What does it take to run a fab shop, scale a personal brand, and merge two business models—without losing your mind?

In this episode, the Ross Brothers, Rodney Ross & Austin Ross joined us from South Dakota to share how they're navigating their journey of running two different welding businesses. One is rooted in boots on the ground fabrication. The other? A YouTube channel that has turned into a full-blown brand & welding instruction hub. They talk openly about burnout, balancing visionary leadership with structured execution, and the real impact of building your personal brand (even as a welder). This episode is for the folks trying to grow fast, stay grounded, and keep the fire lit in the middle of the chaos.

You'll learn:
- What it looks like to delegate when you're still in the thick of it
- Why YOUR personal brand matters; influencer or not
- How staying authentic on and off the screen opens doors

Timestamps:
01:06 – Welcome to MakingSparks
04:58 – How Mid-State Welding started after years on the pipeline
06:34 – Austin’s YouTube journey and the birth of Ross Welding
09:55 – Why their personalities had to collide to make this work
14:14 – TV appearances, Magnolia Network, and what “natural integration” actually looks like 20:35 – Building trust online through value, not sales pitches
26:34 – How Rodney leads young welders with “There’s always a way”
33:36 – Delegation, burnout, and finding your first real hire
39:20 – Should you train green or hire top talent? Here’s what’s working
45:07 – Final thoughts on grit, gratitude, and moving forward together

Resources:
Lights Out podcast by MakingChips: https://www.makingchips.com/lights-out
By The Numbers with Mike Payne: https://www.makingchips.com/by-the-numbers
Mid State Welding: https://www.midstate-welding.com/
ARossWelding: https://www.arosswelding.com/

What does it really look like to step in as 2nd Generation & a lead a fabrication shop when the 1st Generation is still helping run it?

In this episode, Jason Hayes, President of Top Coat Fabrication, shares his journey as a 2nd generation leader navigating the slow handoff of full responsibility from his parents, while carrying nearly all of the day-to-day load. Jason shares what it's taken to build a culture that people want to return to even AFTER a layoff.

This episode covers how even during market shifts & team fluctuations, they have a focus on scaling without losing trust & investing in team-wide connection every. single. week.

It's not ping pong tables. It's consistency, buy-in, and leadership that shows up.

You'll learn:

• How to scale up and down without losing your culture
• Why simple weekly habits shape long-term culture
• What it looks like to grow your business AND your people at the same time

Timestamps:

01:06 – Welcome to MakingSparks
03:12 – Jason Hayes & Top Coat History
09:18 – Leading alongside Mom & Dad: Where Top Coat is now
14:59 – Who’s running what? A look at their leadership transition
15:18 – Top Coat’s team size & managing workforce fluctuations
16:00 – Culture as the reason people return
21:28 – Weekly company-wide challenges & meetings
26:14 – The real ROI of investing in your people
28:23 – Using LinkedIn to connect, not to close
34:17 – Why showing your values isn’t bad for business
43:01 – The hardest part of leading people—done with grace

Resources:

Top Coat Fabrication on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/top-coat-fabrication/

Jason Hayes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-hayes-3a0a327a/

Lights Out podcast by MakingChips: https://www.makingchips.com/lights-out

By The Numbers with Mike Payne: https://www.makingchips.com/by-the-numbers

SmartDollar by Dave Ramsey: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/business/smartdollar

Forging Ahead: https://www.nixcompanies.com/forging-ahead-book-order/

In this episode, we sit down with Meaghan Ziemba, founder of Mavens of Manufacturing, for a conversation that goes way beyond marketing tactics. We’re talking about what really builds trust in this industry—and spoiler alert: it’s not perfectly polished sales pitches.

We get into why showing up as your real self matters, how content can turn customers into loyal fans, and what it means to expand the table instead of trying to replace people in the chairs. Meaghan shares powerful insight on visibility, mentorship, and how women are carving out space—and confidence—in male-dominated shops.

If you’re tired of marketing that feels fake or forced, this episode is your permission slip to rethink it all. It’s not about chasing numbers. It’s about sharing stories, connecting with people, and building a brand that lasts.

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• [00:00] Meaghan's story and how Mavens of Manufacturing was born

• [09:59] Why expanding the table matters—and how to invite others in

• [21:53] Brand storytelling that builds real trust

• [29:22] Creating loyal fans and building referral-driven work

• [34:26] Selling with solutions (and heart)

• [37:38] The power of personal stories in connecting with customers

• [40:36] Simplifying your marketing strategy—without losing impact

• [43:05] How to connect with Meaghan and her mission

Resources:

Resources: Lights Out Podcast: https://makingchips.com/show/lights-out Buy the Numbers Podcast: https://makingchips.com/show/buy-the-numbers

In this episode of MakingSparks, we dive what went into a first-of-its-kind merger between two 5th generation Metal Fabrication shops: NIX® Industrial and Huncilman Sheet Metal. Hosts Casey and Matthew sit down with Parker Huncilman to unpack the strategic, emotional, and operational decisions that made this merger a win for both sides.

