In 1957, John Polacek working for Bethlehem Steel and the father of nine was looking for a way to supplement his income. So he put a welding machine on the back of his pick-up truck and started Johnny's Welding.

When John Polacek passed away in 1987, his company had one employee, his son, Bill Polacek. Bill bought the company, which was located in a two-car garage, from his mother.

Since then Bill Polacek has led this small town company into the new millennium. Today JWF Industries has annual sales of more than $120 million, operates in facilities encompassing more than 500,000 square feet, and employs more than 700 employees in six locations, five of which are in Johnstown and the other in Baltimore.