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_outlineI’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 entrepreneur, how he built a thriving fixture plate and workholding company in Ohio, and—what I think many shop owners will appreciate—how he’s structured his business so he can actually step away for weeks at a time without things falling apart.
John shares how his early projects, like designing a better rifle target during college, taught him hard lessons about product development and manufacturing. He explains the tools, machines, and workflows that make Saunders Machine Works tick today, from automated horizontals to Willman lathes, and why he’s thinking hard about one-piece flow and robotics.
We also dive into how he developed his famous training classes, why lean manufacturing and clear processes matter more than ever, and how he balances all of this with family, passion projects, and building a humanoid robot—yes, Johnny Five—from scratch. This episode is full of insights for anyone running a shop or dreaming about launching their own product line.
If you’ve ever wanted to peek inside the mind of one of the most generous and innovative creators in our industry, this conversation is for you.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
- (0:00) Introducing John Saunders and his career journey in manufacturing
- (7:13) Why we love the transparency of Phoenix Heat Treating
- (8:20) Starting NYC CNC YouTube channel and sharing his learning journey publicly
- (13:50) Turning the tables: How we feel about ChatGPT sharing our content
- (16:20) Launching Saunders Machine Works and creating fixture plates and mod vises
- (21:38) Building a custom ERP to manage thousands of SKUs and empower employees
- (23:22) Evolving production with horizontals, Willman machines, and one-piece flow thinking
- (29:15) See me at EBITDA Growth Systems Double Your Value Event
- (31:58) Developing a team culture where machinists program their own parts
- (35:45) Internships and high school programs as a pipeline for skilled talent
- (37:48) The story behind John’s famous training classes and why they are paused for now
- (45:17) Balancing entrepreneurship with personal life and creative pursuits
- (48:36) Building Johnny Five the robot and why passion projects keep him motivated
- (53:14) Lessons in lean thinking and creating processes that make work easier for everyone
- (55:46) Advice for contract manufacturers who want to develop their own product line
- (1:02:31) Why Verdant Commercial Capital is a true partner in your business
Resources & People Mentioned
- Revisionist History Podcast
- Why we love the transparency of Phoenix Heat Treating
- See me at EBITDA Growth Systems Double Your Value Event
- Verdant Commercial Capital
- Toolpath
Connect with John Saunders
- Saunders Machine Works
- Connect on LinkedIn
- Follow on Instagram
- NYC CNC YouTube
- The Business of Machining Podcast
Connect With Machine Shop Mastery
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Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK