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World Class Fabricators Since 1976
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World Class Fabricators Since 1976
Tom Sears was born in Wyandotte, Michigan and grew up in nearby Dearborn until age 13. His family then moved to a small farm in Tecumseh, Michigan. In winter months Tom earned spending money bagging potatoes for the farmer across the street. At 16 he began working nights for Meyers Industries, an aluminum rowboat and powerboat manufacturer, loading boats on trucks for shipment. Tom graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1968. He then attended Western Michigan University, earning a B.S. degree in industrial education in 1974.
While at WMU, during summer and holiday breaks, Tom worked in a metal fabrication business, owned by the family of a college acquaintance. Tom eventually became a stockholder in the company. He then taught at Utica High School from 1975 to 1977. The experience that Tom gained from all of these opportunities helped him found Rochester Welding in 1976.
Tom engages family life with his wife of over 40 years, Diane, who has worked by his side from Rochester Welding’s beginning. Tom and Diane have four daughters (all college graduates), nine grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren. Currently their second daughter Stephanie Marracco is Rochester Welding’s Vice President of Sales & Customer Relations. Third daughter Rachael VanDyke works in Accounting, and fourth daughter Amanda Latvis is the Production Scheduler. Click here to learn more about Rochester Welding’s history.
Roe Myung oversees Rochester Welding’s business performance to help ensure financial strength and strategic growth. He particularly focuses on creating value – for customers as well as all company stakeholders – by improving productivity and competitiveness.
Roe was raised by immigrant parents. He started in the manufacturing industry as an engineering intern during his undergraduate years at the University of Michigan (B.S.M.E.). By the time Roe joined Rochester Welding in 2011, he had extensive background in business ownership and management in various fields: LED technology, after-market car components, a car dealership, and engineering consulting. Roe’s experience in the metalworking industry now totals over 25 years.
Roe has felt like family since day one at Rochester Welding. He says, “I’m very proud of the hard work each employee brings to the table. We have “A” players, and that’s what makes our company excellent.”
Roe is a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and the American Welding Society (AWS). He is certified in MRP/ERP systems, Six Sigma (DMAIC process), lean manufacturing, APICS, and quality systems (ISO 9001, TS 16949).
Roe resides in Birmingham, Michigan with his wife, Attorney at Law, and their two children. In Roe’s spare time, he likes to take things apart and fix anything that’s broken – especially cars. Every week, Roe donates his skills and time to fix cars for under-privileged families. He also holds Black Belts in Hap Ki Do and Tae Kwon Do.
Stephanie Marracco began working for Rochester Welding – in summers, washing and prepping parts – at the ripe old age of 14. Gradually she took on more responsibilities at the company, so that by the age of 18, she was familiar with most floor operations.
Stephanie continued to work part-time at Rochester Welding, in a secretarial role, while in college. She earned a B.S. degree in business administration and management from Northwood University in 2004.
After college, Stephanie worked for other manufacturing companies, gaining additional experience. Three years later, her path led her back to Rochester Welding, where her knowledge and responsibilities have continually grown. Today, 20+ years later, Stephanie leads all of manufacturing & production, overseeing quality, engineering, project estimating, program management, and sales.
Stephanie works diligently to continue the company’s growth, continual improvement, as well as maintaining the strong family traditions at Rochester Welding. “I see the legacy my father created, and I take pride in carrying on the values he instilled in us. We all work hard and take care of each other. I am beyond proud of our amazing team and what we have accomplished together.”
Dave Buchanan serves as Welding Inspector and Certified Welding Inspector/Educator (CWI/CWE) at Rochester Welding Company INC (RWCI), where he plays a key role in ensuring the highest quality and compliance within the welding department. With a lifelong passion for welding that began in his father’s home shop using an old Lincoln tombstone AC225, Dave’s dedication to the craft has shaped a career spanning multiple industries and regions.
Dave began welding professionally at age 19 for a small shop in Lapeer, Michigan. His career has taken him across the country—from working at Hettinger, Inc., then the largest fabrication shop in the eastern Rocky Mountain region, to contributing to large-scale projects in South Dakota during the Bakken oil boom. After returning home to Michigan, Dave joined RWCI in December 2017, where he found a true fit for his skills and values.
Throughout his career, Dave has worked in diverse sectors, including ASME pressure vessels, structural welding, severe cyclic process piping, agriculture, nuclear, and defense. At RWCI, he is responsible for ensuring compliance with a range of codes and standards, including AWS, military, and ISO requirements, as well as inspecting all welded parts to uphold RWCI’s commitment to quality.
With the encouragement of a friend and support from RWCI, Dave earned his CWI/CWE certification in 2019. He remains dedicated to continuous learning, holding additional AWS certificates in Lean Manufacturing, Welding Safety, Aluminum Metallurgy, and Steel Metallurgy. Known for his approachable nature and commitment to excellence, Dave is a trusted resource and leader within the RWCI team.
Rachael VanDyke is the Office Manager and Accounting Manager at Rochester Welding Company, Inc. (RWCI), a family-owned business founded by her father, Tom Sears. Rachael’s connection to RWCI began as a teenager, when she worked in various hands-on roles — from general laborer to shipping department support, prepping parts for paint, spot welding, managing the company’s inventory crib, as well as being an administrative assistant in the office. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Oakland University in 2004, she spent over a decade as a Pediatric, NICU, and Mother-Baby Registered Nurse before returning to RWCI in 2015 to support and help lead the family business. Today, Rachael plays a key role in managing accounting operations, overseeing office administration, and ensuring RWCI’s continued compliance with ISO 9001:2015 standards, for which she received formal training. Known for her approachable style and dedication, she combines her diverse professional background with a deep commitment to RWCI’s growth and success.