Rick Merluzzi

Rick Merluzzi graduated from Lehighton Area High School in 1975. After high school graduation, he continued his studies at Penn State University where he graduated in 1979 with a BS in Civil Engineering. In 1981, Rick was then selected for the MBA Program in International Finance at Drexel University and received his MBA degree in 1983. His executive studies continued throughout his career with courses in Strategy and Competition at Harvard University and Columbia University and additional executive leadership courses at the University of Virginia’s Darden School: Center for Creative Leadership.

Rick began a highly successful business career with Mobil Oil in 1979 where he worked for eight years as a Project Engineer and Financial Analyst. The next ten years he worked for FMC Corporation as a Marketing Manager and Business Director. In 1998, he was named the President of Edlon, Inc. a specialty manufacturer of fluoropolymer-based products. During his seven years at Ed Ion, he successfully integrated the merger of two acquired companies that expanded the company’s industrial footprint. In 2005, he was selected as the President and CEO of Pennex Aluminum, a Metal Exchange Corporation (MEC) subsidiary. Under Rick’s innovative leadership, Pennex quadrupled in size via acquisitions and organic growth initiatives. During this spectacular growth period, Pennex was recognized by the industry as the number one company in customer satisfaction. After serving as CEO at Pennex for 3 years, Rick was named in 2012 as the President of Manufacturing for Metal Exchange Corporation (MEC), assuming responsibilities for all MEC worldwide operating companies. Then, in 2015, Rick was selected as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MEC, a position he held for eight years. In 2023, Rick became the Executive Vice Chairman of MX Holdings, a position he currently holds. Rick continues to provide MX Holdings with the experienced leadership necessary for a global company to compete in the international business environment.

Rick currently serves as a Board Member of the PA Global Business Advisors, Penn State’s Distinguished Alumni Board, Penn State Board Member for Executive and Graduate Programs, member of the Board of Directors for the Aluminum Extruders Council, United Way and is Chairman of the Friends and Family Against Prostate Cancer.

He has been presented with numerous awards for leadership in the nonferrous metal industry and has been recognized for his many volunteer hours for community projects.

Rick and his wife Kathy also created a $40,000, four-year scholarship to Penn State for Lehighton Area High School Students interested in pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) degree. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average and meet other eligibility requirement to continue to receive scholarship funds.

Rick and his wife Kathy reside in West Chester, PA. Rick literally has a family of engineers: his wife Kathryn has a degree in chemical engineering from Notre Dame, son Rick has a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Cornell, son Alex has a civil engineering degree from Lehigh, and son Andrew has a chemical engineering degree from Villanova.