Delivering over Two Decades of Service to Country and Company
Brad Ranly: Connecting Career and Service
Military members and veterans bring valuable skills to the workplace, including leadership, teamwork and core values of commitment, loyalty and service. Brad Ranly, vice president of Operations for Worthington Steel’s TWB Company joint venture and a major in the U.S. Army Reserves, is no exception.
Ranly enlisted in the Army Reserves in college, while attending The Ohio State University. A member of his unit worked at Worthington Steel and told him about an available internship. He applied and joined the company in 2001 and has been growing in both his military and civilian careers ever since.
Pictured: Ranly is center.
Growth Trajectory: On the Move
“Worthington Steel has given me a lot of opportunities – the trust that people are given here, even as they’re still learning or growing into a role, is something I’ve really valued,” said Ranly. “It’s empowering to have ownership and trust to make decisions, improvements or even just to try things and fail in a safe environment.”
Ranly’s opportunities have taken him from his first role as an accounting intern, to positions in inside sales, outside sales, the continuous improvement Transformation team, mergers and acquisitions and operations management. During his tenure, Ranly’s worked for four of the company’s largest businesses and across five states.
Support on the Homefront
Throughout his civilian career, Ranly continued in the Army Reserve where he completed military training one weekend a month and two-week stints each year. He also went on active duty with two year-long deployments overseas to Iraq in 2005 and 2011.
“If you add it all up, about four years of my time at Worthington has been away on active duty between deployments and training,” said Ranly. “The company and people have always supported me unconditionally. As one example, right before my second Iraq deployment, my wife and I found out we were expecting our first child. While I was deployed, the family of one of my coworkers brought a crib to our house and assembled it. I am extremely grateful for the outreach from so many people during my deployments.”
Brad Ranly, vice president of Operations, TWB Company
If you add it all up, about four years of my time at Worthington has been away on active duty between deployments and training. The company and people have always supported me unconditionally."
Our Philosophy at Work
From care packages to handwritten letters from the CEO, Ranly said his managers and colleagues were constantly checking in. He also mentioned it was reassuring to know when he returned, he would be able to re-integrate into the company in a meaningful way.
“It’s great to see all the ways Worthington Steel continues to support veterans, from the way they celebrate Veterans Day, to the employee resource group and other programs,” said Ranly. “It’s not only a strong appreciation for military and first responders, but for people doing good things for their communities, for their coworkers; all of it speaks to Our Philosophy.”
Pictured: Several members from Worthington Steel’s HONOR Employee Resource Group visit the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio (Ranly first row standing on left).
It’s great to see all the ways Worthington Steel continues to support veterans, from the way they celebrate Veterans Day, to the employee resource group and other programs.”
Closing One Chapter, Beginning Another
Today, Ranly’s 24-year military journey has come full circle. His final assignment is part of a training battalion at the University of Michigan, where he’s an assistant professor of military science, training new Army officer candidates. To celebrate his service, Ranly was recently among 25 military retirees honored at a ceremony at Fort Myer in Washington, D.C. It was presided over by senior military officials and attended by his family, including his parents, wife and three sons.
TWB Company President Ivan Meltzer said, “For nearly a quarter century, Brad has served both Worthington and our country with distinction. The leadership skills he honed during his military career, including a clear focus on objectives, motivating his unit and keeping them safe – are attributes he brings to his leadership at TWB every day. We are all proud of his service and thankful he is on our team.”
Ivan Meltzer, TWB Company President
We are all proud of Brad's service and thankful he is on our team.”