Libsyn Directory

83. Crafting Success: Insights from Barry Walter Jr. on Company Culture

Release Date: 07/16/2025

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

More Episodes

What struck me most is how intentional Barry is—not just with his machines or his marketing, but with how he leads. From rigorous multi-stage hiring to monthly team celebrations to offering PTO in exchange for nonprofit volunteering, Barry’s built a workplace that lives out its core values every single day. Family first. Serve others. Made in America matters. And yes—work should be fulfilling.

We also dive into the financial roadblocks that nearly brought the company to its knees and how Barry led the turnaround through culture, cost discipline, and strategic pricing. You’ll also hear how he’s passing the torch to the next generation—with three of his kids now working in the business—and why he replaced third-party sales reps with his own son, who now makes 60+ customer visits per week across the western U.S.

This episode is packed with lessons on leadership, lean operations, OEM manufacturing, and building a resilient business that people actually want to work for. I think you’re going to love this conversation as much as I did.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

(0:10) Grow your top and bottom-line with CLA
(1:20) Barry’s podcast obsession and love for the machining community
(3:20) The origin story: From Navy machinist to garage startup
(7:00?) Surviving multiple failed business partnerships before the family took over
(9:34) Barry’s journey from psych hospital worker to screw machine operator
(10:51) Growing to 15 CNC lathes and 37 team members—still hiring
(14:00) Taking over the business from his father in 2015
(18:33) Creating a workplace culture of trust, transparency, and ownership
(21:00) What makes the culture at Barry E Walter Sr Co different
(24:19) The financial reckoning: Working with EBITDA Growth Systems to level up operations
(29:28) Building a national B2B customer base and using tech like HubSpot + MapMyCustomer
(34:17) Stay tuned for Top Shops 2025 registration
(35:28) Competitive edge: responsiveness, service, and American-made value
(39:10) Impact of cultural change on employee retention and buy-in
(41:09) Their 3-4 step hiring process, including “spousal interviews” and cultural fit
(45:51) Final core value: Work should be fulfilling
(48:09) In-house machinist training: from programming to tool grinding
(55:22) Acquiring businesses to build their portfolio
(1:00:18) The power of storytelling, shared values, and servant leadership
(1:04:16) Recruit the right leaders for your shop with Hire MFG Leaders

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Barry Walter Jr.

Barry E. Walter Sr. Company
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You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Barry Walter Jr.

Connect With Machine Shop Mastery

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