Manufacturing Mavericks

We’re closing out 2025 by spotlighting the leaders who aren’t just talking about the future of manufacturing—they’re building it in real time. This wrap-up episode features five voices who are rewriting what modern leadership on the shop floor actually looks like today—and where it's headed. Hear from five industry leaders, Adam Gordon , Daniel Anglemyer , Rebekah Colligan , Eric Van Orden , and R...

What does PMPA leadership in modern manufacturing really look like? In this episode of Manufacturing Mavericks , we sit down with Brian Adams , President of the Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA) , for a candid and wide-ranging conversation, recorded live at Datanomix HQ in Nashua, NH. Brian shares his personal journey from sweeping the shop floor at his family business to eventually l...

In this episode of Manufacturing Mavericks , we're heading to Salt Lake City to talk with Steve Van Orden and Eric Van Orden —father and son leaders at Paramount Machine . Steve started the company in the family garage with a manual lathe and a bold vision. Now, Eric is helping lead the next chapter of growth with a focus on automation, people-first culture, and smart investments in technology. Er...

What happens when you decide to bet on yourself and back it up with clear goals, data, and follow-through?  In this episode of Manufacturing Mavericks , Greg sits down with Dan Plath , VP of Operations at MedFab Precision Solutions , to talk about what it means to take ownership of your career and your company’s future. Dan shares how he went from being a bored student to driving cultural and oper...

Manufacturing Manager, Daniel Anglemyer , didn’t take the traditional path into manufacturing, and that’s exactly why you’ll want to hear his story. From hog barns and cage fights to union shops and now leadership at Hibshman , Daniel brings grit, humility, and a clear-eyed approach to modern manufacturing! In this episode, he opens up about how culture, not just equipment, drives real change on t...

In this episode, we talk with Christina Collette , GM of Final Frontier Manufacturing (Formerly Action Industries) in Arvada, CO. She shares her path from managing teams in banking to rolling up her sleeves on the shop floor. What pushed the shift? A love of math and a frustration with repetition that evolved into a desire for work that challenged her to think, solve, and build.  Christina breaks...

What does it mean to be CMMC 2.0 Compliant ? Why does it matter, and how do manufacturers tackle it without getting lost in the weeds? Greg interviews Darren Gallop, CEO and founder of Carbide Secure , to cut through the noise on CMMC 2.0 and why starting with a self-assessment is step one . He digs into the certification process, budgeting, and tools available to support you on your journey to co...

In this episode of Manufacturing Mavericks , we’re excited to welcome Rebekah Collogan , a seasoned operations leader with years of experience in optimizing production, scaling teams, and driving continuous improvement on the shop floor. Rebekah shares her journey into manufacturing, her challenges in streamlining operations, and her strategies for boosting efficiency and eliminating bottlenecks....

From a part-time job in college to becoming an equity partner in a thriving machine shop, Kody Guidry 's journey is anything but conventional. In this episode, we explore how Coastal Machine is scaling operations into defense, aerospace, oil & gas, why Kody supports hiring and training inexperienced talent instead of pursuing seasoned machinists, and how developing a strong employee pipeline i...

In this episode of Manufacturing Mavericks, Bob McGregor , President of Neo Industries , shares his journey of turning around a micro-machining company in Colleyville, TX. When Bob purchased the struggling business, he had to navigate financial setbacks and make strategic decisions, including firing unprofitable customers and even sending apology fruit baskets—ultimately leading to success in cont...

In this special year-end episode of Manufacturing Mavericks , we reflect on the fantastic guests we’ve had on the show in 2024 and recap some of their best moments. This episode recaps insightful discussions with shop leaders and industry pioneers who have shared their experiences, challenges, and wisdom with Greg McHale.   Join Greg as he revisits conversations featuring some of the most influent...

In this episode of Manufacturing Mavericks , Greg welcomes Randal Leach , Operations Manager at Ricaurte Precision , to discuss his journey into manufacturing, which didn’t start with love, but his frustrations turned into opportunity when he realized how much better manufacturing processes and work experiences could be with the right culture and technology! Randal and Greg discuss CMMC 2.0 compli...

Adam Gordon is a second-generation leader at Tendon Manufacturing . The sheet metal and fabrication shop, Based in the Cleveland suburb of Warrensville Heights, was co-founded in 1988 by Michael Gordon Sr. and Greg Tench. Both are still very much involved; today, it’s a family affair. Greg’s son heads up programming/engineering, and Adam heads up Operations, working alongside his brother and broth...

