local resources, skilled workers, and people who understand the communities they serve.
The roads built by the industry are used by everyone, including the very employees responsible for constructing them and their families. For Ricky, that connection makes the work personal.
Every roadway project represents an opportunity to contribute to the safety, connectivity, and continued development of the community. As Lancaster County grows, the need for dependable infrastructure creates opportunities for skilled professionals to play a direct role in shaping the area’s future.
Ricky takes pride in knowing that the work his team produces helps connect neighborhoods, support businesses, and keep residents moving throughout the region.
Showing the Next Generation What’s Possible
One of the messages Ricky feels strongly about sharing is that a four-year college degree isn’t the only way to build a successful, financially secure future.
For years, students have often been encouraged to view college as the primary path to a good career. Ricky believes it’s equally important for young people and their families to understand the opportunities available through technical education, career centers, apprenticeships, and hands-on training.
His own experience is an example of how an entry-level position can develop into a long-term career with opportunities for advancement, leadership, and financial stability.
In the asphalt and heavy civil construction industries, employees can gain valuable skills while working in the field, learning from experienced professionals, and taking on greater responsibilities over time.
Ricky also emphasizes that introducing students to these opportunities before graduation is essential. Career and technical education programs can help students explore skilled trades, develop practical skills, and understand the range of career options available to them.
He believes parents are an important part of that conversation. When families understand the earning potential, stability, and growth opportunities available in the trades, students can make more informed decisions about their futures.
According to Ricky, success isn’t defined by a diploma alone. It’s demonstrated through character, a willingness to work, the ability to learn, and what someone can accomplish.
A Company That Invests in Its People
Since joining LCI, Ricky has developed a strong appreciation for the company’s approach to its employees and its commitment to building lasting careers.
He describes LCI as a place where people are treated like family and where the focus extends beyond short-term business goals to the long-term success and well-being of employees.
That culture is particularly meaningful in an industry where teamwork, trust, and experience are essential to getting the job done.
For Ricky, being part of a company that values its people makes the work more rewarding and reinforces his pride in the organization he represents.
As Lancaster County continues to grow, Ricky sees opportunities for both experienced professionals and those just beginning their careers to contribute to the area’s future.
His own journey, from an entry-level asphalt plant position to leading manufacturing operations, reflects the possibilities available to those willing to learn, work hard, and pursue opportunities as they arise.
Through his leadership at LCI, Ricky is helping build the infrastructure Lancaster County depends on while encouraging the next generation to discover the possibilities of a career in the skilled trades.
At LCI-Lineberger Construction, Rusty O’Neal-Roberts is helping build the roads that keep Lancaster County moving, one carefully designed asphalt mix at a time.
For Rusty O’Neal-Roberts, Quality Control Manager at LCI-Lineberger Construction, no two workdays look exactly alike.
Whether he’s managing the Quality Control Program for the company, troubleshooting mix designs, or working alongside paving crews in the field, his focus remains the same: delivering quality roads that Lancaster County residents can depend on for years to come.
With more than a year and a half at LCI, Rusty heads up the company’s Quality Control process, which includes the testing lab located at the asphalt plant. His work takes him between the plant and active job sites, where he provides technical support, helps resolve challenges, and works directly with field crews throughout the paving process.
“I never really know what the day is going to look like,” is a sentiment that captures Rusty’s approach to a role that is as hands-on as it is technical.
That variety is part of what makes the work rewarding. From troubleshooting asphalt mix designs to checking in on crews working in the South Carolina heat, Rusty understands that successful projects depend on; both the quality of the materials and the people behind the work.
A Family Atmosphere That Makes the Difference
Rusty’s path into the asphalt industry was somewhat unexpected. With encouragement from a family connection already working in quality control, he found himself entering an industry that would eventually become his career.
Today, one of the things he appreciates most about LCI is the company’s close-knit, family-oriented environment.
He describes a workplace where employees communicate regularly, support one another, and work together to get the job done. That sense of camaraderie has made a lasting impression on Rusty, who commutes approximately an hour and a half each way from Columbia to Lancaster County.
Despite the distance, the relationships he has built at LCI make the commute worthwhile.
According to Rusty, the company’s culture is about more than completing projects. It’s about working alongside people who care about one another and take pride in what they do.
