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 custom…

In Part 2 of our chat with Parker Huncilman, we get into what happened after the deal was done. From day-one chaos to tough conversations with employees, Parker walks us through what it really looked like to merge two long-standing fab shops. We talk through lessons learned, missteps along the way, and how they worked to bring two teams together wi…

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…

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 …

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…

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,…

In this episode of MakingSparks, we sit down with John King, owner of JK Welding, whose story of grit, perseverance, and passion for the trade embodies the spirit of metal fabrication. From starting as a janitor in a welding shop to running a thriving Texas-based business known for tackling massive, unique projects—like the world’s largest wind chi…

Most fabrication shops struggle with quoting—whether it’s using outdated spreadsheets, clunky ERP systems, or just not having the time to do it right. In this episode, we sit down with Jason Ray, CEO and co-founder of Paperless Parts, to talk about how modern software can make quoting faster, more accurate, and actually help your shop make more mon…

In this episode, Casey and Matthew sit down with Beau Wigington from Weld.com to explore how digital content is reshaping welding education and career growth. Beau shares his journey from being a musician to becoming a full-time content creator in the welding industry. They dive into the impact of social media, YouTube, and online learning in makin…

In this episode, Matthew and Casey sit down with Lee from Bryzos to dive into how the company is reshaping the steel pricing landscape and offering innovative solutions to fabricators. They dive into the word of instant pricing and streamlined procurement in the metal industry. Episode Highlights: [00:00:07] Lee explains how Bryzos is transforming …

In this special FABTECH edition of Making Sparks, Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix sit down with Nick Goellner and Mike Payne to explore the value of conferences like FABTECH for driving business growth, building relationships, and planning for the future of metal fabrication. 🎙 Episode Highlights: [0:28] Why building relationships at FABTECH is more …

In this special FABTECH edition of Making Sparks, Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix sit down with two incredible guests, Barbie the Welder and Sarah Stotk, to dive into the artistry, resilience, and transformative power of welding. 🎙 Episode Highlights: 🔹 [2:00] Meet Barbie and Sarah, two trailblazing welding artists turning raw metal into breathtaking…

In this special FabTech edition episode, we sat down with Jim Mayer, Founder of the Manufacturing Connector, and Mike Payne, Owner at Hill Manufacturing and the host of Buy the Numbers, to discuss the real driving force behind the industry: its people. From leadership lessons to celebrating the collaborative spirit of the industry, this episode div…

In this episode of MakingSparks, we sit down with Matt Bush, co-founder of Hirebotics, to explore how cobot welding is addressing one of manufacturing's biggest challenges: the labor shortage. From streamlining automation to delivering consistent weld quality, Matt shares how cobots are revolutionizing fabrication for shops of all sizes. We also di…

In this episode of Making Sparks, we sit down with Joshua Battles from Forge and Tripp Hudson of Machine Pilot and The Way Automation to dive into the transformative power of automation in small job shops. From laser cutting and robotic integration to making automation accessible for low-volume work, Joshua and Tripp share practical insights and re…

In this episode of MakingSparks, Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix sit down with Sam Gingerich, a 21-year-old shop manager at Wertzbaugher Services, to talk about the unique challenges of leading a team in the metal fabrication and trailer repair industry. Sam shares his story of growing from a technician into a leadership role, navigating the complexi…

In this episode of Making Sparks, Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix sit down with Noah Dell, president of Champion Bridge, to explore the journey of a 150-year-old company embracing the future. Noah shares his experience taking over the family business, from updating old-school processes to integrating a brand-new Python beam line that’s transforming t…

Curious about what sets American manufacturing apart? In this episode of MakingSparks, Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix sit down with leaders from Pacific Press to uncover what it takes to be a standout in today’s competitive landscape. From their deep-rooted history to their hands-on approach to quality, Pacific Press’s story is a testament to Americ…

Curious about leadership and growth in manufacturing? In this episode of Making Sparks, Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix sit down with Jim Stratman to discuss leadership strategies, culture, and business development in the plastics industry. Jim shares his 32-year journey building his company, from starting with a $5,000 credit card to achieving a pri…

Curious about leadership and growth in metal fabrication? In this episode of Making Sparks, Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix sit down with Jeff Salyer from Wysong Manufacturing to discuss the importance of culture, leadership, and business strategy in the fabrication industry. Jeff shares his journey from law enforcement to marketing, and how Wysong h…

