77. Strategy & Execution Wins Customers - Matt Gawlik of 3D Graphite
Release Date: 04/23/2025
87. People and Technology: Building an Enduring Shop
Machine Shop Mastery
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 forward nearly three decades, and the company has grown into a 75-person operation with more than 30 machines, including palletized horizontals, multi-spindle lathes, and 5-axis mills. What impressed me most, though, wasn’t the...
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86. Using Business to Build People: Sam Thevanayagam’s Model for Manufacturing Leadership
Machine Shop Mastery
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 downsizing his home to fund his dream, to acquiring a bankrupt business and transforming it into a thriving, mission-driven company employing nearly 200 people. What struck me most about Sam is not just his sharp business acumen or the bold risks he’s...
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85. Buying a Machine Shop for All the Right Reasons - Scott Bruneau from Delaware Metals
Machine Shop Mastery
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 investment in American manufacturing, their team, and their community. With over 20 years in the industry himself, Scott knew the road ahead would be demanding. But armed with a clear “why,” a strong culture-first mindset, and a...
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84. Facing Fears and Building an Emotionally Safe Workplace | Dana Gruber
Machine Shop Mastery
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 herself drawn back into the family business with a mission that goes beyond precision parts: Creating an emotionally safe and psychologically aware workplace. From investing in cutting-edge technology like 3D metal printing to redefining...
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83. Crafting Success: Insights from Barry Walter Jr. on Company Culture
Machine Shop Mastery
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 parts OEM into an 8-figure, high-mix/low-volume powerhouse with 37 team members, 15 CNC lathes, and a customer service model that makes his buyers the heroes. What struck me most is how intentional Barry is—not just with his machines or...
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82. Belief and Brotherhood with Kelly Denison
Machine Shop Mastery
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 opportunity, growth, and purpose. In our conversation, we talked about what it means to carry forward a legacy. Kelly’s dad bought the business in 2000, and by 2020, Kelly had earned his way into full ownership—not by entitlement, but by doing...
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81. Perseverance and Processes with Rhys Andersen
Machine Shop Mastery
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 precision machining is anything but conventional. From wildland firefighting to architecture school to a series of trial-by-fire business ventures, Rhys took the long road to building a thriving aerospace and defense machine shop. You’ll...
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80. 4x Your Money with Machine Shops with Mike Payne
Machine Shop Mastery
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 thriving, high-value operations—without starting from scratch. Mike walks us through his bolt-on acquisition strategy, sharing how he targets shops with legacy customers, retiring owners, and underutilized assets. But the real...
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79. The BTM Blueprint: Collaboration, Culture, and Growth
Machine Shop Mastery
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 for finding and using resources, Kyra has turned a quiet, closed-door machine shop into a vibrant, collaborative, culture-driven powerhouse—one where growth and fun coexist, Nerf guns included. We dig deep into how she transitioned...
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78. The Power of Being Mission Driven - Court Durkalski of Truline Industries
Machine Shop Mastery
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 is about. I sat down with Court Durkalski, CEO of Truline Industries, and honestly, this conversation hit me harder than most. Court runs a $23 million aerospace machining company with 120 employees—and they give away 10% of...
info_outlineWhat 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 through business wins, failures, and the strategies that separate thriving shops from the ones barely hanging on.
From his early roots in a multi-generational manufacturing family to building 3D Graphite into a tightly focused, high-performing operation, Matt shares hard-won lessons about the value of specialization, the power of investing in elite equipment, and why systems—not micromanagement—should run your shop. His take on partnerships is equally honest: most are a sinking ship unless you go in with rock-solid agreements and aligned values.
But the real anchor of this episode is Matt’s perspective on sales. “Sales is the tip of the spear,” he says—and without a full pipeline, your business ends up serving the wrong customers and losing money in the process. He lays out how smart, honest marketing and brand clarity can unlock better-fit clients, smoother operations, and a more profitable shop.
If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to level up your manufacturing business, this episode delivers straight talk, sharp insight, and more than a few mic-drop moments.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
- (0:09) Unlock hidden revenue: How CLA helps manufacturers grow profitably
- (1:24) Meet Matt Gawlik: Serial entrepreneur, niche expert, and straight shooter
- (3:46) From family business to seven ventures: Matt’s hard-won startup lessons
- (6:19) The truth about partnerships—and why most are doomed from the start
- (9:45) Why high-end equipment like Röders gave Matt a serious edge
- (17:33) How smart setups + elite machines = unbeatable profitability
- (21:52) The fast track to innovation: YouTube, tool reps, and expert help
- (23:24) Benchmark your shop: Why the Top Shop Survey is a no-brainer
- (25:18) Culture that performs: Grit, self-awareness, and emotional maturity
- (29:24) Sales is survival: Why most shops are stuck—and how to break free
- (34:19) Don’t do it all: Why niche focus is your most powerful strategy
- (37:32) Matt’s playbook for marketing a machine shop the smart way
- (43:26) Final takeaways: Systems, people, and the power of staying focused
- (46:54) Why you need to check out the MakingSparks podcast
Resources & People Mentioned
- Learn how to grow your top and bottom-line with CLA
- Know how your shop stacks up by taking the Top Shop Survey
- Angela Duckworth’s Grit Scale
- The Enneagram Types
- The Sales Bible
- Obviously Awesome
- Start with Why
Connect with Matt Gawlik
- Connect on LinkedIn
- 3D Graphite and Machining
Connect With Machine Shop Mastery
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Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK