Meet the Pennex team

As the second generation to lead MX Holdings, Mike Lefton has been with the company for the entirety of his career. In 1984 he started his career as a scrap buyer at Pennex Aluminum. Over the years, he has held a variety of key leadership roles, including Trader for Metal Exchange, leading the RSI/Dross business unit, and overseeing the Transportation/Logistics department. In 1998, Mike led the development of the company’s proprietary trading software, which is still in use today. After serving as CEO from 2010 to 2017, Mike transitioned to Executive Chairman, where he works alongside the CEO to set the company’s strategic direction and preside over the board of directors. ​

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from Washington University. He is actively involved in the community, currently serving as Board President for Variety the Children's Charity of St. Louis and on the boards of Barnes Jewish Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, and the St. Louis Men's Group Against Cancer. ​

One of Mike’s favorite volunteer experiences is Variety’s Bikes for Kids program, where the Metal Exchange team builds bicycles for children with disabilities. He takes great pride in MX Holdings’ commitment to being people-focused and purpose-driven, ensuring that the company makes a positive impact on both its employees and the community. ​

Outside of work, Mike enjoys ice hockey, skiing, golf, traveling, and spending time with his family. His go-to karaoke song is “New York, New York,” and his favorite use of aluminum is sitting on an ice-cold bleacher seat while watching a hockey game.

Since joining MX Holdings in 2016, Matt Rohm has served in several key leadership roles, including Chief Financial Officer (2016-2021) and Chief Operating Officer (2022), before being named Chief Executive Officer in 2023. In his current role, Matt is responsible for serving the needs of over 700 employees across Metal Exchange, Pennex, and MX Holdings, ensuring the company’s continued success and growth. ​

Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to joining MX Holdings, Matt served in leadership positions at companies that include Energizer Holdings, Sun Edison, and Anheuser-Busch, where he served for 11 years, including 9 years supporting Metal Container Corporation and leading beverage can sheet procurement.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, he serves as a board member for the Missouri Humane Society and is an Advisory Board Member for Live Inspired by John O'Leary. He encourages all MX holdings employees to get involved in the community, and one of his favorite volunteer experiences while at the company was being involved with the STL Cardinal Toys drive for BJC Children's Hospital. ​​

When it comes to MX Holdings, Matt takes pride in the company’s people, values, and culture. Outside of work, he enjoys walking his four dogs, golfing, cooking (particularly grilling and using his Blackstone), attending concerts, and, on occasion, singing his go-to karaoke song, "Pink Houses" by John Mellencamp. As for his favorite use of aluminum? Cans for cold beverages, of course!

Mark Butterfield joined MX Holdings in 2022 and currently serves as President of Manufacturing, overseeing end-to-end manufacturing operations, including casting, extrusion, fabrication, and assembly. He also leads the strategic pillars of safety, talent development, business development, financial and risk management, innovation, and operational excellence across MX Holdings’ manufacturing facilities.

Mark studied Mechanical Engineering at Miami University before starting his career as a CAD Operator, working in various technical roles before advancing to VP of Engineering at Magnode Corp. He later transitioned into operations and management, where he oversaw multi-site, vertically integrated plants focused on casting, extrusion, fabrication, and assembly. Before joining MX Holdings, he served as Managing Director of Aluminum at Shape Corp.

Mark is actively involved as a leader in the aluminum industry. He currently serves as Chairman of the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) and Co-Chairman of the ET Foundation. He has also held leadership roles such as Chairman of the Automotive Committee at AEC and has contributed as an editor for Light Metal Age.

What Mark values most about MX Holdings is the company’s commitment to its core values—Safety, Integrity, Caring, and Growth—and the genuine focus on developing people and community support. One of his favorite volunteer experiences at MX Holdings has been serving meals alongside company leadership.​

Outside of work, Mark enjoys contributing to his family’s seventh-generation working farm and spending time with family and friends. His favorite use of aluminum is knowing that his friends and family are safer on the roads due to Pennex products, such as bumpers and crush cans, which enhance road safety by providing crash absorption and protection in vehicles.

Dave McCoy has been with MX Holdings since 2016 and currently serves as CFO of Manufacturing. In this role, he leads leads all finance, accounting, and treasury activities for MX Holdings’s manufacturing businesses. Before this, Dave held various leadership roles within MX Holdings, including, VP of Finance, and Director of FP&A. His experience also includes key financial and leadership positions at SunEdison, Express Scripts, and Home Decorators Collection, a subsidiary of Home Depot.

