Introduce Yourself!
-
Introduce Yourself!New here? Welcome! We’re glad you found your way to the NORAMARK Community — the home base for U.S. manufacturers, buyers, builders, and trade orgs.
This is a place to make connections that matter.
⸻
How to Introduce Yourself:Reply below with a few things about you! Here are some starter questions:
• Who are you and where are you located?
• What does your company make or specialize in?
• Are you here to buy, build, supply, learn, or something else?
• What’s one challenge you’re currently facing — or one thing you’re excited about?
• Link to your NORAMARK manufacturer or trade org profile (if you have one)!⸻
🧲 Example:
Hi! I’m Sam from Cleveland, OH. I run a second-gen family shop that specializes in precision CNC for aerospace. Found NORAMARK through a trade org partner. Looking to connect with folks doing additive or hybrid manufacturing. Our NORAMARK profile: https://www.noramark.com/noramark-tier-1-demo-1/
⸻
Don’t be shy — your first post gets you your first badge.We can’t wait to meet you!
Hey everyone — glad to be here and excited to connect with more folks who actually get the grind of U.S. manufacturing.
I’m Zack Markarian, based in Temecula California.
I run American Precision Consulting — we work with machine shops, contract manufacturers, and production teams to solve operational headaches, boost throughput, and scale efficiently. Think of us as a hands-on, no-BS support crew for shops that need engineering horsepower but don’t want to bloat the org chart.
I’m here to build, support, and collaborate. Whether it's a one-off challenge, a shop scaling up, or a team in the middle of a tough transition, I love jumping in and making things work better.
️ Big challenge lately? Helping small-to-mid sized shops stay lean while still hitting aggressive growth or quality goals — especially with internal bandwidth stretched thin.I’m always open to trade stories, share ideas, or kick around real-world problems. Feel free to reach out if you’re wrestling with something or just want to swap notes.
Looking forward to learning from all of you.
— Zack
-
Hey everyone — glad to be here and excited to connect with more folks who actually get the grind of U.S. manufacturing.
I’m Zack Markarian, based in Temecula California.
I run American Precision Consulting — we work with machine shops, contract manufacturers, and production teams to solve operational headaches, boost throughput, and scale efficiently. Think of us as a hands-on, no-BS support crew for shops that need engineering horsepower but don’t want to bloat the org chart. I’m here to build, support, and collaborate. Whether it's a one-off challenge, a shop scaling up, or a team in the middle of a tough transition, I love jumping in and making things work better.️ Big challenge lately? Helping small-to-mid sized shops stay lean while still hitting aggressive growth or quality goals — especially with internal bandwidth stretched thin.I’m always open to trade stories, share ideas, or kick around real-world problems. Feel free to reach out if you’re wrestling with something or just want to swap notes.
Looking forward to learning from all of you.
— Zack
-
Hi, I’m Jerika Cordell (said like Erica with a J), and I run and own Castle Machine Company, a family-owned machine shop based in Greencastle, PA. We’ve been around for decades, and I recently stepped into the leadership role to continue my family’s legacy after my father passed unexpectedly in 2023.
We specialize in precision machining — from one-off prototypes to small and mid-size production runs — with capabilities in CNC milling, turning, surface grinding, and 5-axis machining. Our team’s strength lies in tight-tolerance parts and problem-solving for customers across industries like aerospace, industrial, and energy.
Right now, I’m here to connect and grow — we’re looking to secure more consistent production work and form partnerships that align with our quality-driven values. One challenge I’m facing is balancing legacy knowledge with modernizing the business for long-term stability. But I’m excited about the opportunity to build something strong that supports both our family and our incredible team.
-
Hi @Jerika , welcome to NORAMARK, and thank you for the powerful introduction. Your story really resonates... stepping into a leadership role under such personal circumstances takes courage, and it’s inspiring to see your commitment to carrying the Castle Machine legacy forward.
We’ve seen a lot of manufacturers in the community facing that same balancing act: preserving legacy expertise while modernizing systems and processes. You’re not alone in that, and I think you’ll find some great peers here who’ve navigated similar waters.
Looking forward to seeing more from Castle Machine and finding ways we can support your goals, whether it’s through helping you to find new customers, new partners, materials sources, machines, services, and more.
Glad to have you here!
-Andrew -
Hi all! Jesse @BetterCNC here! We're a job shop located in Dallas, Texas. Here to just check things out, see what this platform is!
Our big challenge at the moment is finding our first full-time employee besides myself!
Still need to fill out my profile but here's the link for future reference https://www.noramark.com/bettercnc/
@jesse-casto52 If you want to, you can post job openings here on the forums. We have a "Classifieds" section. It's very informal, but you can post what you're looking for there with some basic info: https://community.noramark.com/category/11/classifieds
-
Hi @Jerika , welcome to NORAMARK, and thank you for the powerful introduction. Your story really resonates... stepping into a leadership role under such personal circumstances takes courage, and it’s inspiring to see your commitment to carrying the Castle Machine legacy forward.
We’ve seen a lot of manufacturers in the community facing that same balancing act: preserving legacy expertise while modernizing systems and processes. You’re not alone in that, and I think you’ll find some great peers here who’ve navigated similar waters.
Looking forward to seeing more from Castle Machine and finding ways we can support your goals, whether it’s through helping you to find new customers, new partners, materials sources, machines, services, and more.