Building Roads That Last
Spending much of his workweek traveling between project sites throughout Lancaster County, Rusty has a firsthand perspective on the area’s continued growth.
As more families and businesses call Lancaster County home, the need for dependable infrastructure continues to grow. Roads connect neighborhoods, support businesses, and help residents get where they need to go. For Rusty, helping meet those needs is an opportunity to make a meaningful, lasting contribution to the community.
That responsibility is especially important in his approach to quality control.
Rusty places quality above all else, recognizing that the decisions made during construction can affect how roads perform for decades. He emphasizes this philosophy with his technicians, encouraging them to maintain high standards and consider the long-term impact of their work.
His goal is to help deliver roads that can last 20 to 30 years when properly designed, constructed, and maintained, reducing the need for premature repairs and helping protect taxpayer investments.
One example is roadway reclamation, a process that involves restoring an existing road down to its underlying base before rebuilding and repaving it. These projects can give aging roads a renewed foundation and a smoother, more stable surface for the communities that rely on them.
For Rusty, quality paving is about more than the finished product. It’s about creating safer, more comfortable roads and helping neighborhoods maintain a sense of pride in where they live.
Growing Alongside Lancaster County
As Lancaster County continues to develop, Rusty sees opportunities for people to establish careers in industries that directly support the community’s growth.
Through his work at LCI, he is able to contribute to infrastructure projects that will serve residents for years to come while continuing to develop his own skills and experience in the construction industry.
Although Rusty and his wife remain rooted in the Columbia-area community of Pelion, where she works locally, he has developed a strong appreciation for Lancaster County and the people he works alongside every day.
When asked about his future with LCI, Rusty expressed gratitude for the opportunities and support he has received, along with a desire to continue contributing to the company’s work.
Rusty said being part of LCI means being part of a team that takes pride in its work and cares about the communities it serves.
And as Lancaster County continues to grow, he will remain focused on helping build the roads that connect its people, support its neighborhoods, and keep its future moving forward.
From Packaging Operator to Team Lead: Ladazia Miller’s Nine-Year Journey at Nutramax
For Ladazia Miller, building a career in Lancaster County has meant growing alongside a company she considers family.
Ladazia has been part of the Nutramax team for nine years. She began her career with the company as a packaging operator and, through hard work, dedication and the support of those around her, worked her way into her current role as a Packaging Team Lead.
Today, Ladazia arrives at Nutramax at 6:45 each morning, before her team begins its day, to prepare for the work ahead and help make sure everything runs smoothly. As a team lead, she oversees five first-shift employees and plays an important role in keeping her team on track.
Looking back on her journey from packaging operator to team lead, Ladazia describes it simply: “It was a lot of hard work and dedication.”
But she also credits the people who helped her along the way.
“Having a great team ahead of me and a good supervisor who was willing to show me and teach me everything I needed to know,” she said.
That sense of support and connection is something Ladazia continues to value in her work today. When asked what she enjoys most about working at Nutramax, she points to the “fellowship and the friendly environment.”
“Everyone is family here,” she said.
For Ladazia, that family-oriented culture is one of the things that makes Nutramax stand out. She says there is a level of comfort and friendliness throughout the workplace, even something as simple as walking past a coworker who makes you feel welcome can make a difference.
“It’s just a loving company,” she said.
Ladazia’s connection to Lancaster County runs even deeper. Born and raised in the county, she has built both her life and her career right here at home.
She believes having growing companies like Nutramax in Lancaster County gives residents the opportunity to build meaningful careers without having to leave the community they call home.
“Having a great and growing company right here at home where you can work and worship the Lord right under the same roof,” she said, is one of the things that makes Lancaster County special.
That connection to the community extends beyond Nutramax’s employees. Ladazia also appreciates the company’s efforts to bring local and small businesses into the facility, giving employees opportunities to support and enjoy businesses from the community, including local favorites like Golden Whisk.
For Ladazia, working at Nutramax represents more than simply having a job close to home. It is an opportunity to grow, build relationships, learn from others and be part of a company that feels like family.
And after nine years, she is still building her career right here in Lancaster County.
From Lancaster County to the World: Caleb Blackmon Finds Purpose on the Manufacturing Floor
For Caleb Blackmon, working in manufacturing at Nutramax is about more than the products being made on the production floor. It is about teamwork, taking pride in the work and seeing firsthand how something made right here in Lancaster County can reach people, and pets, across the country and around the world.
Caleb has worked with Nutramax for a total of three years, serving as both a Manufacturing Operator and Coating Operator. The two roles go hand-in-hand as part of the company’s manufacturing and production process.
While Caleb initially left Nutramax to pursue a career change, he eventually found his way back to the company, in large part because of its core values.
Today, his work is highly collaborative. Caleb typically works alongside one to three other employees while carrying out the physical processes involved in manufacturing.
On the manufacturing floor, he says teamwork, trust and communication are essential.
“Teamwork, trust and communication is probably the top qualities you have to have on the manufacturing floor,” Caleb said.
While the teams and partners he works with can change from time to time, Caleb often works alongside many of the same people, building the relationships and trust that help keep the production process moving.
But what Caleb enjoys most about his work is the reach it provides.
He recently had the opportunity to participate in Nutramax’s annual fishing trip in Louisiana, where he met several of the company’s sales managers from across the country. The experience gave him a new perspective on the products he helps manufacture every day in Lancaster.
The sales managers shared stories about their experiences visiting veterinary clinics and seeing the products in use, products that Caleb and his coworkers help manufacture right here at the Nutramax facility.
“It makes me feel like we can help everyone,” Caleb said.
For Caleb, that connection between the work happening on the manufacturing floor and the people ultimately using those products is what makes his job fulfilling.
“The processes and everything that we make here and do at Nutramax, just seeing how it reaches out across the country and the world is something that is fulfilling to me,” he said.
Caleb is also a Lancaster County native and continues to live in the community today. For him, one of the things that makes Lancaster County a great place to live, raise a family and build a career is its balance.
“I think because it has a little bit of everything for everyone,” he said.
Lancaster County offers proximity to larger cities like Charlotte and Columbia for those looking for a more urban experience, while still maintaining the small-town, personal feel that Caleb values.
“You’re close to Charlotte and Columbia if you want the city, but then you have the small town, personal, feeling from the people who live and work in Lancaster County,” he said.
That balance, between opportunity and community, is part of what has allowed Caleb to build his career close to home.
At Nutramax, Caleb says employees are encouraged to “think and act like an owner,” a leadership philosophy that reflects the level of responsibility and pride the company expects from its team.
For Caleb, that means taking ownership of the work he does and understanding that every step in the manufacturing process matters. From safety to processes and everything in between, he says Nutramax consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the work is done the right way.
Three years into his career at Nutramax, Caleb has found that manufacturing can offer something much bigger than what happens inside the walls of a facility. The work starts in Lancaster County, but its impact reaches far beyond it.
For him, that's what makes being part of the Nutramax team so rewarding: knowing that the work he and his coworkers do every day can make a difference well beyond their own community.
There’s No Place Like Home: Derek Watson Finds Community and Opportunity at Nutramax
After nearly a decade at Nutramax, Derek Watson has found something that can be difficult to put a price on: a career he enjoys, coworkers he considers friends and a workplace just minutes from home.
Derek has worked at Nutramax for almost 10 years as a Packaging Operator. During that time, he has seen the company grow and has experienced that growth himself, moving from the company’s 903 location to its Business Park location three to four years ago.
The transition was an easy one, and today Derek works as part of a six- to seven-person crew on Line 4. Together, the team works through the production process from start to finish, relying on one another throughout the day.
For Derek, the people are one of the best parts of the job.
“I’m a people person,” he said.
That personality makes the relationships he has built with his coworkers an important part of his experience at Nutramax.
“It’s been great working here for the last 10 years of my life,” Derek said.
But his appreciation for Lancaster County goes beyond his workplace.
Derek calls Lancaster County home and has had the opportunity to travel extensively for leisure, visiting places around the country and the world. But after seeing so much of the world, his perspective on home has only grown stronger.
“There is no one around the world quite like the people here in Lancaster County,” he said.
For Derek, that difference comes down to two things: hospitality and Southern charm.
“There’s just nowhere like it that I’ve seen,” he said.
After traveling to so many different places, Derek says Lancaster County continues to stand out.
“Of all the places I’ve been, there’s no place like home.”
That same sense of appreciation is something Derek experiences at Nutramax. He says the company makes an effort to recognize and appreciate its employees, from bringing in meals to creating an environment where employees feel valued.
“They do a lot of things here to inspire their employees,” Derek said. “They bring us in meals, make us feel appreciated.”
Before joining Nutramax, Derek spent 21 years working for another company in Charlotte. The contrast between the two experiences is something he notices.
“I worked at another company in Charlotte for 21 years, and I’ll tell you that Nutramax treats their employees way better,” he said, pointing to the company’s employee experience and benefits as two areas where he sees a significant difference.
There is also a practical benefit to building a career close to home.
When Derek worked in Charlotte, his commute could take an hour each way, two hours of his day spent traveling to and from work.
Today, his commute to Nutramax is only about 15 to 20 minutes.
That extra time at home, combined with a job and workplace he enjoys, has made a meaningful difference in Derek’s life.
“When I worked in Charlotte, it was a one-hour drive one way there, and another hour drive back home,” he said. “So, with Nutramax, it’s close to home, 15 to 20 minutes. The job itself is better, the company is better, and you can’t ask more than that.”
For Derek, building a career in Lancaster County is ultimately about more than a short commute. It is about finding a place where he enjoys the people around him, feels appreciated for the work he does and can build a life close to home.
Nearly 10 years after joining Nutramax, Derek has found that sometimes the best opportunities are the ones that allow you to stay right where you belong.
30 Years of Growth: How Mico Adzic Helped Build Nutramax in Lancaster County
When Mico Adzic looks back at his 30 years with Nutramax, he can remember a time when the company had just 11 employees.
Today, Nutramax has grown to approximately 900 employees companywide, with around 300 employees working in manufacturing across its two Lancaster County facilities.
Mico has been there for nearly every step of that journey.
Originally from Europe, Mico joined Nutramax at the very beginning of the company's story. Dr. Bob Henderson hired him when Nutramax operated out of its first office in Maryland. As the company continued to grow, Mico eventually made the move to Lancaster County with Nutramax in 2010.
He remembers watching the company evolve year after year.
“Year after year, I saw many, many things happening for the company,” Mico said.
As Nutramax continued to grow, the company needed additional space and resources to expand its operations. After looking at its options, the company ultimately found its next home in Lancaster County.
“As the company was growing, we needed more space. We started looking and God led us down here to Lancaster, South Carolina,” Mico said.
The move represented a major transition for Nutramax and the employees who had helped build the company in Maryland. Some employees chose to make the move to South Carolina, including Mico. Before the physical move took place, Nutramax employees traveled to Lancaster County to interview and hire members of the new workforce.
Year after year, that workforce continued to grow.
What began with approximately 11 employees in Maryland three decades ago has become a company of roughly 900 people, with hundreds of those employees working in manufacturing right here in Lancaster County.
And Mico has experienced that growth not only as a leader, but as someone who started on the manufacturing floor himself.
Thirty years ago, Mico was an operator working alongside Dr. Bob Henderson, Todd Henderson and Troy Henderson as the company took shape.
Today, he serves as Nutramax's Vice President of Manufacturing.
His career is a reflection of the opportunities he believes Nutramax provides to its employees.
“From being an operator to being the Vice President obviously it took some time, but there is a chance for everybody,” Mico said. “If you work hard you have many opportunities here.”
That philosophy continues to shape the way Mico approaches leadership. With three manufacturing shifts operating at Nutramax, he works alongside plant managers, shift managers and operators throughout the organization.
Mico says he has been fortunate to work with skilled employees and strives to make himself available to them as a mentor and resource.
For him, leadership is not simply about managing people. It is about serving them, helping them develop and carrying forward the vision that helped shape Nutramax from the beginning.
That vision includes a strong emphasis on science, safety, quality and innovation.
Nutramax products are sold throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, and the company has continued to introduce new products throughout its history. Mico points to Nutramax's commitment to scientific research as one of the things that makes the company unique.
The company operates research and development capabilities that allow its products to be studied and evaluated scientifically, including laboratory work focused on understanding how products perform at the cellular level.
For Mico, that scientific foundation is part of the company's commitment to producing quality products for its customers.
But as much as Nutramax has grown, Mico says one thing has remained consistent: its focus on people.
From the beginning, Dr. Bob Henderson emphasized the importance of taking care of employees, prioritizing safety and quality, and remaining committed to innovation.
Those values have stayed with Mico throughout his three decades with the company.
He also points to the company's community involvement as another important part of what makes Nutramax special.
Mico describes himself as someone who genuinely enjoys working with people, and that people-first mindset is something he carries into his leadership at Nutramax. After 30 years with the company, he takes pride in serving and supporting the employees he works alongside, while also finding ways for Nutramax to make a difference beyond the workplace.
That commitment to service extends into Nutramax's annual mission trip to the Dominican Republic, where employees have the opportunity to volunteer in local communities. Mico explained that participating employees do not have to use vacation time or pay for the trip themselves. Instead, they can spend their time serving others through projects such as helping paint schools and working alongside members of the local community.
Nutramax has also supported efforts to bring clean water to communities in Africa.
For Mico, those efforts represent something larger than corporate giving. They are an opportunity for employees to use their time and talents to help people they may never meet otherwise.
He believes sharing those stories should not simply be about highlighting what Nutramax has done. Instead, he hopes they encourage other businesses and individuals to find ways to serve their own communities.
After 30 years, Mico knows that his story is not unique.
He is quick to point out that he is just one of many long-term Nutramax employees. Others have spent 25, 15 or more years with the company, building their own careers and contributing to its growth.
For Mico, that longevity says something important about the culture Nutramax has built.
When people ask him why he has stayed with the company for 30 years, he often thinks back to the early days, the memories shared with the people who helped build Nutramax and the relationships that formed along the way.
Back then, he says, it felt like a family.
And three decades later, that feeling remains.
“So, Nutramax for me feels like a family,” Mico said. “Coming here to work even 30 years later it still feels like a family. It’s almost like coming to work is like you’re coming home.”
For Mico, the story of Nutramax is ultimately a story of people, the people who took a chance on a growing company, the people who moved to Lancaster County, the people who joined along the way and the people who have spent decades helping build what Nutramax is today.
His own journey, from one of the company's first employees in Maryland to Vice President of Manufacturing in Lancaster County, is one example of what can happen when people have the opportunity to grow alongside a company.
Thirty years later, Mico is still here, still serving his employees, still helping build the company and still coming to work at a place he considers family.
For Teon Robertson, Lancaster County isn't just where he works. It's home.
Born and raised in Lancaster, Teon has spent his life watching the community change and has spent the past seven years growing his career at Cooley Group.
Today, Teon serves as an Inline Compound Lead, helping produce the initial material that is used throughout Cooley’s manufacturing process. But his current role is just one chapter in his Cooley story. Before the company introduced its inline compounding process, Teon worked in several different roles on the manufacturing floor, gaining experience along the way and continuing to learn.
His advice to anyone looking to grow at Cooley is simple:
| “There is a lot of opportunity to grow here. As long as you want to learn and are willing to listen and pay attention, you can learn a lot of stuff and move around.”
For Teon, growth isn't just about learning a new position. It's also about being part of a team where employees have a voice.
He enjoys troubleshooting challenges with his coworkers and finding solutions together. And when decisions are being made, he says employees aren't simply left out on the floor, they're brought into the conversation.
| “They want our opinions in the decision-making processes,” Teon shared, describing Cooley’s culture as very much an “open-door policy.”
That sense of community extends beyond the work itself. Teon says that after spending so much of his life, and so many of his days, around the people at Cooley, his coworkers have become like “aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters” to him.
And as someone who has called Lancaster home his entire life, Teon has a unique perspective on where this community has been, and where it is going.
He remembers the challenges Lancaster faced following the decline of the textile industry and the closure of Springs Industries. But he has also watched new opportunities emerge and businesses invest in the community again.
For Teon, companies like Cooley Group represent more than jobs.
| “With companies like Cooley Group coming around, it's giving people hope.”
Lancaster is home. And the people who live, work and grow here are helping build its future.
What happens when a leader's job is to make sure the people around him have everything they need to succeed?
For Charles Wingate III, it means showing up for his team whenever they need him.
Charles has spent 22 years working in maintenance and the past two years as the Facilities Engineering Manager at Cooley Group, where he leads a team of roughly 10 maintenance professionals.
