Howard Industries Retains Local Operations After Sale
The wholesale sign manufacturer keeps its leadership and Erie base following an acquisition by Two Step Ventures.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in People
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Two Step Ventures has acquired Erie-based wholesale sign manufacturer Howard Industries. The leadership team will remain unchanged as the company continues its operations.
Why it matters
The acquisition marks a transition in ownership for the nearly century-old manufacturer, while signaling a commitment to maintaining existing local operations and leadership structures.
Founded in 1928, the company maintains a 24-hour delivery turnaround for ADA-compliant signage. The ownership transition involving the Pittsburgh-based investment firm follows nearly a century of continuous operation.
The players
Howard Industries
An Erie-based wholesale manufacturer specializing in signage with a 24-hour turnaround for ADA-compliant products.
Two Step Ventures
A Pittsburgh-based investment firm that recently acquired Howard Industries.
Dan Kelly
A managing partner at Two Step Ventures who has taken on the role of chief executive officer at Howard Industries.
Pat Sutton
The president of Howard Industries who is continuing in his role following the ownership change.
The details
Two Step Ventures acquired Howard Industries, an Erie-based wholesale sign manufacturer, without making changes to the firm's leadership team. Pat Sutton will remain in his role as president, and the company intends to keep its operations and headquarters in Erie. This continuity follows the company's history of leadership since its founding by Howard Schneider and expansion under Gary and Larry Schneider starting in 1972.
Timeline
1928: Howard Industries was founded in Erie.
1972: Gary and Larry Schneider expanded the company's business.
October 26, 2026: Howard Industries announced the change in ownership.
Market Landscape
This acquisition follows the trajectory set by the 1972 business expansion by Gary and Larry Schneider, representing a new phase for the legacy manufacturer. The move ensures the company's long-standing local footprint remains intact amid the transition.
Operators should monitor whether the existing service standards, such as the 24-hour turnaround for ADA-compliant signs, remain consistent under new ownership. Maintaining legacy delivery times is often a key indicator of whether a transition preserves or disrupts established customer value.
The takeaway
Legacy companies often maintain their market position through operational continuity even as ownership shifts. Monitor the firm's output and lead times over the next quarter to determine if the new management maintains the company's historic service levels.
Further reading
For more on shifts in local corporate leadership, visit the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WJET-TV.
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