Looking to break into the fabrication industry or curious about the leap from corporate life to business ownership? In this episode of MakingSparks, Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix chat with Jeff Matuszak, a former finance executive who transitioned into owning a successful fabrication shop. Jeff shares how he navigated the jump from corporate boardr…

Curious about to navigate a sales downtown in industrial manufacturing? In this episode of MakingSparks, Casey Voelker and Matthew Nix dive into the power of leveraging CRM systems like Pipedrive to drive business growth. They share their journey of customizing Pipedrive to fit their needs. The hosts also discuss the challenges of navigating econom…

Did you know that the way you're marketing right now could be your secret weapon for massive growth? In this eye-opening episode of MakingSparks, we dive deep with Alissa Paik, an expert in leveraging existing marketing efforts combined with new opportunities to improve your brand perception and marketing results. Alissa shares invaluable insights …

There are over 1 billion users on LinkedIn worldwide, 200 million of which are in the United States. Manufacturing is one of the largest industry segments represented on LinkedIn. Interestingly, LinkedIn is rewarding people who create content and share it on their platform. Why? It’s simple—they need more content. It’s time for manufacturing and fa…

What’s keeping you up at night? What are you excited about? It’s important to reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly. Why? First and foremost, to learn from our mistakes. But secondly, to embrace gratitude. Even despite challenges and setbacks, there’s always room for gratefulness and thankfulness. So in this episode of MakingSparks, Casey and …

Did you know that only about 6% of welders are women? Women bring a much-needed perspective and expertise to the table. So how do we get more women in welding? NIX has actively been trying to recruit, hire, and retain more women. In this episode of MakingSparks, we sit down with Tori Guzman and Aubree Beyer to hear what they think we can do—or cont…

Mike Payne has spent the last 20+ years deeply entrenched in the M&A process with dozens of companies throughout Oklahoma. Early in his career, he realized he loved the world of manufacturing. He also learned that he enjoyed operating a business. He was just waiting for the right opportunity to unfold. Then it happened: Six years ago, Mike was able…

You need to know the “numbers” in your business. Every business owner needs to know that they’re making enough to pay their employees, make and deliver their products, and grow the business. That’s just good business. Non-financial metrics are important, too. A successful business has to focus on quality, safety, customer service, on-time delivery,…

How can leadership remain connected to what’s happening on the shop floor? At Nix, we’ve found a creative way to bridge a gap that many businesses experience. We’ve implemented a program that allows our front line to address problems and propose solutions so that their everyday real-world problems are being fixed. Dakota Hunt and Jack Henry Hagan r…

How do we recruit more young talent to fabrication? How do we navigate rapid growth balanced with training and development? How do we help develop young talent into our future leaders? These are just a few questions we wrestle with in this episode of MakingSparks with special guests Dakota Hunt and Jack Henry Hagan. – Matthew Nix Segments [0:48] Jo…

BWXT Mount Vernon produces components for naval nuclear reactors, used in submarines and aircraft carriers. Their sprawling facility is home to CNC machine tools and sophisticated welding and heat-treating equipment. In this episode of MakingSparks, General Manager Nate Foote shares more about their commitment to processes, their recruiting practic…

What are the pros and cons of plasma cutters vs. water jets vs. lasers? How does cutting with nitrogen differ from cutting with oxygen? How is technology driving innovation in fabrication? R.J. Reed and Brendon DiVincenzo join us in this episode of MakingSparks to cover all things lasers and fabrication. Because if you’re not MakingSparks with the …

Every family business that’s growing and expanding runs into some challenges. From navigating tough conversations with family to determining a centralized versus decentralized model, there are numerous things to consider. Joe Patterson’s family business overcame the challenges that came their way and expanded globally. However, they had lofty goals…

Communication with your family? How do you foster open communication in difficult conversations? Running a family business is full of unique challenges—and successes—that many other businesses don’t have to think about. But navigating those challenges doesn’t have to be difficult. Tad Dickel returns in this episode of MakingSparks to cover it all. …

Nix Companies is a fifth-generation family business in an industry that's predominantly privately held and family-owned. Family-owned businesses are the fabric of our economy. Today’s guest on MakingSparks, Tad Dickel, is a Leadership & Strategy Consultant with a special interest in family-owned businesses. He helps them with everything from govern…