His approach to leadership is simple:
| “My job as a manager and leader is to provide my team with the tools they need to best do their job.”
At Cooley, maintenance is a job that doesn't always fit neatly into a 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. When an issue arises, Charles and his team work together to find a solution, and sometimes that means answering a call at 2:00 in the morning.
| “If you have a problem, call me.”
That commitment extends beyond the workplace. Charles says his team knows they can reach him outside of work when they need him, and after two years in his role, not a single member of his maintenance team has left.
For Charles, it's about more than managing a team. It's about building relationships.
| “When issues come up, we collaborate as a team.”
That same sense of connection is what drew Charles to Lancaster, and he says the community's “family feel” is one of the reasons he enjoys working here.
He also brings 14 years of military service with the Air Force Reserve to his life outside of Cooley, with six years of service remaining before he retires.
But perhaps the most fitting part of Charles' story is that, before joining Cooley, he didn't know what was happening behind the sign.
He used to drive past the Cooley Group sign in Lancaster on his way home. He saw the company but didn't know what they did or the opportunities that existed inside.
Now, he's one of the people helping build its future. And that's exactly why Charles believes it's important to tell these stories.
| “To get Cooley out there and let people know that Lancaster is a great place and Cooley is a great place to work at is important to show people the opportunities that are here.”
Lancaster County is home to businesses creating opportunities, and behind those businesses are people like Charles who are helping build something bigger than themselves.
For Chris Altman, growth isn't just something he talks about. He's lived it.
Chris has spent the past nine years at Cooley Group, where he currently serves as the Production Supervisor for Line 2, overseeing approximately 26 employees across four shifts.
When Chris first started at Cooley, he wasn't a supervisor. He started on the production floor, working his way from the back of Line 1 and eventually into the leadership role he holds today.
| “When I started 9 years ago, I was on the back of Line 1, moved to the front of Line 1, then jumped to Line 2, and worked my way up to where I am now.”
That experience is something Chris takes pride in. He has personally worked every job on the production floor, giving him firsthand knowledge of the work his employees do every day.
| “All of the jobs on the floor, I have personally ran myself. So, I can relate and help in a lot of ways.”
Today, Chris' responsibilities include quality control, staffing and making sure the products leaving the production line meet the standards Cooley promises to its customers. But what he enjoys most isn't necessarily the production itself, it's the people.
| “As a production supervisor, I enjoy dealing with the people, the conversations and the different personalities.”
Chris says understanding how different employees respond best allows him to help them become better at what they do.
And he's seen plenty of change during his nine years at Cooley.
After the disruption of COVID-19, production operations and staffing contracted. Over the past two to three years, Chris has watched Cooley steadily work toward rebuilding its 24/7 production capabilities. Today, Line 2 operates 24/7, and the company is working to bring Line 1 back to a full 24/7 operation as demand continues to grow.
| “The demand is there for 24/7 at the plant, so that's what we're shooting for in the next couple of months.”
For Chris, that growth represents more than an expanding operation. It represents opportunity for the company, for its employees and for the community around it.
| “There's a tremendous amount of growth opportunities here. As long as you can show initiative and that it's something you want, the opportunities are there.”
And when asked what he would consider Lancaster County's biggest selling point?
| “Growth would be my selling point for Lancaster County.”
For nine years, Chris has been part of that growth, learning the operation from the ground up, building his career and helping lead the people who keep Cooley Group moving forward.
Behind every product, process and production line are people who show up every day ready to learn, lead and help one another grow.
Meet Leo Murillo, Team Lead for Front of Line Extrusion at Cooley Group. For the past two years, Leo has brought his experience in the extrusion process to Cooley’s Lancaster operation, where he oversees a team of employees working on his line.
For Leo, one of the best parts of working at Cooley is the people. He appreciates the positive communication across the facility and the willingness of employees to learn from one another.
| “I like helping people. They're always willing to learn and I'm always willing to teach.”
Leo also sees opportunity for continued growth at Cooley and values a workplace where employees at every level feel seen and appreciated. He shared that when leadership visits the Lancaster facility, the CEO and CFO take the time to connect with employees and make them feel valued.
And when asked about the people he works alongside, Leo put it simply: “It feels like a small home.”
That sense of teamwork, mentorship and opportunity is what makes Lancaster County’s manufacturing community strong.
