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Embracing the Family Aspect of Business with Tad Dickel Part 2

Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders

Release Date: 07/30/2024

Passing the Torch: The Next Chapter of MakingSparks, Ep #60

Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders

Change in manufacturing rarely comes quietly—and neither does progress. In this special episode of MakingSparks, longtime hosts Matthew Nix and Casey Velker take a moment to reflect, rewind, and ultimately pass the mic to the next voice of the show: Brendon DiVicenzo. It’s not an ending—it’s a handoff mid-stride. Matthew and Casey revisit the origin story of MakingSparks, from a short-run idea built around 100x growth to a full-fledged podcast embedded in the MakingChips ecosystem. Along the way, they’ve built something bigger than episodes—a platform for honest...

The Hard Truth About Pricing Your Work

Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders

In this episode, hosts Matthew and Casey sit down with Codie Aljets, owner and artist behind Sage Country Customs, to talk about the realities of building a business around custom metal art. Codie shares how he turned his passion for high-detail metal artwork into a full-time career, the lessons he’s learned about pricing creative work, and why relationships, storytelling, and value matter just as much as the craftsmanship itself. From navigating the business side of being an artist to building meaningful pieces that clients will treasure for generations, this conversation dives deep into...

What Modern Fabricators Can Learn from Blacksmiths

Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders

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The Critical Few: How to Focus Your Business for Real Growth

Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders

🔥 Welcome to Making Sparks, the podcast where we ignite your passion for metal fabrication and fuel your business success! 🔥 In this episode, hosts Matthew and Casey sit down with executive coach Brent Rasche to unpack what strategic planning really looks like inside a growing manufacturing business. From shiny object syndrome to identifying the “critical few,” this conversation dives deep into why planning isn’t a one-time offsite event — it’s a discipline that must be exercised consistently. They discuss how to build a leadership rhythm that sticks, why transparency drives...

The Price of Progress: Investing in Machines, People, and Trust

Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders

🔥 Welcome to Making Sparks, the podcast where we ignite your passion for metal fabrication and fuel your business success! 🔥 In this episode, hosts Matthew and Casey sit down with Rob Sublette of Mountain Man Welding and Fabrication to talk about leadership, ownership transitions, smart investment in equipment, and building a business that thrives on quality and process. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why investing in your business can inspire confidence in your team - How buying the right equipment sets up long-term growth - The importance of balancing financial realities with...

From Logos to Legacy: Why Your Brand Needs a Story

Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders

When your back is against the wall, you don’t get a playbook. You get a choice. From credit card debt and loan sharks to customs audits and six-figure B2B deals, this episode breaks down what it really looks like to build a business when you have no experience, no safety net, and no margin for error. Host Casey Voelker and co-host Matthew Nix sit down with Nick Scrivens of Forged Fabrics to unpack how storytelling, quality, and grit turned a struggling apparel startup into a premium B2B brand serving household-name manufacturers. This isn’t just a conversation about shirts. It’s about...

From the Shop Floor to Magnolia Network: Why Authenticity Wins

Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders

You don’t end up on the Magnolia Network by accident. You earn it through craftsmanship, discipline, and work that speaks for itself. In this episode of Making Sparks, host's Matthew Nix and Casey Voelker sits down with Rodney Ross and Jared “Cappie” Capp, the builders, craftsmen, and storytellers behind work that blends tradition with modern visibility. From hands-on trade skills to national recognition, this conversation digs into what it really takes to build credibility that lasts. Rodney and Cappie share their perspective on craftsmanship, leadership, and why authenticity still...

The Science Behind Better Welders and Better Shops

Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders

Most fab shops say they can’t find good welders. Nate Bowman says that’s not the real problem. From outdated training models to unclear career pathways to leaders expecting loyalty without direction, this episode breaks down why shops struggle to hire and retain talent and what to do instead. Live from FABTECH 2025, host Casey Voelker sits down with Nate Bowman, aka The Weld Scientist, to unpack the real science behind training welders, building sustainable career paths, and adopting technology without falling for hype. This conversation connects people, process, and innovation in a way...

You Can’t Elbow Your Way to Leadership — Goodhart Sons’ Wake-Up Call

Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders

Most fab shops talk about culture. Marc and Mike Goodhart had to rebuild theirs. From stepping into a fifth-generation family business… to confronting the hard truth that you can’t “muscle” your way into leadership… to reshaping a 90-year-old company around accountability, clarity, and people—the Goodhart brothers’ story is a blueprint for every shop trying to build something that lasts. In this episode, Marc and Mike open up about the real work behind succession, culture, profit-sharing, next-gen recruiting, and running a family business with honesty and humility. Their insights...

Reviving the Trades: Santiago Rivera on Tough Love, Structure, and Second Chances

Making Sparks Podcast for Fabrication Leaders

Most welding instructors teach technique. Santiago Rivera teaches transformation. From learning to weld left-handed for a car… to surviving addiction… to rebuilding a welding program that changed hundreds of students’ lives—Santiago’s story is one of grit, redemption, and unwavering purpose. In this episode, Santiago opens up about the journey that shaped him, the students who motivate him, and the leadership philosophy that’s helping revive the trades for the next generation. It’s not just about welding. It’s about building people. In this episode, you’ll learn: How a...

More Episodes

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.

– Matthew Nix

If you missed part 1, go back and listen HERE.

Segments

[0:56] Palo Alto Zero Trust OT Security
[4:38] Casey’s dad joke
[5:30] Common challenges family businesses face
[7:28] Spark of Knowledge: Social media
[8:40] How to have hard conversations
[10:07] Tad’s thoughts on family governance
[16:50] The purpose of the family council
[19:49] Palo Alto Zero Trust OT Security
[21:24] Open communication is the goal
[26:08] When a small business should start
[31:10] Think about the future now
[32:30] Thomasnet programs

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