From staff reports

LEWISTOWN — A former manufacturing executive with ties to the local business community has released a new book reflecting on the rise of a company that once employed more than 100 people in the area.

Brian D. Schell, a Lebanon resident and former owner of Buckell Plastics, recently published The Buckell Years: Building a Family Manufacturing Business in America, a memoir detailing the company’s growth and its years operating in Lewistown.

Schell led Buckell Plastics during a period of expansion that brought operations to Lewistown, including work at the former Arrow Shirt Factory and later at the Havice Building. The company grew from a small garage-based operation into a manufacturing business employing more than 100 workers, with much of that growth occurring locally.

During its time in Lewistown, the company contributed to the area’s manufacturing base and provided local jobs. Schell was also involved in the community, including service with the Lewistown Hospital Foundation during a period of financial transition.

The book focuses on the long-term development of a business, emphasizing the decisions, challenges and people involved rather than rapid success.

“Most businesses are built one decision at a time,” Schell said. “Very few are understood that way.”

In addition to recounting the history of Buckell Plastics, the book explores broader changes in American manufacturing, including increased competition and evolving market conditions for small and mid-sized companies.

The Buckell Years is available through Amazon in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.