Suzzanne Stilwell is the owner and president of Commonwealth Metal Company, a 100% female-owned company. The company has been in business since 1988. Commonwealth Metal is a warehouse distribution company, providing all types of metal including structural carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and brass. Commonwealth Metal stocks different types of metal products, distributes innovative and long-lasting, abrasive stair products, which can be used in-and-outdoors. Commonwealth Metal also cuts to size and does specialty fabrication. Ms. Stilwell has an extensive background in metal industry. Prior to founding Commonwealth Metal, she worked for three major metal warehouses and was purchasing agent for a company that purchased metal products. So, when she began Commonwealth Metal, Ms. Stilwell already had some insight into the business. Some of her company's customers include the Port Authority Transit Company, Huntingdon Valley Country Club, SEPTA, PennDOT, NJ Transit, Strick Corporation, and the Heinz Corporation. Commonwealth Metal is located in the Philadelphia area, it provides metals and service to businesses within a 50 mile radius. Commonwealth Metal has even done business in the Scranton area. Ms. Stilwell has a core of seven people working for her, and has the ability to secure additional qualified individuals if the job requires a bigger team. The welders in her service department have multiple certifications, thereby enabling them to perform many different and highly specialized services within the company.

Ms. Stilwell is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industry. She is a board member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, and holds the Public Policy & Government Affairs Chair. She is a Board member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and Past President of the National Association of Women Construction (NAWIC), Valley Forge/Philadelphia Chapter. Ms. Stilwell's success has not gone unnoticed. She was recognized in the June edition of the Small Business News for being one of the area's Top Twenty Women in non-traditional businesses, and also received an award from NAWBO for that distinction. She has also been featured several times in the Small Business News of Philadelphia, and in the Business Section of the Philadelphia Daily News. In addition, SEPTA invited Ms. Stilwell to address a group at one of its small business programs about "how to do business with their agency", and also on the topic of doing business as a small business person.

In 1997, after attending one of DRPA's workshops, Commonwealth Metal won a job at the DRPA. She says she regularly attends seminars and workshops not only to gain knowledge about "how to" do business with a potential customer, but also to meet other businesses, and build potential business contacts. Her feeling is, "If the customer cares enough to have a seminar, and invite Commonwealth Metal Company, then she should be there". Ms. Stilwell feels strongly that one should treat their customer the way he or she would like to be treated. She adds, "never underestimate the customer's knowledge of your products". She tells her business owners that being certified as a MBE or WBE is important, and it is a business decision, but not the answer to everything. She adds, business owners still have to know their products, know their industry, and be able to develop other customers in order to grow.