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 the other crafting custom lighting for major franchises like Planet Fitness and Dairy Queen. In our conversation, Ty shares how he built his career from the ground up, starting in shipping and ordering tools to eventually running operations and financials for both companies. We talk about leadership, retention, culture, and the power of humility and self-awareness in business. Ty's perspective on intentional leadership, work-life balance, and developing people is something every manufacturing leader can learn from. This isn't just a story about machining—it's about purpose, people, and personal transformation. Ty's passion and discipline prove that excellence isn't something you inherit. It's something you choose, build, and refine every day. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

Why Ty Haguewood represents passion and excellence in machining

You'll get honesty and transparency when you work with Phoenix Heat Treating

Learn more about Manufacturing Technologies Inc. and Stone Mather Designs

Ty's unique background and what led him to MTI and SMD

Retaining talent: Creating a culture of humanity and intentional leadership

Implementing quarterly reviews and bonuses tied to performance metrics

The impact of shifting to four 10-hour workdays on morale and productivity

Guarding culture through selective hiring and investing in loyal employees

Balancing formal systems with organic leadership

Lessons learned from overcomplicating processes and simplifying systems

The "data or people" revelation that changed MTI's approach

Ty's hiring philosophy: Culture over credentials

Scaling leadership by developing leaders beneath you

Ty's favorite success story—a McDonald's employee turned machinist

Workholding Wisdom with SMW Autoblok: Setup Reduction

Paul's KFC story and discussion on unconventional manufacturing talent

Training at MTI: shadowing, job progression, and learning by doing

Standardization, tooling, and why transparency boosts performance

Balancing data and humanity in leadership

Ty's challenge to leaders: Take the time to become someone worth following

Facing failure, learning from hardship, and rebuilding with integrity

Company-level challenges: losing half the staff and rebuilding stronger

Growth, transparency, and leadership capacity limits

Why authentic leadership is manufacturing's future