Dave holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Belmont University and an MBA in Finance and International Business from Saint Louis University. His achievements include being named MX Holdings’ Growth Champion in 2019 and earning a Green Belt in Operational Excellence. In addition to his professional work, Dave is actively involved in community service, with one of his favorite volunteer experiences being with the Nashville Rescue Mission.

Outside of work, Dave enjoys golfing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with his family. His go-to karaoke song is “Country Roads” by John Denver, and after working extensively in the manufacturing industry, he’s come to appreciate the complex applications of aluminum in automotive parts.

Stuart Craig has been with Pennex since 2016 and currently serves as General Manager of the Wellsville Extruded Products Business Unit. In this role, Stuart oversees the organization and teams, manages the unit’s P&L, and leads strategic and long-range planning to drive growth.​​

Stuart began his career in 1993 as a head stretcher on an extrusion press. By 1998, he became an Extrusion Supervisor and was later promoted to Extrusion Manager, overseeing operations at three different facilities over the next nine years. In 2013, he was promoted to Plant Manager at an extrusion plant before joining Pennex in 2016 as Operations Manager in Leetonia, Ohio. In 2019, he was promoted to General Manager for Cast Products, and in early 2022, he transitioned to his current role as General Manager of Wellsville Extruded Products.​​

Stuart holds an Associate Degree in Computer Information Management from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Pittsburgh, PA. He is also SafeStart Certified, a Six Sigma Green Belt from Villanova University, and has completed several leadership training programs.​​

Stuart values MX Holdings' commitment to safety, noting that the company truly supports its teams from top to bottom in ensuring a safe work environment. He also appreciates the collaborative nature across the various business units, where teams help each other whenever needed.​​

Outside of work, Stuart and his wife are enjoying the "Empty Nest" phase of their lives, traveling and exploring new places. He enjoys hunting, fishing, foraging in the woodlands, and playing disc golf to stay active. While Stuart prefers to watch karaoke rather than sing, he’s always happy to point out aluminum extrusions in everyday items like window frames, truck bodies, and decking rails.​​

Craig Zotkovich joined Pennex in 2023 as Director of Sales for the Automotive sector, where he is responsible for driving profitable sales growth within the automotive industry. With a focus on building strong relationships and expanding market opportunities, Craig brings extensive experience to his role.​​ Although Craig is new to Pennex, he appreciates the company’s guiding principles, which are clearly identified and followed throughout the organization.​​

Before joining Pennex, Craig held progressively senior roles in the aluminum extrusion industry, including Account Manager, Senior Account Manager, Sales Manager, and Director of Sales in the automotive sector. His experience in these roles has given him a deep understanding of the industry and the ability to lead successful sales strategies. Craig is also a member of the AEC Automotive Team.​​

Craig holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University.​​

Outside of work, Craig enjoys spending time with his family, boating, skiing, and playing the occasional round of golf.  Craig particularly appreciates the aluminum extrusions used in the structure of his pontoon boat.​​

Drew Ryan has been with Pennex since 2012 and serves as Director of Sales for Commercial Products. In this role, Drew manages the sales of lineals and fabricated extrusions for customers in the Building and Construction, Transportation, Machinery and Equipment, Distribution, Electrical, and Consumer Durable markets. His focus is on growing existing customer relationships while developing new business opportunities in strategic markets.​​

Throughout his career at Pennex, Drew has held several leadership positions, including Regional Sales Manager, Manager of Fabrication Sales, National Sales Manager, Director of Sales, and Vice President of Sales. Among his achievements, Drew was honored with the Supplier of the Year Award from Extreme Trailer in 2023 and successfully navigated 40 years in sales.​​

Drew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Criminal Justice, and Pre-Law from Lycoming College, and an MBA from Hood College. He enjoys participating in local charity golf tournaments, which combine his love for golf with supporting the community.​​

What Drew values most about working at Pennex is the sincere commitment of his colleagues to the company’s core values—Safety, Integrity, Caring, and Growth.​​

Outside of work, Drew enjoys kayaking, golfing, and walking his two SheepaDoodles. His go-to karaoke song is Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash, and his favorite use of aluminum is the aluminum can and bottle.

