Chamber of Commerce Chairman Steve Gordon presents Trista Roel of Pride Metals with Small Business of the Year Award.

Story by Joycelyne Fadojutimi

Pride Metals were named Small Business of the Year at the recent Longview Chamber of Commerce Small Business Solutions Luncheon.

Pride Metals is a certified woman-owned steel service center that provides carbon, alloy, and stainless bars to machine shops, manufacturers, and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across North America. Hence, they collaborate with machine shops, OEMs, and manufacturers within several industries in North America.

In a business where time is of the essence, Pride Metals has a market differentiation – they own their own fleet of trucks. As a result, they provide their clients with the highest quality material, right on time. This time factor enables their customers to do business confidently and effortlessly with them.

According to Pride Metals, their goal is to be a key component in their customers’ supply chain. Consequently, Pride Metals will be assisting them, their customers, to reach their maximum potential.

Trista Roel is the chief executive officer/owner of Pride Metals. This woman of steel is calm and gentle. It is no wonder others are cheering for her company’s success.

“The men in our industry are rooting for us to succeed,” she said. “The men who work at Pride Metals  have a great attitude and love working here and we strive to be a company that everyone wants to work for.”

On receiving her Chamber award, she informed the audience of her company’s expansion. “We have bought some land and are ready to expand,” she said. “We want to saturate other states with steel.”

She was thrilled for the award and recognition. “I love what I do. It is always fun. I enjoy my work,” she said. “And to be recognized for it, is a plus, thank you.”