Best Shane Draper Podcasts (2026)

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97. The Human Side of Hard Businesses: Culture, Trust, and Long-Term Leadership 1:01:27

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5d ago1:01:27

1:01:27

Staying in business for decades requires more than machines, processes, and good customers.In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sit down with Bonnie and Ken Kuhn of Kuhn Tool, a multi-generation, family-owned shop in northwest Pennsylvania that has quietly endured for more than six decades. What makes this conversation special isn't just the …

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96. From Pole Barn to Precision Powerhouse: Shane Grant's 10-Year Shop Journey 1:01:17

12d ago1:01:17

1:01:17

In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I finally sit down with Shane Grant from Machining Momentum, a guest I've been hoping to have on the show for a long time. Shane has spent the last decade building his shop from the ground up, literally starting in a backyard pole barn and growing it into a precision-focused operation that's now hitting its …

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95. Why Clean Floors, Strong Culture & High-End Machines Drive Valuation 1:06:48

19d ago1:06:48

1:06:48

One of the questions I think about constantly is what actually makes a machine shop valuable. Not just today, but five, ten, or even twenty years down the road. It's easy to point to machines, revenue, or backlog, but the real drivers of long-term value usually run much deeper. That's exactly why I wanted to sit down with Jamie Goettler, Chief Reve…

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94. How Losing a Machine Shop Led to Gabe Draper's Calling 48:43

26d ago48:43

48:43

Some conversations stay with you long after you hit "stop" on the recorder—and my time with Gabe Draper is absolutely one of them. I've known Gabe for years, but I never fully understood the depth of the journey he endured as he attempted to take over, stabilize, and ultimately shut down the family machine shop. His story isn't just informative; it…

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93. A Builder at Heart Pivots and Buys a Machine Shop 1:17:57

1M ago1:17:57

1:17:57

Buying a machine shop is never simple — and for Matt Fortner, it was a leap into the unknown. Coming from backgrounds in plumbing, industrial fittings, product development, and even scrap metal buying, Matt felt a pull to get back to "building something real." That pull led him to Progress Machining in Muskegon, Michigan — a shop he became the fift…

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92. Are PE Firms Ruining Machining? A New & Better Model for Buying Shops with Mark Hillenburg 1:08:02

2M ago1:08:02

1:08:02

Over the last decade, I've watched private equity surge into the machining world — and I've seen firsthand how often the short-term flip-in-five-years strategy ends up hurting shops, people, customers, and entire supply chains. While the capital can help, the incentives often drive decisions that weaken the very businesses PE firms acquire. But eve…

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91. Passion and Excellence Personified with Ty Haguewood 1:14:23

2M ago1:14:23

1:14:23

As a host, I've met hundreds of shop owners, but every once in a while, I meet someone whose story stops me in my tracks. Ty Haguewood, General Manager and CFO of Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (MTI) and Stone Mather Designs (SMD), is one of those people. Ty didn't grow up in manufacturing—he was a finance professional who took a random tour of a…

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90. Burnout Killed This Machine Shop 59:54

2M ago59:54

59:54

When you've poured 46 years of your life into building a thriving precision machine shop—one that grew from a one-man garage to 50 employees, world-class equipment, and top-tier aerospace customers—you don't expect it to end with burnout. In this deeply candid episode, I sit down with Cody Sisson, a lifelong machinist who built a remarkable busines…

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89. Lessons Learned from Buying & Losing a Machine Shop | Mark Heston 1:07:26

3M ago1:07:26

1:07:26

In this powerful and deeply candid conversation, I sat down with Mark Heston, who first appeared on Episode 51 to share his story of buying and rebuilding an aerospace machine shop specializing in landing-gear components. At that time, the business was on an upward trajectory — improving culture, repricing work, and investing in growth. But behind …

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88. Learning, Building & Teaching with John Saunders 1:03:15

3M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

I've admired John Saunders for a long time. Most of you probably know him as the force behind the NYC CNC YouTube channel, the Business of Machining podcast, and of course, Saunders Machine Works. John has been creating content, teaching, and inspiring machinists since long before it was "cool" to do so online. In fact, he's one of the first people…

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87. People and Technology: Building an Enduring Shop 50:18

