79. The BTM Blueprint: Collaboration, Culture, and Growth
Release Date: 05/21/2025
92. Are PE Firms Ruining Machining? A New & Better Model for Buying Shops with Mark Hillenburg
Machine Shop Mastery
Over the last decade, I’ve watched private equity surge into the machining world — and I’ve seen firsthand how often the short-term flip-in-five-years strategy ends up hurting shops, people, customers, and entire supply chains. While the capital can help, the incentives often drive decisions that weaken the very businesses PE firms acquire. But every now and then, someone comes along with a model that stops you in your tracks because it actually makes sense for our industry. That someone is Mark Hillenburg, co-founder of Collective Manufacturing Group, a company built on a...
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91. Passion and Excellence Personified with Ty Haguewood
Machine Shop Mastery
As a host, I’ve met hundreds of shop owners, but every once in a while, I meet someone whose story stops me in my tracks. Ty Haguewood, General Manager and CFO of Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (MTI) and Stone Mather Designs (SMD), is one of those people. Ty didn’t grow up in manufacturing—he was a finance professional who took a random tour of a machine shop six years ago and walked out forever changed. What started as curiosity became a calling. Today, Ty helps lead two growing businesses north of Albuquerque, New Mexico—one serving precision aerospace customers and...
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90. Burnout Killed This Machine Shop
Machine Shop Mastery
When you’ve poured 46 years of your life into building a thriving precision machine shop—one that grew from a one-man garage to 50 employees, world-class equipment, and top-tier aerospace customers—you don’t expect it to end with burnout. In this deeply candid episode, I sit down with Cody Sisson, a lifelong machinist who built a remarkable business through decades of grit, innovation, and commitment to excellence—only to watch it collapse under the weight of exhaustion, health crises, and a perfect storm of setbacks. Cody opens up about the early days of his shop, the thrill of...
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89. Lessons Learned from Buying & Losing a Machine Shop | Mark Heston
Machine Shop Mastery
In this powerful and deeply candid conversation, I sat down with Mark Heston, who first appeared on Episode 51 to share his story of buying and rebuilding an aerospace machine shop specializing in landing-gear components. At that time, the business was on an upward trajectory — improving culture, repricing work, and investing in growth. But behind the scenes, hidden challenges were forming that would ultimately lead to an unexpected and difficult ending. In this follow-up episode, Mark opens up about what happened next—the liquidity crisis, the missteps in financial due diligence, and the...
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88. Learning, Building & Teaching with John Saunders
Machine Shop Mastery
I’ve admired John Saunders for a long time. Most of you probably know him as the force behind the NYC CNC YouTube channel, the Business of Machining podcast, and of course, Saunders Machine Works. John has been creating content, teaching, and inspiring machinists since long before it was “cool” to do so online. In fact, he’s one of the first people I think of when someone says they learned machining from YouTube. When we sat down for this conversation, I wanted to go deeper than the usual “how’d you get started” story. We talked about the real journey of moving from hobbyist to...
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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...
info_outlineIn 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 the shop from old-school processes and undocumented tribal knowledge into a modern, ISO-certified job shop with an eye toward continued growth. Kyra shares candidly about the challenges of taking over from her father, navigating culture change, building an apprenticeship program, and leveraging MEP grants and peer groups to grow her business and team.
This conversation is a roadmap for any shop owner who's been putting off change, underestimating the power of collaboration, or unsure where to start when it comes to scaling smarter—not just bigger.
Kyra’s journey proves that transformation doesn’t require perfection—it requires community, commitment, and a willingness to be both humble and hungry. Whether you're a next-gen leader or seasoned veteran, this episode is full of the kind of real talk and actionable advice that'll get you thinking differently.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
- (0:00) Goofballs with grit: The culture inside BTM Industries
- (0:31) Stay tuned for registration information about Top Shops 2025
- (1:31) Introducing Kyra Tillman: Queen of resources and collaboration
- (3:46) Shop snapshot: BTM’s low-volume, high-variety machining work
- (5:30) The origin story: From grandfather’s founding to Kyra’s return
- (9:12) Doubling revenue with the same headcount
- (11:28) Email campaigns and grant-funded lead gen
- (15:21) Collaborating with MEPs and why you should too
- (18:00) The power of industry groups like NTMA and peer networks
- (28:23) Culture change: From isolation to cross-training and teamwork
- (30:18) Grow your top and bottom-line with CLA
- (32:55) The family buyout and post-transition challenges
- (36:30) ERP systems, ISO certification, and lessons from poor fits
- (40:00) Hiring for character, training for skill
- (43:36) Tracking metrics and fostering team transparency
- (45:41) Getting comfortable with growth and being the face of the business
- (47:05) Culture wins: T-shirt design contests, Nerf wars, and tacos
- (49:48) Strategic decisions: Standardizing machines and tools
- (52:23) Advice for successors and new shop owners: Find your support system
- (53:52) Kyra’s opinion on the trajectory of manufacturing
- (56:14) Why you need to listen to the Lights Out podcast
Resources & People Mentioned
- Stay tuned for registration information about Top Shops 2025
- NTMA
- 10,000 Small Businesses
- Vistage
- Grow your top and bottom-line with CLA
- Manufacturing Pathways Consortium
Connect with Kyra Tillman
- Connect on LinkedIn
- BTM Industries
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Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK