Pharris Rogers, who handles the metal transfer and David Holmes, who is the furnace tender, work together with great caution dealing with the molten metal needed for the molds during a tour of Seneca Foundry in Webster City Tuesday.

Lori Mason cuts the ribbon Tuesday surrounded by her family and employees of the Seneca Foundry. Family members in front, from left, are: Mark Lyman, Doug Lyman, Mike Mason, Miley Mason, Tristan Mason, Cayson Scroggins, Mindy Law, Brandon Mason, Lori Mason, and Cathy Lyman, Taylor Scroggins, Waylon Mason, Austin Mason.

When Lori Mason began working at Seneca Foundry 20 years ago, it was as an accounting coordinator. And she reminded the crowd at the ribbon cutting, “I didn’t even know what a casting was.”

“My first job was to clean the offices,” Kirk McCollough said. “I don’t think I would be qualified to get a job here today.”

David Van Horn, left, who is the metal pourer, takes a portion of the metal delivered by Pharris Rogers, right, who has carefully maneuvered the molten metal to the pouring station where the product is poured into the castings. This is a scene from the tour of Seneca Foundry on Tuesday.

That ownership formally ended Tuesday when Mason cut the ribbon signaling that she will lead Seneca into the future.

With the ribbon cut, Seneca entertained nearly a hundred visitors, some of whom later took the tour of the now-woman-led local industry.

“We entered into an agreement five years ago and I bought and acquired 49% of the company then,” Mason said in a previous interview. “We had a five-year plan that, if all was going well, I would have the opportunity to acquire the remaining 51%.”

When she began working at Seneca 20 years ago, it was as an accounting coordinator. And she reminded the crowd at the ribbon cutting, “I didn’t even know what a casting was.”

She purchased Seneca from outgoing president Kirk McCollough, whose father, Robert McCollough, was also once president of the firm.

Kirk McCollough, who spoke on the change, reminisced about his first experiences working in the family business.

“My first job was to clean the offices,” he said. “I don’t think I would be qualified to get a job here today.”

Ottie Maxey, of the Hamilton County Growth Partnership and the Ames Economic Development Alliance, complimented McCollough on his foresight in finding a successor.

“There is a lot of manufacturing in Iowa, actually more than agriculture,” Maxey said. Too often, he explained, when it is time to change hands, these businesses are sold outside of the United States.

He also praised Mason.

“She is the perfect successor,” he said, stating that her philosophy, integrity and concern for the employees of Seneca Foundry is the ideal.

Mason admits she has learned a lot since she started 20 years ago.

“It’s been a good five years,” she said.

She plans on decades and additional generations to follow her.

She was joined Tuesday by her parents, Doug and Cathy Lyman, of Sandborn; her brother, Mark Lyman; her husband, Brandon Mason; her in-laws and long-time Webster City area residents, the Mike Mason family.

“We are committed for the long-term for our community and our employees.”