4M ago50:18

50:18

When I think about the shops that inspire me most, it's the ones that balance cutting-edge technology with a deep investment in people. That's exactly why I loved sitting down with Steve and Eric Van Orden of Paramount Machine in Salt Lake City, Utah. Steve started Paramount back in 1995 with nothing more than a manual mill and a garage shop. Fast …

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86. Using Business to Build People: Sam Thevanayagam's Model for Manufacturing Leadership 1:02:23

4M ago1:02:23

1:02:23

When I think about inspiring stories of resilience and vision in the world of manufacturing, Sam Thevanayagam's journey is one that stands out. In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sit down with Sam, the founder of Parts Life Inc. and the leader behind Deval Lifecycle, to unpack his incredible path from Sri Lanka to Philadelphia, from downsiz…

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85. Buying a Machine Shop for All the Right Reasons - Scott Bruneau from Delaware Metals 1:01:56

5M ago1:01:56

1:01:56

What happens when two people with a shared vision for community, craftsmanship, and legacy decide to take the leap into shop ownership? For Scott and his wife, the answer is Delaware Metals. In this inspiring conversation, Scott Bruneau shares how he and his wife purchased a decades-old, well-run machine shop—not as a quick flip, but as a long-term…

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84. Facing Fears and Building an Emotionally Safe Workplace | Dana Gruber 46:32

5M ago46:32

46:32

What if the next frontier of manufacturing leadership isn't on the shop floor—but in the hearts and minds of your people? In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Paul sits down with Dana Gruber, third-generation owner and president of ATCO Tool & Manufacturing. Dana didn't grow up on the machines—she came from a career in cosmetology—but found her…

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83. Crafting Success: Insights from Barry Walter Jr. on Company Culture 1:04:43

6M ago1:04:43

1:04:43

In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sat down with Barry Walter Jr., and I have to say—this one lit me up. Barry's a machine shop leader who brings heart, humility, and a whole lot of wisdom to the mic. From rebuilding a multi-generational business to designing a culture where "shit flows uphill" (his words!), Barry has transformed a plumbing…

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82. Belief and Brotherhood with Kelly Denison 51:21

6M ago51:21

51:21

Every once in a while, I sit down with a guest who reminds me exactly why I started this podcast in the first place. That was the case with Kelly Denison, the second-generation owner of Continental Machine Company in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Kelly is the kind of leader who sees his machine shop not just as a business—but as a vehicle for opportunit…

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81. Perseverance and Processes with Rhys Andersen 59:12

7M ago59:12

59:12

What would you do if your very first CNC machine didn't even power on? For most people, that's where the story would end. But for Rhys Andersen, it was just the beginning. In this episode, I sit down with one of the most determined shop owners I've ever interviewed. Rhys is the founder of Method Manufacturing in Austin, Texas — and his journey into…

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80. 4x Your Money with Machine Shops with Mike Payne 1:01:00

7M ago1:01:00

1:01:00

What if you could double—or even quadruple—the value of a machine shop within just 12 months of buying it? For Mike Payne, this isn't a hypothetical. It's a repeatable system he's refined across five acquisitions (and counting). In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Mike returns to the mic to break down exactly how he transforms tired shops into…

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79. The BTM Blueprint: Collaboration, Culture, and Growth 56:54

8M ago56:54

56:54

In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sit down with Kyra Tillman, third-generation owner of BTM Industries. When Kyra returned to the family shop, she inherited more than just machines—she inherited decades of "this is how we've always done it." What she's done since is nothing short of a transformation. With grit, grace, and a serious knack f…

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78. The Power of Being Mission Driven - Court Durkalski of Truline Industries 1:02:56

8M ago1:02:56

1:02:56

Most shop owners I talk to are focused on the usual things: keeping the machines humming, staying profitable, maybe planning for growth or succession. But what if the real unlock for your shop wasn't more tech or tighter margins—but a completely different way of thinking about why your business exists in the first place? That's what today's episode…

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77. Strategy & Execution Wins Customers - Matt Gawlik of 3D Graphite 47:27

9M ago47:27

47:27

What happens when a serial entrepreneur with seven businesses under his belt decides to go all-in on graphite machining—and does it with some of the fastest, most precise equipment on the planet? You get Matt Gawlik, and in this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, he brings the heat. Host Paul Van Metre sits down with Matt to unpack a no-BS journey th…

