# Building Roller Coasters and Building a Brand with Rocky Mountain Construction COO Jake Kilcup

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2021-11-16
- Length: 39m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-16-building-roller-coasters-and-building-a-brand-with-rocky-mountain-construction-c
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Jake Kilcup, COO of Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), explains how the company revolutionized roller coaster manufacturing by hybridizing steel track with wooden structures, starting with retrofits like the Texas Giant. He details the operational challenges of rapid scaling, the importance of vertical integration between design and fabrication, and the cultural mindset of 'I can' that allows them to meet aggressive deadlines like the 8-month Goliath project. Kilcup also discusses the emotional weight of preserving historic rides, the organic growth of their brand, and the collaborative leadership of founders Fred Grubb and Alan Schilke.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-16-building-roller-coasters-and-building-a-brand-with-rocky-mountain-construction-c#t=0) Introduction and Guest Background
- [4:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-16-building-roller-coasters-and-building-a-brand-with-rocky-mountain-construction-c#t=246) RMC's Origin and Hybrid Coaster Design
- [9:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-16-building-roller-coasters-and-building-a-brand-with-rocky-mountain-construction-c#t=546) Manufacturing Processes: Field vs. Shop
- [10:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-16-building-roller-coasters-and-building-a-brand-with-rocky-mountain-construction-c#t=654) Scaling Operations and Vertical Integration
- [13:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-16-building-roller-coasters-and-building-a-brand-with-rocky-mountain-construction-c#t=816) Project Management and Engineering Balance
- [16:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-16-building-roller-coasters-and-building-a-brand-with-rocky-mountain-construction-c#t=968) Case Study: The Goliath Fast-Track Project
- [17:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-16-building-roller-coasters-and-building-a-brand-with-rocky-mountain-construction-c#t=1075) Leadership, Culture, and Mentorship
- [29:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-16-building-roller-coasters-and-building-a-brand-with-rocky-mountain-construction-c#t=1751) Retrofitting Historic Rides and Brand Building
- [36:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-11-16-building-roller-coasters-and-building-a-brand-with-rocky-mountain-construction-c#t=2178) Future Projects and Closing

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Rocky Mountain Construction (company)
- Goliath (product)
- Twisted Colossus (product)
- Texas Giant (product)
- Iron Rattler (product)
- Steel Vengeance (product)
- Outlaw Run (product)
- Mad Bomber Brewing Company (company)
- This Is How We Roll (other)
- Six Flags Magic Mountain (company)
- Six Flags Great America (company)
- Cedar Point (company)
- Silver Dollar City (company)
- Alan Shilke (other)
- Fred Grubb (other)
- Amy Garcia (other)
- Office Max (company)

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## Citing this page

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