What is FabTech? Why should anyone in welding, fabrication, metal forming, or finishing attend FabTech? They not only hold seminars and have booths and exhibitors to visit. You won’t only learn about trends in technology and meet with potential suppliers. Most importantly, you’ll be able to network. In this episode of MakingSparks recorded live at …

Recruiting in manufacturing can be difficult. Many students are taught the traditional “Graduate high school and go to college for four years” mentality. While there’s nothing wrong with taking that route, how do we capture the attention of young talent? How do we make them see the career trajectory available in welding or fabrication? Lindsey Nix …

Most mom-and-pop shops don’t have to worry about recruiting, hiring, and retaining talent until they decide they want to grow. When you find yourself needing to recruit and hire talent, where do you start? Start with your core values. Your company needs core values and a clear mission and vision to hire the right people, build the right culture, an…

MakingSparks has officially arrived! Matthew Nix and I, Casey Voelker, are here to speak to the welding and fabrication industry. And just like MakingChips, we want to equip and inspire while attracting the next generation. Everyone will have some takeaways from MakingSparks. In this episode, Matthew shares more about Nix Companies and their explos…

Bene venistis in hunc sermonem decimum alterum quo fere nihil dico! Immo, libere loquor aliquantum super studiis doctoralibus jam confectis (i.e. primum vos alloquor Doctor Philosophiæ!) & officiis meis nuperrimis. Mentionem facio pelliculæ Saturæ Lancis quam invenire potestis hic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNbsJ-QimQo. Si me non nostis, sum …

Ecca fabula clarissima Johannis Nivis et antleæ contra choleram. Mementote te posse me sequi in Pipiatorio apud @SalviSitisPod et epistulas electronicas mihi mittere apud [email protected]. Musica (c) Scott Holmes Music.By Matthew Jay

Hac occasione vobiscum loquor primum capitulum libri Guilielmi Harveji quod simplificavi. Textus aptus est discentibus qui Familiam Romanam perlegerunt. Deonerari potest ex https://matthewjayepi.com/de-motu-cordis/. Musica (c) Scott Holmes Music.By Matthew Jay

Hac occasione de negotiis meis nuperis loquor præsertim de methodo statisticá c.n. «Analysis Gregum Latentium» sive Anglice «Latent Class Analysis» quá in investigationibus doctoralibus meis utor. Deonerare versionem meam libri de motus cordis, cujus mention in sermone facio, licet hic: https://matthewjayresearch.wordpress.com/de-motu-cordis/…

Hodie fabulam Semmelweis narro in quá invenit necessitatem manuum lavandarum. Cave me prave dixisse (præter alia menda!) «majocomii» pro «majocomia» anteriori in quádam parte.By Matthew Jay

Hoc in sermone, minus polito et breviori quam solito, de nomine hujus víri quod nos his diebus premit loquor, et de discrimine inter morbum et vírus ipsum.By Matthæus Jay

Hoc in sermone super motu cordis et sanguinis loquor. Guilielmus Harvejus librum præstantissimum de hac re scripsit et potestis editionem meam invenire apud https://matthewjayresearch.wordpress.com/de-motu-cordis/. Musica © Scott Holmes Music.By Matthæus Jay

Quid est Data Science? Estne philosophia naturalis? Quid est scientia? Quid interest inter technologiam et philosophiam naturalem secundum Senecam? Quomodo possumus exprimere Data Science Latine? Audite ut sciatis!By Matthæs Jay

Hodie pergimus ad res alias res methodologicas explanandas. Explano quid sit quantitas variabilis et quænam sint eventus, expositio et variabilis confundens (si his vocabilis mihi licet utí).

Sermo hodiernus de methodis est. Explano quæ sint præcipuæ structuræ investigationum epidemiologicarum. Sermo proximus methodis, præsertim statistics, dicatus erit. Nolite oblivisci subcribere et sequi me in Pipiatorio: @SalviSitisPod. Et dicatis quæso quid censeatis! Potestis quoque mittere mihi epistulam electronicam apud matthew.jay.15[at]ucl.ac…

Agitur de causis cur investigationem doloris longi suscepimus, præsertim investigationem positionis socialis œconomicæ. Loquor ergo de epidemiolgiá sociali, quæ est provincia epidemiolgiæ quæ res sociales et quomodo salutem afficiant investigat, et de distributione doloris longi. Hæc est prima pars sermonis de illá investigatione; partes subsequent…