Jason Fleener Realizes Dream Come True as Owner of W.F. Norman Sheet Metal Mfg. Co.
The W.F. Norman Sheet Metal Mfg. Co., in Nevada, Missouri, has been a fixture in this southwest area of the Show Me State for more than 125 years, and 15 months after Jason Fleener and his wife, Tammy, became the new owners, they are working to ensure its legacy remains as strong as ever.
As someone who had been a loyal, dedicated employee in this operation for more than two decades, Jason long desired of possibly one day having a chance to purchase the company.
“I had always dreamed of owning W.F. Norman,” Jason says. “That dream came true when Mark Quitno and his family decided to retire. I wanted to continue the business as a family-owned and operated organization. I have also included my wife, Tammy Fleener, and sister, Keri Yount, to assist in all the office duties.”
Even in just his early 20s, Jason already had this clear vision on future success. Recalling how it came together, he says, “My dream of ownership began when I was a young man. And when the Quitnos decided to retire, I was thrilled with the opportunity they provided to me.
“It was a mutual decision between the Quitnos and me to buy the company from them. I was pleased that they were willing to teach me all about the office work and bookkeeping. They guided me through all the ins and outs of ownership.”
Since he has been with the W.F. Norman family for nearly 25 years, Jason recognizes the company’s significance as an historic manufacturer of decorative stamped metal products, specializing in tin ceilings, cornices, moldings and ornaments, while using original machinery and construction methods from 1898.
“I started working here Nov. 24, 2003,” Jason says. “I’ve done several jobs throughout my career. I ran a drop press (hammer) for eight years. After that, I did a mixture of several things, which eventually led me to becoming the shop foreman. And I did that for several years before I transferred to the office.”
Jason had an eagerness and strong willingness to learn from the start and showed initiative, which provided the opportunities to fill various roles throughout his tenure.
“I became familiar with the machines and processes it took to make each product. I have always been on time and reliable. I would do anything that was needed and asked of me.”
W.F. Norman provides a wide range of nearly 150 ceiling patterns and more than 1,250 ornaments with a seemingly endless variety of options for custom work in materials such as copper, brass and zinc, while handling new construction and restoration projects.
Explaining broad-based aspects of this operation, Jason says, “We do a variety of things. We make temporary grave markers that are sold to funeral homes all over the country. We also stamp tin ceiling tiles, and several exterior components.
“Additionally, we produce many specialized products for a large variety of companies and produce a lot of custom jobs that we can identically match to our clients’ products.”
Longevity might be a big part of why there is such tremendous familiarity with W.F. Norman but when it comes to what brings so many customers here, a job well done prompts those who are satisfied with the finished work to spread the word.
Jason says, “A lot of people find out about us by word of mouth, although we do have social media (Facebook, Instagram and W.F. Norman website). By putting out the best quality products possible and having customers who are happy with our work helps us maintain a positive image.”
Brian Gillen of Golden City, Missouri, is one client who walked away pleased with the project W.F. Norman completed for The Goat Ranch in South Greenfield, Missouri. He says, “The quality and consistency of the product was exceptional. First and foremost, those tins are the real deal, and not some imitation from overseas.
“I took my wife with me to pick up the materials. She and Jason picked out the trim that would best compliment the tins as well as work in the setting we intended to use them. Jason then custom bent the trim to my exact specifications to make it work perfectly for me. It made it easy to install and resulted in a professionally finished product.
“Jason and the rest of his crew were great. Unfortunately, we were not able to use the product where we originally intended. But we were so impressed that we incorporated it into the event center in some fashion. I would expect that we will use their products again in the future as well.
“I admire the fact that they have been in continuous operation since the late 19th century without any layoffs,” Brian continues. “When we toured the factory, I was impressed by the fact they are still using many of the same machines and processes they’ve had from the beginning. These are quality products, made with pride right here in Missouri.”
While Jason is living out a dream come true, there are demanding details that come with overseeing it all. He says, “We only have three people in the office, including myself, my wife and my sister. I do most of the quotes for our customers. At times, we all three just get so busy with our customers. Along with that, we have many other routine office duties to perform as well.”
No matter what challenges there are from one day to the next, it’s a rewarding adventure Jason wouldn’t trade for the world.
He says, “The pride of seeing our customers receive top quality and beautifully handmade products makes it all worthwhile. We not only try to put out the finest quality and most unique products that are satisfactory to our customers, but we try to treat all our employees with respect and honesty.
“Our employees are hardworking people who are also proud of the products they help make. Without these dedicated employees, it would not be possible to keep up with the needs of filling so many orders.”
The W.F. Norman Sheet Metal Mfg. Co./Owner Jason Fleener Fast Facts
Family: Wife, Tammy Fleener, and two sons, Cole, 14 years old, and Cody, 13 years old
Hometown: Nevada, Missouri
High School Alma Mater/Year Graduated: Bronaugh (Missouri) High School/1998
Career Most of Adult Life: Various roles with W.F. Norman
Mentor/Influence in Your Life: Mark Quitno, previous W.F. Norman owner
W.F. Norman Physical Location: 214 N. Cedar, Nevada, Missouri
Phone Number: 417-667-5552
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wfnormancorp
Instagram: www.instagram.com/wfnormancorp/
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/wfnorman/_created/