Charles Slayton joined Pennex in 2023 as Cast Products Plant Manager. His primary responsibilities focus on the safety and success of his team, ensuring they have the tools, training, and freedom to excel. Charles believes that supporting his team in this way leads to the overall success of the organization.​​

With over two decades of experience, Charles has held roles as Operations Manager and Plant Manager. He began his career as a Machinist before progressing to Engineering and Program Management. A turning point in his career was earning a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, which reshaped his approach to leadership and problem-solving. His leadership skills were initially developed during his time in the US Army, and later refined for civilian use.​​

Charles has received extensive training, including a BBA Program, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification, ACE Supplier Program, ITO University, Greenbelt Plus Lean, and Core Leadership Training. He is also trained in Investment Casting Operations.​​

Charles takes pride in the fact that his department is essentially a recycling operation, reclaiming around 100 million pounds of material each year. This reflects his belief in sustainability and the importance of giving materials new life.​​

Outside of work, Charles enjoys sailing for its slower pace, motorcycling, and spending time with his family. He is passionate about supporting veterans' services, especially housing and meal programs for displaced or struggling veterans.He loves building projects with his kids and experimenting with renewable energy, particularly using aluminum to create solar panel racks and solar heaters. While he doesn’t consider himself much of a singer, if pressed to get on a karaoke stage, he would choose Winds of Change by the Scorpions.​​

Shane Probst joined Pennex in 2024 as General Manager of Manufacturing Services. In this role, Shane leads a team of Directors responsible for safety, lean manufacturing, and equipment reliability across all Pennex facilities. He and his team are dedicated to initiating and implementing improvements that enhance safety, lean practices, and equipment performance. In his short time at the company, he has valued the family atmosphere and team-oriented approach at Pennex, which he finds crucial for effective problem-solving.

Shane holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a minor in Biology and before joining Pennex, Shane gained extensive experience in manufacturing and operations management. Holding roles such as Plant Manager, Program Manager, General Manager of Operations, and Director of Manufacturing. His diverse background has equipped him with the skills to drive continuous improvements and foster a collaborative work environment.

Outside of work, Shane enjoys archery, fishing, and landscaping. His go-to karaoke song is The Gambler by Kenny Rogers, and he’s proud of his iPhone, which consists of 24% aluminum!

Rick Bennett has been with Pennex since 1999 and currently serves as Plant Manager for the York Precision Engineered Products Plant. In his role, Rick ensures that the plant operates safely and profitably, overseeing all aspects of production.​​

Rick's career at Pennex began as a general labor temp. Over the years, he advanced through various roles, including machine setup operator, QA final inspector, extrusion foreman, and Production Control & Customer Service Manager. He also served as Product Launch Specialist and Inside Sales Manager before taking on his current role as Plant Manager.​​

Rick holds a high school diploma and is passionate about giving back to the community. One of his favorite volunteer experiences was participating in a 5K Race Against Racism to support the local YWCA.

What Rick enjoys most about working at Pennex is the people—dedicated team members who work hard to make the company the best it can be. Outside of work, Rick is an avid Halloween collector. His go-to karaoke song is The Gambler by Kenny Rogers, and his favorite use of aluminum is the tabletop of his weekend table saw, which is made entirely of aluminum.​

Elisabeth Twigger has been with Pennex since 2012 and currently serves as Casting Materials Manager. In her role, Elisabeth oversees metal material planning and inventory management for Pennex's cast houses, builds and maintains supplier relationships for raw materials, and assists with process improvements across all Pennex sites.​​

Elisabeth began her career as a Metal Buyer at Pennex before advancing to Metal Manager, where she also managed two scrap yards. She later transitioned into a Plant Manager role at Wellsville Cast Products before taking on her current position as Materials Manager for the Cast Houses. ​​

Outside of work, she enjoys going on adventures with her family and spending time with friends. While she's not a fan of karaoke, if forced to singing she would probably choose a 90's R&B song. Her favorite use of aluminum is foil—saving her from having to wash cookie sheets every day!​

Chris Anderson joined MX Holdings in 2023 as Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS). In this role, Chris is responsible for developing and executing the EHS strategy for MX Holdings and Pennex, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. He engages stakeholders across the organization to promote the MX Holdings core value of Safety and drives continuous improvement in overall EHS performance.​​

