Our Founder

Ronald Frank Cincinnati
Founder, President and CEO
1940-2008

Ronald began his career in the steel industry working in the mailroom of Jessop Steel, in Pennsylvania. From there, he was steadily promoted: first to the production department, then to the company's inside sales/tool steel division; in 1969, he was asked to manage Jessop's outside sales for the Chicago/Midwest region.

He moved with his young, growing family in 1971 to Rockford, IL for tool steel sales. Within a few years, he joined J Rubin and Co. as Vice President of Sales to head a tool steel product line.

In 1976, with an entrepreneurial drive, a passion for the steel industry and a vision of what he believed a successful tool steel business should be, he opened Cincinnati Tool Steel Co.

His philosophy was simple: Deliver high-quality products and value-added services at competitive pricing that meets the evolving needs of customers.

Having started as a small shop of three employees, today Cincinnati Tool Steel is one of the top tool steel distributors in the country, employing over 170 people.

Though he left us too soon, his legacy as a leader and icon in the tool steel industry remains. Ronald left the company he so passionately built in the hands of his four children, all of whom work at Cincinnati Tool Steel. They are committed to continuing their father's vision and strive on a daily basis to maintain his legacy, philosophy, and directive.

Ronald J. Cincinnati, Vice President of Sales
Brian Cincinnati, President and CEO
Scot Cincinnati, Materials Manager
Kelli Cincinnati, Inside Sales Coordinator/Executive Assistant to President and CEO