Joe Kerola and the Kerola Family have been strong supporters of YSU since Joe's father, John, graduated from then Youngstown College in 1951.
John Kerola always valued education, both traditional and technical as well as the hands-on "School of Life".
While Joe was attending YSU from 1978-81 he joined the family business full time. He has worked in the family business since he was 12 years old, learning all areas of the business from literally the bottom to the top.
He started his career with the company doing general maintenance in the shop. His tasks involved cleaning floors, running the sweeper, some light maintenance on trucks while learning how to run the warehouse – tow motors and cranes and then driving trucks.
His previous positions with PI&I include Director of Operations, Sales, Insurance Negotiations and Purchasing, Director of Central Dispatch, truck driver, tow-motor operator and warehouse inventory control and general grounds maintenance.
In 1996, following John's passing, Joe became the third family member to hold the office of President at PI&I. PI&I was founded in 1951 by his grandfather, Joe, and has just completed its 70th year as a third-generation family business with the fourth generation currently transitioning to take over the reins. Founded in Sharon, Pa., the name stood for Pennsylvania, Illinois and Indiana. The company now has 16 terminals and delivers anywhere east of the Mississippi River.
The family support's Youngstown State University in a variety of areas. The Kerola's endow two Scholarships, assist the Presidents Council, support the Veterans Resource Center, back several YSU Athletics Programs and the Dana School of Music in bringing an orchestra program to inner city schools of the Valley.
He is currently a member of the YSU Board of Trustees, the Penguin Club, the Huddle Club and the Courtside Coaches Club. He also helped establish a fellowship for the James P. Tressel Endowed Chair in Leadership.
Kerola helped start and foster a CDL program with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections for the reintegration of felonious offenders. He's also worked with the military to provide career opportunities for service members returning to the private sector, resulting in PI&I becoming one of seven companies chosen to participate in a federal pilot program to aid under 21-year-old service members gain approval in interstate commerce.
He is very involved in the Transportation Industry with memberships in the American Trucking Association, the Truckload Carriers Association, The Specialized Carries and Rigging Association and the Ohio Trucking Association. He's also a board member for the OTA and he has held various positions with the Youngstown, Trumbull and Shenango Valley Traffic Clubs. He is also the co-chair for the Teamsters Local 377 Health Fund.
Joe and his wife, Pam, were married in 1981 and have been blessed with four children – Joseph Jr., Maggie, Jacob and Jeremy. Currently they are all involved as the fourth generation in keeping P.I.&I moving forward. They have also been blessed with three grandchildren – Vivian, Josephine and Huxley – that God willing, will take us to the fifth generation of PI&I.
