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With more than 100 years of history in the city, and the original building still standing, Schadel Sheet Metal Works was recognized as Suffolk’s 2025 small business of the year by the Hampton Roads Chamber in partnership with the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center.

Company Vice President Emily Asbell said it was surprising and humbling to be nominated. 

President Chris Asbell added it’s also “very mysterious” because they have no idea who nominated them.

Schadel Sheet Metal Works was first established in 1919 by Carl Schadel when he came to Suffolk with Amedeo Obici. The original brick building is still in use, and the company has remained at the same South Saratoga Street location for the past 106 years. 

The company began to physically grow in the 40s and 50s when newer and bigger equipment was purchased.

The Asbell family has been involved with the company since the 70s, but they officially took over after Schadel in 1983. Chris’s dad, Joe, owned the company until he passed away in 2021 and Chris inherited it after already working for his dad for many years. 

Vice President Nester Hawkins also has deep ties to the company. He’s been with the company for 40 years, and his dad worked with Schadel. Emily, Chris’s wife, has also been with the company for almost 20 years. 

Chris described the environment as a “family.”

In the 60s, peanut equipment was the main focus of the business. Now, they do a “little bit of everything,” Chris said. 

Birdsong Peanuts is one of Schadel Sheet Metal’s longest-standing customers and the Virginia Department of Transportation. They’ve also worked closely with Norfolk State University and Gates Cotton Gin for many years.

“A lot of our customers are repeats,” Chris said. “Even our, what we consider to be, walk-ins because we treat them fairly.” 

Maintaining the Schadel name has also helped keep some clients coming back because they know it and trust it. 

Chris said one of the main challenges they face as a small business with only 10 employees is providing competitive pay. The starting hourly pay right now is in the mid $20 range, he said.

“Even people that have left said we’re the best company they ever worked for, it’s just the money,” Chris said.

He added they try to provide as much as possible for their employees, including covering a large portion of insurance and providing lunches. 

Chris said there have been times when business is slow, and all of the different owners have had to put some of their own money into the business to keep it going. But this year, things have been pretty steady, with consistent business through the slower months of the year. 

“We stand behind our products,” Chris said. “Everything that we make, everything that we do, we try to put our customer first, and if it’s something we feel like we can’t do, we tell them up front … and we’ll try to offer them another vendor or solution.”