History of Jones Metal Products
Mildred M. Jones founded Jones Metal Products in 1942 and the Company remains woman owned today. As a fixture on the Mankato Minnesota business landscape, Jones Metal Products is recognized for longstanding, strong community involvement and support.
Jones' husband, Cecil H. Jones was a local inventor and successful entrepreneur who owned KATO Engineering (now a division of Emerson) and founded Katolight Corporation in 1952 (now MTU Onsite Energy/division of Tognum). Mildred started Jones Sheet Metal and Roofing Company in 1942 to support KATO Engineering and also to provide roofing services to the local community. Through the years Cecil Jones patented numerous inventions/products that the employees at Jones helped design and create.
In the late 1950's the roofing side of the business was dropped in favor of concentrating on metal fabrication. At that time Jones Metal Products was supplying fabricated parts to both KATO Engineering and Katolight Corporation as well as local farmers and individuals. By 1960 the Company had expanded fabrication services to other regional businesses in many industries.
Jones Metal Products now serves the power generation, nuclear power generation, agricultural and heavy construction equipment industries and are a second tier supplier to the US Military and many other fascinating companies. Client relationships are mostly long-term and Jones Metal Products components can be found all around the globe.
The family owned, Jones Metal Products currently employs 135 people, an all time high. Areas of growth include Welding, Robotic Welding, CNC Machining, CNC Operators, Maintenance, Sales, Quality, Engineering and Support Services.
The employees and talents they all bring, make Jones Metal Products a great place to work! The nature of the business is challenging but we rise to the occasion, our brand promise is Solutions, Service, Satisfaction.
Family Involvement
Mildred Page Jones, founder of Jones Metal Products in 1942 served on the company board. Marcia Jones Richards, Mildred's daughter served on the board from 1999-2011, as board chair from 2008-2011 and as interim president in 2009. Marcia's daughter, Sarah Richards joined the business in 2008 and currently serves as president and CEO. Marcia's son David Richards joined the business in 1993 and currently serves as purchasing manager. While Marcia's daughter Jessica Richards-Palmquist currently serves as an owner and board member for Jones Metal Products and as the administrator of the family foundation: Page Jones Richards Family Foundation. Jones Metal Products is now owned by Jessica Richards-Palmquist, Sarah Richards, and David Richards.
Community Involvement
Jones Metal Products encourages employees to be involved in their communities and participate with the Company through opportunities to provide "in-kind" donations of design services, labor and materials. This year some feature projects include the Tape Maze for the Southern MN Children's Museum and the stainless mounting plates for the Mankato Sculpture Walk (38 sculptures).The Company participates in local events and fundraising opportunities year round and the owners are very involved on local Boards, in fundraising and other supporting roles.
In addition, the Richards family has a foundation, the Page Jones Richards Family Foundation that has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the following organizations since 2002:
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Blue Earth County Fair Blue Earth County Historical Society *** Boy Scouts of America CADA Camp Patterson Cannon Falls Area Historical Society *** Cannon Falls Education Foundation Cannon Falls Library Foundation Cannon Valley Fair Cannon Valley Youth Orchestra Children's Museum of Southern MN Colorado State University Colorado State University Foundation Dakota County Tech College Fdn First Presbyterian Church Friends of KUNC Friends of the Gardens Glenwood Cemetery Greater Mankato Area United Way Habitat for Humanity-Mankato Habitat for Humanity-Re-Store Humane Society Renville/Sibley KMSU Lake Crystal ISD 2071 Lake Crystal Public Library Lake Crystal Recreation Center Lake Crystal Volunteer Fire Dept. Lake Crystal, City of |
Larimer Chorale LCWM Athletic Booster Club/ECFE Maltby Family Nature Preserve Mankato Area Foundation Mankato Area Hockey Association Mankato Area ISD 77 Mankato Area Salvation Army Mankato Ballet Company Mankato Kiwanis Foundation Mankato Lutheran Homes Mankato Rehabilitation Center, Inc. Mankato Sober School Mankato Symphony Orchestra Mankato YWCA Minnesota Gymanfu Ganu Association Poudre High School Rocky Mountain Youth Orchestra Assn Salvation Army South Central Technical College Southern MN Initiative Foundation Tavelli Elementary School The Volunteer Center Theresa House Tivelli Elementary School University of North Dakota Foundation Volunteer Center Young Men's Christian Association Youth Orchestra of the Rockies |
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