226: Building a Community of Machine Shop Entrepreneurs Featuring Russell Winter, Founder of US MFG

Manufacturing Happy Hour · 4 Mar 2025 · 47m

What this episode covers

Russell Winter, founder of USMFG, explains his strategy of acquiring small machine shops from retiring owners and connecting them through proprietary software to balance workloads and labor. He details the evolution of his business model from a direct acquisition model to a community-focused network that empowers other entrepreneurs to buy and operate shops, addressing the critical issue of succession planning in the industry. Winter highlights the importance of 'trust but verify' due diligence, cultural fit, and financial literacy, while also discussing how USMFG collaborates with high schools to prepare the next generation of manufacturing owners.

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