From growth limitations to risk mitigation, and from legacy ownership to forward-thinking leadership, this is a real-world case study in smart, respectful consolidation.

Episode Highlights:

[02:35] – Parker shares Huncilman’s 100+ year history and the early signs that growth was stalling.

[06:42] – Why Parker couldn’t buy the company outright—and how that opened the door to a unique merger.

[12:28] – Matthew breaks down the "not a buyout" mindset, and why shared vision mattered more than control.

[16:15] – How Parker transitioned from shop manager to partial owner—and how they made the transition so smooth.

[22:47] – The calculated risk behind the merger: how both generations protected their future.

[29:10] – What other fab shop leaders should consider if they’re facing similar growth or succession challenges.

Resources:

Lights Out Podcast: https://makingchips.com/show/lights-out/
Buy the Numbers Podcast: https://makingchips.com/show/buy-the-numbers/
Merger Press Release: https://www.nixcompanies.com/nixindustrial-huncilman-merger/

Jake LeGrand joins us to talk about the grind, the grit, and the growth — both in the shop and online.

By day, he’s an architectural engineer. By night, he’s building a brand with a welding torch and a sketchpad. With over 19,000 followers and clients finding him through Instagram DMs, Jake is living proof that showing your work can turn into real sales — even in metal fabrication.

This episode dives into how he picked up fabrication without shop class, how social media turned into a pipeline, and what it really takes to build a following while holding down a full-time job.

Episode Highlights:

• 02:58 – Jake LeGrand’s journey from small-town kid to sign builder in Kansas City.

• 03:37 – From engineering student to hands-on researcher with a passion for welding.

• 06:56 – How missing shop class almost derailed his career and the shift to fabrication.

• 14:26 – Turning a garage hobby into a legit business and the power of creative fabrication.

• 29:40 – Using social media, viral posts, and Instagram DMs to grow a brand and land jobs.

• 42:37 – How consistency and real-world experience drive modern manufacturing success.

If you’re still treating social media like a distraction, you’re missing a serious opportunity. This episode will change how you think about showing your work — and what it can bring your shop.

Resources:

LeGrand MetalWorks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legrandmetalworks?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Lights Out Podcast: https://makingchips.com/show/lights-out/

Buy the Numbers Podcast: https://makingchips.com/show/buy-the-numbers/

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 recent Federal decisions to defund these programs—without clear communication or reasoning—have sparked confusion and alarm among industry insiders.

In this episode, a passionate roundtable of manufacturers and advocates reveals just how deeply the MEPs have shaped their businesses, supported workforce development, and opened doors to opportunity they couldn’t have accessed alone. From AR-integrated quoting tools to automation investment guidance, these stories show a clear economic impact that extends far beyond individual shops—right into the health of local communities and the national manufacturing strategy.

If you're just hearing about MEPs now, you're not alone—but you are at risk. This conversation lays out what’s at stake, why it matters, and what you can do right now to help save a resource that quietly powers tens of thousands of manufacturers nationwide.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/WNjevmTNUu4

VideoAsk: https://www.videoask.com/fiyvfkcdd

Nush Ahmed, better known as 'Miss Swiss' joins us to discuss her journey in the machining world, her massive growth through social media, and how she is encouraging the next generation to give the Manufacturing Industry a shot.

From massive growth on LinkedIn to creating a community where hundreds of women in trades interact & encourage each other, Nush is reaching the next generation. You don't want to miss out on how you can be apart of it!

Episode Highlights:

05:30 - Introduction to MakingSparks + Nush
07:31 - Nush's Background & How She Got into Manufacturing
12:32 - Importance of Putting Yourself Out There
16:21 - Intro to Sister of the Trades
23:43 - Advice for Younger Generations Considering the Trades
29:04 - Mental Health & Job Satisfaction
33:05 - What is NextGenMFG?
35:25 - Nush's Journey on the Shop Floor

If you want your shop to grow in the upcoming years, this next generation is the key to that - You don't want to miss this episode!

Resources:

Nush's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nushrata/
Join Sisterhood of Trades: https://discord.gg/5N4GSBgf7e
Next Gen MFG Podcast: https://tr.ee/ypKGkTfIJ9
Buy The Numbers Podcast: https://makingchips.com/show/buy-the-numbers/
Lights Out Podcast: https://makingchips.com/show/lights-out/