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Touchstone Research Laboratory, LTD. was created in 1980 by a man named Brian Joseph. Joseph's dream has always been to invent things, which is where he is today. The company now employs about 40 people at its headquarters in Wheeling, West Virginia. CEO, Brian Joseph, wanted the company to always be on their toes with innovation which is why the facility does numerous things like, research and development, failure analysis, and materials testing. Joseph grew up in the Wheeling area where he studied biology and physics at West Liberty University. His journey continued to Ohio State University where he would obtain a degree in biophysics before traveling back to Wheeling. From here, Joseph created Touchstone Research Laboratory, LTD.

It began in 1980 in the basement of a monastery where he rebuilt a scanning electron microscope he had bought for $100. The journey continued when his team then purchased a building in Wheeling, WV and following the purchase customers commenced. While there was much space in the building, the upper floors were rented as apartments and the bottom was built into a research laboratory. The first 15 years of Touchstone's career they only offered failure analysis, testing while also venturing into a research and development program focusing on grey cast iron. As the years progressed Touchstone became successful solving manufacturing conflicts and carrying out failure analysis for a number of industries. Following the many years of testing, the facility then found a niche in the market where they could hold their innovations, The Millennium Centre. Touchstone took the research and development from the 7th largest steel producer in the US, and also captured the title of the country's largest research and development laboratory for aluminum producers. From there the corporation took off, in 1989 the facility moved into the Millennium Centre and grew in the area of metal matrix composites. Not only that, but Touchstone was getting to comfortable where they were settled, so they then launched the SBIR otherwise known as the Small Business Innovation Research program. In 2005 Touchstone Research Laboratory built a manufacturing plant for their ever popular CFOAM, which is made from coal from the state of West Virginia. This particular invention it still used today primarily for the aerospace industry. Touchstone continues to innovate and experiment to create new an improved creation. Although is seems that the company has not done much over the years, they have a long list of awards received as seen below. –Governor's Cup Award - Southern Growth Policies Board –3 Times nominated Small Business Subcontractor of the Year to SBA by 3M Corporation –4 Time R&D 100 Award - From R&D Magazine –Administrator's Award for Excellence: Small Business Administration –2 Times nominated United Technology's NASA Subcontractor of the Year –National Blue Chip Enterprise by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce –3 Times Tibbets Award winner - The Top SBIR Contractor Award –Twice on the cover of Inc. Magazine's 500 Fastest Growing U.S. Companies Issue

Since then, he has continued building his workforce which is what he prides his company on. In the Northern Panhandle, the company embarks upon a community of individuals who know how to construct and develop things, which is not the case in most other states. He relies heavily on his team to push their creative minds to generate something that is innovative and creative. Not only has the surrounding community been a help, but the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing has also allowed him to carry out his business. The institute allowed him to lease time on its advanced machinery, including 5-axis mill and an autoclave. Since, then he has invested in machines that are able to carry out those tasks to allow him to expand his company. While the company focuses on innovation in the world, the team at Touchstone focuses on building entrepreneurs to carry on their legacy. Joseph strives to instill characteristics like communication, public relations, and non traditional advertising methods into those that intern and visit his laboratory. Most of all he pushes to continue pushing forward no matter what is thrown at you. He states, "It took me 10 years to get beyond a poverty-level income in this business, but I never failed!"