We’ve all heard of him, and you’ve seen him everywhere with his red microphone as he visits manufacturers and suppliers worldwide, but now you’ll get to REALLY know him on this podcast episode! America’s Manufacturing MC, Tony Gunn , shares how his internal optimism comes from many failures in life. Tony started from very humble beginnings and almost became a professional athlete, but his trajecto...

On this episode of Manufacturing Mavericks, Greg McHale interviews Rob Caron of Caron Engineering , a true pioneer and the recipient of the 2024 M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal from ASME/SME. Rob shares his journey from unexpectedly finding himself jobless to building a company known for its groundbreaking innovations in advanced sensor and monitoring technology. Hear about how his early fa...

In this episode, Gustavo (Gus) Gutierrez, owner of GC Machining Solutions, takes us through his incredible journey from a 15-year-old who traded coffee for training at his first manufacturing job, to buying his own shop. Gus doesn't shy away from doing the "hard stuff", including moving a shop, implementing an ERP, and is currently managing a shift from 10% medical and dental device manufacturing...

In this episode, Gustavo (Gus) Gutierrez, owner of GC Machining Solutions, takes us through his incredible journey from a 15-year-old who traded coffee for training at his first manufacturing job, to buying his own shop. Gus doesn't shy away from doing the "hard stuff", including moving a shop, implementing an ERP, and is currently managing a shift from 10% medical and dental device manufacturing...

Paul Van Metre is the co-founder of ProShop ERP and a true Manufacturing Maverick . Listen in as he talks with Greg McHale about some of the serendipitous moments that completely changed the course of his life and fueled his passion for manufacturing. Some examples include how his Mom saving a car magazine got him into machining, how a random lab partner assignment on his first day of school turne...

Greg McHale sits down to talk with Mike Payne , Owner of Hill Manufacturing about his unconventional path to becoming a shop owner. Mike was actually helping the previous owner look for a buyer when he decided to make an offer himself. After 25 years in software and private equity, Mike realized that he really liked the can-do attitude and willingness to help each other that manufacturers share. T...

Greg McHale interviews Kylan Hastreiter, Vice President of Hastreiter Industries, located in Marshfield, WI. Kylan’s parents started the shop in the late 1980s in a hog shed with one Makino LeBlond lathe. Today, they specialize in complex parts for the aerospace industry and are a driving force in introducing young people in Wisconsin to manufacturing—even creating a makerspace for students at the...

We launched Manufacturing Mavericks in Late 2023 to tell the stories of people who aren’t afraid to shake things up and stand out from the crowd. We’ve had three fabulous guests so far with many more in the pipeline for 2024: Hernan Ricaurte, President of Ricaurte Precision Inc. Jack Russel, President of ROLAR Products Dave Capkovitz, Principal / Owner of EBITDA Growth Systems To close the year, h...

Serial entrepreneur Dave Capkovitz , of EBITDA Growth Systems , shares how his experiences have shaped how his company helps out manufacturers who fall into the “no man’s land” ($1-$30 million in revenue). He outlines the process his company has developed that guarantees they will double a shop’s valuation in three years. Dave attributes their tremendous success rate to getting clients the data th...

Greg McHale interviews Hernan Ricaurte , President of Ricaurte Precision , on how he went from wanting nothing to do with his Dad’s shop to taking it over and growing it in a very competitive area (southern California) serving extremely competitive markets (aerospace, defense, and medical devices). Hernan also talks about the state of precision machining in general and why he doesn’t like the term...

Greg McHale, the CEO of Datanomix , kicks off the first episode of Manufacturing Mavericks by interviewing Rolar Products CEO Jack Russell. Jack shares his unconventional path from a kid in Muskegon tinkering on a homemade mini bike to buying a 3-person machine shop with his 401k. Jack talks about the importance of creating a great company culture, technology's role in his success, and how he empo...

At Datanomix, we've had the good fortune of visiting hundreds of shops all over the country where we've met some of the most innovative, resilient, and driven leaders in American manufacturing. Manufacturing Mavericks is our way of showcasing these amazing people and how they're improving processes, applying technology, and aligning their company culture to ensure American manufacturing will thriv...