Before joining MX Holdings, Chris held several key EHS leadership roles, including Executive Global Director of Environmental, Health, Safety, and Security at Spirit Aerosystems, where he oversaw EHS efforts across 11 global locations. He also served as EHS and Training Manager for Kaiser Aluminum’s Flat Rolled Products Division, and earlier in his career, he discovered his passion for EHS while working at Genie Industries. A 10-year veteran of the United States Navy, Chris worked in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program, supporting operations on both an Aircraft Carrier and a Guided Missile Cruiser.​​

Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University and is nearing completion of his MBA from Newman University. He also holds certifications from The Ohio State University and the Thayer Leadership Development Group at West Point.​​

One of Chris’s favorite volunteer experiences was supporting The Brightside Group in Salem, OH, where he and his wife helped distribute toys, clothes, and food to underprivileged children. He values MX Holdings’ commitment to both profitability and the well-being of its employees and communities, which was a key factor in his decision to join the company.​​

Outside of work, Chris is an avid sports fan, particularly of Pittsburgh teams, and enjoys traveling with his wife. While he isn’t a fan of karaoke, when pushed, he’ll give his best Johnny Cash impression with “Ring of Fire.” His favorite use of aluminum? Unwrapping a Hershey Kiss with aluminum foil—likely made from MX Holdings metal!​​

John Watt has been with Pennex since 2013 and currently serves as Cast Products Sales Manager, where he oversees the sale of 223 million pounds of aluminum billet annually. John plays a vital role in communication between customers and the plant, ensuring smooth operations and customer satisfaction.​​

Before joining Pennex, John spent 15 years working with at-risk youth and five years as a shipping and receiving supervisor at Pennex. He has held his current position for the past six years.​​

John holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and has completed several training programs, including OSHA 30 and Safe Start training. He is also a participant in the Aluminum Association and holds a Front Line Leadership certificate.​​

One of John’s favorite volunteer experiences has been participating in the "Adopt the Highway" program in Greenville, PA, where his team picks up trash yearly to help keep their community clean. What John appreciates most about MX Holdings is the team-oriented philosophy and family atmosphere that runs from upper management down.​​

Outside of work, John enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it's hunting, fishing, hiking, or riding ATVs. His favorite day-to-day use of aluminum is his iPhone.

Jon Hedrick joined Pennex in 2023 as Director of Lean, where he provides strategic direction, teaching, and coaching for Lean principles and their implementation across the organization. His work focuses on fostering problem-solving processes for safety, quality, cost, flow and human development to ensure the root cause is addressed, all in pursuit of continuous improvement.​​

Jon’s career has included roles as Metallurgist, Quality Manager, Product Manager, and Lean Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgy/Materials Science Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Lean Manager Accreditation Certification, also from The Ohio State University.​​

One of Jon’s most rewarding experiences has been working with the Brightside project, where he enjoys helping surrounding communities in need. Seeing the excitement of the children and the gratitude of the parents has been a particularly fulfilling aspect of his volunteer work.​​

Jon is proud of the excitement and openness he has encountered when introducing Lean Principles at Pennex, where people are eager to learn and implement new methodologies in their Continuous Improvement journey.​​

Outside of work, Jon enjoys traveling, hunting, fishing, and cooking. While he isn’t fond of karaoke, if he had to choose a song, his best performance alongside a Plant Manager in Tokyo was We Are the Champions by Queen. As a metallurgist, Jon appreciates aluminum’s versatility, particularly in impact safety items like crush boxes, which play a key role in keeping people safe worldwide.​

Christopher Luba joined MX Holdings in 2021 and has played a key role in both Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) and Corporate Planning and Development. While in FP&A, Christopher helped create budgets, forecasts, and monthly variance reports for MX Manufacturing. In his current role, he leads financial modeling efforts for various strategic opportunities across MX Holdings.​​

Prior to joining MX Holdings, Christopher moved upward through FP&A divisions in other organizations. He started at MX Holdings as Manager of FP&A, focusing on the MX Manufacturing casting divisions, and has since been promoted to Senior Manager. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with Distinction from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, with majors in Economic Consulting and International Business, and a minor in Russian. He was also Indiana University's ACTR Russian Laureate for 2012-2013.​​

What Christopher enjoys most about working at MX Holdings is the dynamic team of hardworking individuals from diverse backgrounds. This, combined with MX Holdings' mission to be a leading aluminum recycler, producer, and trader, makes him proud to be part of the organization.​​