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The Quiet Cut That's Loudly Threatening Small Manufacturing 35:09

9M ago35:09

35:09

Most small manufacturers don't realize they're being quietly supported by one of the most impactful public-private partnerships in the country. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has long been the hidden backbone behind training programs, grant facilitation, process improvements, and critical tech upgrades for shops across the U.S. But r…

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76. Inside Secrets of a 200+ Machine Shop 1:03:58

9M ago1:03:58

1:03:58

When I first heard about Screwmatics—a shop with over 200 machines, 110 employees, and 16 buildings—I knew I had to talk to the guy behind it. In this episode, I sit down with Billy Hogge, the second-generation leader of Screwmatics out of Pageland, South Carolina. His story is incredible. His parents started the company 37 years ago with just two …

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75. I've Seen It All: From Apprentice to Cars, Rockets, Implants & Robots – Jim Cooney 1:07:11

9M ago1:07:11

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How do you go from being the kid who couldn't sit still in class to leading the machine shop for one of Elon Musk's most ambitious ventures? In this gripping and often jaw-dropping episode, I sit down with Jim Cooney—Head of the Machine Shop at Neuralink—for a raw and refreshingly honest conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the unconvent…

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74. From Employee to Employer - Adam Zimmer from Zimmer Design & Manufacturing 52:26

10M ago52:26

52:26

Have you ever thought about what it takes to make the leap from employee to employer in the machining world? In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I'm joined by Adam Zimmer, the founder of Zimmer Design & Manufacturing. Adam's journey is a remarkable one—he went from working as a tool and die maker to owning and growing his own successful machin…

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73. A Recipe for Winning High-Volume Work - Marvin Rodriguez of True Precision Machining 53:34

10M ago53:34

53:34

What if understanding the true cost of every part you produce could be the key to scaling your machine shop? In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Paul Van Metre is joined by Marvin Rodriguez from True Precision Machining to explore the strategies that have driven the company's remarkable growth. Marvin shares his journey from starting with litt…

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72. Tactics for Growth in 2025 1:03:44

11M ago1:03:44

1:03:44

In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Jason Davis, CEO of D&D Enterprises, is back for an insightful conversation on navigating growth and operational expansion in 2025. With nearly 26 years of experience in the machining industry, Jason shares his insights on scaling operations and avoiding the common pitfalls that come with growth. We dig into…

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71. Why Trust Is Essential for Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing per Kirk Phelps 59:21

11M ago59:21

59:21

Today's guest is Kirk Phelps from American Precision Partners, a key figure driving the growth and transformation of multiple machine shops. Kirk's journey into machining began as a teenager in his dad's shop, where he started on manual machines while attending trade school. After experiencing burnout, Kirk joined the Air Force and served for six y…

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70. How NTL Industries Leverages Social Media to Achieve Growth 52:36

12M ago52:36

52:36

Greg McArthur's journey in manufacturing began as a child sweeping floors and cleaning mats in his father's machine shop. Over the years, he gained hands-on experience, evolving from a lathe hand to a skilled CNC machinist, estimator, and engineer. Eventually, Greg took a bold leap, bidding on a machine sight unseen on eBay and figuring out how to …

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69. Clearing the Path to Growth with David Hegenbarth from Federal Gear & Machine and Guyer Precision 57:30

1y ago57:30

57:30

Dave bought two very different precision machining companies. One makes large gears in small volumes, and the other specializes in high-volume contract Swiss machining and other production machining. As an outsider to the industry, and not a technical shop owner, Dave shows that it's not only possible, but an advantage not to be able to do programm…

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68. Be a Sponge & Figure it Out with Steve & Jamie Michon from Zero Tolerance CNC 1:08:39

1y ago1:08:39

1:08:39

Bravery, Grit and Can-Do attitude are in ample supply with Steve and Jamie Michon. They started a machine shop with 3 young boys, very little money, lived in Steve's parent's basement, and bought a thrashed Fadal that Steve needed to completely rebuild before he could make parts on it. Similarly, Jamie knew nothing about Quickbooks, or the business…

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67. Betting it All on a Dream with Ashley Hunsaker from HTS Coatings 1:05:52

1y ago1:05:52

1:05:52

67. Betting it All on a Dream with Ashley Hunsaker from HTS Coatings Even before Ashley and her husband Jason opened their doors, they nearly had to file for bankruptcy, because an insurance company deemed her more valuable dead than alive - because she was a stay-at-home mom. Thankfully, a wonderful human intervened and saved the business before i…

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66. Passionate Partnership for the Win with Mitch and Brian Olson from OCD 1:14:18

1y ago1:14:18

1:14:18

66. Passionate Partnership for the Win with Mitch and Brian Olson from OCD The Olson brothers, Brian and Mitch learned about winning, losing and grit on the racetrack. When it came time to move on from the dangers of racing, they decided to start a CNC machine shop, having never even turned on a CNC machine in their lives! Those lessons learned in …

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65. 4 Generations of Machining Legacy with Denny Smith from NMC, Inc. 1:01:12

1y ago1:01:12

1:01:12

65. 4 Generations of Machining Legacy with Denny Smith from NMC, Inc. Denny is the 3rd generation owner and President of Northside Machine Company in Dugger Indiana. His son is now working in the business as well making him the 4th generation of Smiths to be involved in the business. This role is one that Denny takes very seriously, and he is deter…

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64. Tribal Knowledge Killed This Shop: A Machine Shop Owner Tells the Story with Jereme Rogers 1:12:28

1y ago1:12:28

1:12:28

64. Tribal Knowledge Killed this Shop: A Machine Shop Owner Tells the Story with Jereme Rogers After a near-death motorcycle accident, Jereme Rogers fell in love with the machining industry and decided that he wanted to own a shop someday. When the owners of TK Machine decided they wanted to retire, Jereme and they eventually came to an agreement t…

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63. Solving the Puzzle of Strategic Growth with Jason Davis from D&D Enterprises 1:06:49

1+ y ago1:06:49

1:06:49

63. Solving the Puzzle of Strategic Growth with Jason Davis from D&D Enterprises Jason is the second-generation CEO of D&D Enterprises, an AS9100-certified precision machining company specializing in aerospace and other high-tech industries that was founded by his father and uncle in 1976. When Jason joined the company 25 years ago, he started focu…

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62. Automating Your Way to Success with Scott Harms from MetalQuest Unlimited 1:10:09

1+ y ago1:10:09

1:10:09

62. Automating Your Way to Success with Scott Harms from MetalQuest Unlimited Scott Harms knows a thing or two about highly automated CNC machining. Since he started MetalQuest Unlimited at the age of 22, he's made millions and millions of parts on highly automated machines that he and his team have integrated themselves. Acquiring his first robot …

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61. Growing Well at Massive Scale with Peter Doyle from Hirsh Precision 1:04:40

1+ y ago1:04:40

1:04:40

61. Growing Well at Massive Scale with Peter Doyle from Hirsh Precision Growing any business 80% over a few years is a major achievement. Doing it with a precision machining organization is nearly unheard of. And doing it well, without too much collateral damage, takes serious skills. Those are skills that Peter Doyle has, although he might not adm…

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60. Running Machines 168 Hours a Week with Jim Goerges from Precision Tool Technologies 1:10:09

1+ y ago1:10:09

1:10:09

60. Running Machines 168 Hours a Week with Jim Goerges from Precision Tool Technologies Jim is a finance guy with a passion for machining and never giving up on achieving maximum production. Those passions have helped fuel the growth of Precision Tool Technologies and 168 Manufacturing which Jim leads. In this episode we go deep on the concepts, st…

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59. Buying and Growing a Machine Shop Part-time with Gillen Young from Custom Tool 1:04:02

1+ y ago1:04:02

1:04:02

59. Buying and Growing a Machine Shop Part-time with Gillen Young from Custom Tool Gillen Young and his brother bought Custom Tool in 2010 and have grown it fourfold since, including buying another shop as well. One of the most interesting parts of this story is that Gillen has a regular full-time job and leads Custom Tool as CEO and President part…

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58. How to Find, Buy, & Grow a Shop with Mike Fritz from Quick Tek Machining Part 2 1:09:29

1+ y ago1:09:29

1:09:29

58. How to Find, Buy, & Grow a Shop with Mike Fritz from Quick Tek Machining Part 2 In this Part 2 episode with Mike Fritz of Quick Tek Machining, we first learn about the factors that make a shop saleable and valuable. Mike then shares his process for deciding what type of shop to buy, where the sources of possible deals are, and which specific sh…

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57. Buying 4 Machine Shops in 2 Years with Mike Fritz from Quick Tek Machining Part 1 1:09:17

1+ y ago1:09:17

1:09:17

57. Buying 4 Machine Shops in 2 Years with Mike Fritz from Quick Tek Machining Before Mike Fritz bought Quick Tek in 2022, he had been a speaker and consultant on building high-performing teams. He's taken that skill set and decided to go all-in with the precision machining industry. After buying Quick Tek, he has quickly bought 3 more additional s…

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56. From Startup to Industry Leader with John Newman from Athena Manufacturing 1:08:58

1+ y ago1:08:58

1:08:58

56. From Startup to Industry Leader with John Newman from Athena Manufacturing Paul sits down with John Newman from Athena Manufacturing, a 200-person machining and fabrication company in Austin, Texas. John shares his remarkable journey of growing two successful companies in the manufacturing industry. Starting with a small six-person shop in 1995…

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55. High Spindle Uptime & Happy Employees with Nathan Byman from Wolfram Manufacturing 1:00:55

1+ y ago1:00:55

1:00:55

55. High Spindle Uptime & Happy Employees with Nathan Byman from Wolfram Manufacturing Before Nathan Byman started Wolfram Manufacturing in 2011, he learned a lot about what he liked and didn't like about machining and management, at other businesses. He's taken the best learnings (and a TON he's learned since) to make Wolfram into a fast-growing p…

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54. The Virtues of Niche Manufacturing Excellence with Matt Gustafson from Clinkenbeard 1:00:56

1+ y ago1:00:56

1:00:56

54. The Virtues of Niche Manufacturing Excellence with Matt Gustafson from Clinkenbeard Matt grew up on the shop floor of Clinkenbeard, a business his father bought in the late 70s and he became a pattern maker. He is now the President and leads this incredible AS9100-certified company that specializes in highly complex 5-axis machined parts and hi…

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53. Father & Son Fun = Success at Mactech with Joel and Luke Wittenbraker from Mactech 1:14:18

1+ y ago1:14:18

1:14:18

53. Father & Son Fun = Success at Mactech with Joel and Luke Wittenbraker from Mactech Mactech is a fascinating business that specializes in on-site machining services and equipment. It's a very different type of business than a traditional machine shop where all work is done in a facility. Their company history is a fascinating one, and a fun one,…

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52. From Founding to Exit with Keith Bernardo from M&K Engineering 1:09:59

1+ y ago1:09:59

1:09:59

52. From Founding to Exit with Keith Bernardo from M&K Engineering The M&K Engineering story is a fantastic American Dream Story. From immigrant founding parents, to the kids taking over the business, leading to an eventual successful exit to a much larger manufacturer. Keith digs in deep on their story and the decisions and strategies that they em…

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51. From Supply Chain to Shop Owner with Mark Heston from Colinear Machine 54:38

1+ y ago54:38

54:38

51. From Supply Chain to Shop Owner with Mark Heston from Colinear Machine Mark Heston is the President of Colinear Machine in northern New Jersey. Colienear specializes in precision machined components and assemblies for the helicopter and aircraft landing gear industries. Mark and his partners bought the business in 2022 and have engineered huge …

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50. From Tragedy to Rebirth with Ashley Parent from Mills Machine Works 52:53

2y ago52:53

52:53

50. From Tragedy to Rebirth with Ashley Parent of Mills Machine Works When Greg Mills was diagnosed with cancer, he had only a few months to live. His children, Ashley, John and Megan decided they wanted to carry on the family legacy that their dad and mom had started. So they jumped into learning as much about the business as they could, with the …

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49. Origins, Growth, and Lessons from a $60M Machining Company with Matt Wardle from JD Machine 1:12:26

2y ago1:12:26

1:12:26

49. Origins, Growth, and Lessons from a $60M Machining Company Matt Wardle is the president and owner of JD Machine, a three generation family-run precision machining business in Ogden Utah with over 200 employees and doing $60M in revenue. Originally founded by his father, and now with Matt's kids coming up in the business, JD Machine has realized…