Top episodes of The Fabricator Podcast from 2023

The Fabricator Podcast host Dan Davis shares his favorite five episodes from 2023, including two episodes with Rob and Anthony DiVito of iRcustom.

The Fabricator Podcast has been dropping episodes for more than a full year. We started shortly before the start of 2023, and since then we have visited Las Vegas for the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association’s Annual Meeting in March, Chicago for FABTECH 2023 in September, and Las Vegas again for the SEMA tradeshow in November, and we’ve hosted several episodes in our studio space in Elgin, Ill, and the Detroit area. It’s been quite the exhilarating affair.

With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to look back at five of my favorite episodes. If they all had one thing in common, it would be that the focus was on people running businesses in different stages of growth. That’s not only interesting to me, but also apparently to the subscriber base, as those episodes that focus on the business of metal fabricating tend to be the most downloaded.

No. 5: Andy Billman Rebounds (Episode No. 23)

We chatted with Andy Billman after he spoke to attendees at the FMA Annual Meeting. Billman described what it was like to have to start over in the midst of what he thought would be a long-term career with a major manufacturer and bounce back to build up a new career, only to have that be interrupted by a cancer battle. He’s now CEO of Arise Industrial Manufacturing, which invests in manufacturing companies and helps them to grow.

When chatting with Billman, you understand what a positive mindset can do not only for an individual, but also a team. But it’s balanced with humility and self-deprecation, which makes Billman an easy person to like—and follow. Also, talking about his football days at Miami of Ohio was a fun time for this college football fan.

No. 4: The Maker Ron Dyrcz (Episode No. 25)

I often make the joke that the best motivation for a person to start his or her own business is a poor management decision made by another company. Well, Ron Dyrcz found himself in that position when he was laid off at a production fabrication shop, which led him to found his Chicago-area Ronders Wood & Metal Works.

In our chat with Dyrcz at The Fabricator Podcast studio this past spring, we learned how he discovered metal fabricating and how he has come to see himself part of a larger “maker” movement. He’s emblematic of a trend I see with younger people who are discovering that a career that involves working with your hands might be more rewarding than that fancy job behind a desk. His story certainly captured my imagination.

It also was fun to learn about his woodworking skills. His ability to look at his raw material in a natural state and see what can be done with it is truly impressive.

No. 3: The Rise of Precision Tube Laser (Episode No. 21)

It’s not too often that we get to talk to owners of growing metal fabricating shops. Honestly, they are busy and don’t really see the upside of sharing their stories—and potential business secrets—on a podcast.

But we had a great conversation with Jordan Yost, founder and owner of Las Vegas-based Precision Tube Laser. He’s a young guy who’s learning as he’s growing his business. Additionally, his company’s focus on social media and bringing in young people represents a blueprint that other new metal fabricating companies should follow.

No. 2: Brotherly Love With Rob and Anthony DiVito (Episodes No. 13, No. 14, and No. 41)

Let’s just say that Rob and Anthony DiVito are an easy interview. There's a reason we've had them on podcast more than once this year. The brothers, who operate custom furniture-builder iRcustom, brought their boisterous and dynamic working relationship to the studio for the interview.

What’s incredible about their story? Rob was a graphic designer, and Anthony was a stockbroker. Both found a passion for making things, and they’ve created a nice business following their new-found interest.

Their story encapsulates just what metal fabricating holds for people. It’s a creative outlet and also a possible commercial endeavor. The career paths found in this industry are endless, and it was fun to learn how the DiVito brothers found their way here.

No. 1: The Business Wisdom of Lisa Wertzbaugher (Episode No. 22)

The path that led Lisa Wertzbaugher back to a life in metal fabricating is interesting. She grew up in a family that ran a tube fabricating company, went to school, found a career in medical device sales, went back to work for the family company as her parents prepped it to be sold, and established her own fabricating company with her husband back in Iowa. She’s sharp and knows a lot of about building a business. (She also happens to be a columnist for us in The Tube and Pipe Journal.)

Her discussion about how Wertzbaugher Services has grown since its founding in 2012 is a must listen for anyone looking to prepare a foundation for growth in their companies. It’s also a reason that this was the most downloaded episode of The Fabricator Podcast on a couple of platforms.

That’s my favorite five. Let’s us know what you think about any 2023 episodes at podcast@fmamfg.org.