Outside of work, Christopher is passionate about all things music—playing, listening, and learning—as well as art and history. He and his wife enjoy hiking, traveling, and cooking together. While he’s not a frequent karaoke singer, his go-to song is King of the Road by Roger Miller. His favorite use of aluminum? Any beverage out of an aluminum can—because it always tastes better—and crushing the can for recycling afterward!​

Stacey Wilson joined Pennex in 2023 as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis for the Extruded Products division. In this role, Stacey handles monthly financial reporting for the manufacturing group, leads the five-year strategic planning process, and develops the annual budget, including revenue, capital, and cost planning. She also partners with operations to support business initiatives and contributes to new business quotes.​​

Before joining Pennex, Stacey spent 22 years with Aptiv (formerly Delphi) in various accounting and finance roles, including leading both their North American and Global FP&A groups. She also served as Assistant Controller for Millwood Inc., a pallet manufacturer, for four years.​​

Stacey holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Gannon University and a Master’s in Accounting from Slippery Rock University. She enjoys giving back to the community and has participated in donations during the impact conference and volunteered to raise money for her local animal shelter.​​

Stacey appreciates the constant challenges and learning opportunities in her work at Pennex, where she’s part of a supportive and values-driven team. She also enjoys the flexibility of the hybrid work environment.​​

Outside of work, Stacey enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and furry companions (two cats and one dog). She loves going to the beach, crocheting, scrapbooking, and exploring in her Jeep. Her favorite use of aluminum is the foil around Hershey Kisses and her aluminum fence, which keeps her dog safe in the backyard.​

Joe Sami joined Pennex in 2023 as Director of Reliability, where he is responsible for developing and deploying a world-class reliability program across the organization. His key focus is on asset reliability and uptime improvements throughout the asset lifecycle, ensuring that equipment performance is maximized and breakdowns are minimized through proactive maintenance, equipment reliability assessments, and condition monitoring.​​

Before joining Pennex, Joe held several leadership roles, including Global Engineering Group Manager, Global Reliability Manager, Regional Continuous Improvement Manager, and Controls and Manufacturing Engineering Manager.​​

Joe holds an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Wright State University. Two of his favorite volunteer opportunities have been working with The Brightside Project and Habitat for Humanity, both of which he feels make a meaningful impact on the community, especially for children.​​

What Joe enjoys most about working at MX Holdings is the opportunity to collaborate with talented people across various disciplines, marveling at the vast experience within the organization.​​

Outside of work, Joe enjoys working on cars and tackling house projects, but his favorite activity is spending time with his two young children, Cris and Alex. His go-to karaoke song is Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, and as a Diet Coke drinker, Joe is particularly thankful for aluminum cans!​

Kaitlin Klinger joined Pennex in 2021 and currently serves as HR Director for Manufacturing. In this role, Kaitlin oversees the full spectrum of HR responsibilities for the company’s manufacturing sites, ensuring alignment with company goals while fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Prior to this, Kaitlin served as HR Manager for the Wellsville and York sites, and she has held HR leadership roles in both the healthcare and defense industries, where she developed a strong foundation in HR management and business partnership. Throughout her tenure at Pennex, Kaitlin has contributed to significant reductions in turnover and improvements in employee engagement scores, thanks to her commitment to listening to employees and implementing meaningful changes.​​

Kaitlin holds a Bachelor of Science in Labor and Employment Relations from Penn State University and achieved her SHRM-CP certification in 2018. She is an active member of the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) HR Team, where she engages with industry peers to elevate HR practices in the aluminum extrusion sector.​​

One of Kaitlin’s favorite volunteer experiences was participating in the Race Against Racism in York, PA, alongside her daughter and colleagues. This meaningful event highlights the importance of racial equality, and she felt a deep sense of pride standing up for such an important cause.​​

What Kaitlin values most about working at Pennex is the company’s genuine care for its people. This support enables her to implement initiatives that benefit employees, making her role especially rewarding.​

Outside of work, Kaitlin enjoys spending time with her family, playing the piano and singing, painting with watercolors, and engaging in various crafting projects. Her go-to karaoke song is Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles, and her favorite use of aluminum is in the sleek, durable frames of modern office furniture, which provide both strength and a contemporary aesthetic.​​