Glad to have you here!
-Andrew@andrew-kornuta Thank you so much — I truly appreciate it. These past two years have been full of growth and tough lessons. I’ve learned the importance of building strong relationships with our customers and the hustle it takes to bring in new business.
Castle Machine Company has always felt like home to me. When I walk out into the shop and catch the familiar scent of metal and oil, it brings me a sense of comfort — it’s the same place my father dedicated his entire career to after graduating high school.
This company helped raise me, and now I hope it will be here to help me raise my kids. I’m committed to honoring that legacy and building a future that’s just as strong.
-
Hi, I’m Jerika Cordell (said like Erica with a J), and I run and own Castle Machine Company, a family-owned machine shop based in Greencastle, PA. We’ve been around for decades, and I recently stepped into the leadership role to continue my family’s legacy after my father passed unexpectedly in 2023.
We specialize in precision machining — from one-off prototypes to small and mid-size production runs — with capabilities in CNC milling, turning, surface grinding, and 5-axis machining. Our team’s strength lies in tight-tolerance parts and problem-solving for customers across industries like aerospace, industrial, and energy.
Right now, I’m here to connect and grow — we’re looking to secure more consistent production work and form partnerships that align with our quality-driven values. One challenge I’m facing is balancing legacy knowledge with modernizing the business for long-term stability. But I’m excited about the opportunity to build something strong that supports both our family and our incredible team.
-
Hi Everyone
Alex Huckstepp, co-founder of Uptool. We're building software to help high-mix manufacturers like machine shops run much faster. Happy to join the Noramark community here! -
Hi Everyone
Alex Huckstepp, co-founder of Uptool. We're building software to help high-mix manufacturers like machine shops run much faster. Happy to join the Noramark community here!Hi @alex-huckstepp81 welcome to NORAMARK.
Hi mix is so hard. Can't wait to learn more about Uptool -
Hi, I’m Jason Stidman, the owner of Steadfast Machine. A few years ago, I transitioned from construction and real estate development into manufacturing by acquiring two small machine shops. We retained most of the staff and knowledge from each shop and expanded our capabilities by adding new equipment, enabling us to better serve customers across several industries.
Our current work is a mix of prototype projects and production machining, and we’re working to complete our AS9100 and ITAR certifications, hoping that will open up more customer opportunities.
These days, connecting online seems to have replaced the old ways of simply introducing yourself, making it harder to stand out and reach the right customers, which remains our largest challenge. Despite this, we’re optimistic about overcoming it and excited to collaborate with others in the manufacturing space.
-
Welcome @Jason.Steadfast and thank you for sharing your journey!
Our aim w/ NORAMARK is to cut the noise and BS from online connections and enable it to have a similar impact as in-person meetings, while also scaling up. Our focus is 100% on US Manufacturers only. I hope we can help you to achieve your goals. We're constantly improving and adding new solutions to do just that. Thanks for joining us!
-
Hi! I work in workforce development in casting and forging for IACMI - the Composites Institute. I'm based in the Knoxville, Tennessee, area. I'm here to help people get access to free apprenticeship curriculum and free online training in casting and forging. Our main goal is to build a talent pipeline in advanced manufacturing so that we can reshore effectively. All about reindustrialization. https://www.noramark.com/iacmi-metal/
-
Hi everyone, I’m Ethan Copple, a systems scientist with a background in industrial engineering and anthropology. I'm wrapping up a Ph.D. in IE focused on complex systems analysis and improvement that examines healthcare delivery through a supply chain lens. I'll be graduating this fall and looking to transfer my skills to industry and the reindustrialization movement. I’m especially interested in the intersection of operations, strategy, and human factors. Excited to connect, share ideas, and contribute to the conversation, especially in relation to the infrastructures needed to reindustrialize.
-
Hi! I work in workforce development in casting and forging for IACMI - the Composites Institute. I'm based in the Knoxville, Tennessee, area. I'm here to help people get access to free apprenticeship curriculum and free online training in casting and forging. Our main goal is to build a talent pipeline in advanced manufacturing so that we can reshore effectively. All about reindustrialization. https://www.noramark.com/iacmi-metal/
@crystalbentley This sounds awesome!
-
Hi everyone, I’m Ethan Copple, a systems scientist with a background in industrial engineering and anthropology. I'm wrapping up a Ph.D. in IE focused on complex systems analysis and improvement that examines healthcare delivery through a supply chain lens. I'll be graduating this fall and looking to transfer my skills to industry and the reindustrialization movement. I’m especially interested in the intersection of operations, strategy, and human factors. Excited to connect, share ideas, and contribute to the conversation, especially in relation to the infrastructures needed to reindustrialize.
@EthanCopple Congratulations on the Phd and welcome to the reindustrialization movement!
-
@crystalbentley So glad to see you on here Crystal!
BTW, if you navigate to your profile at https://www.noramark.com/iacmi-metal and click "Edit Profile" you'll be able to flesh out the description, add a logo, and upload photos and even videos. It's a great way to build out presence on the site and connect with folks!
-
Hello. My name is David. LinkedIn
I have been running Cyber City Circuits since 2018 in Augusta, Ga. We do a lot of PCB Assembly. We have three pick-and-place machines and can stay busy with them from time to time. It is feast or famine, am I right?
I also do a bit of PCB design work. Often, it is for people who already have a proof of concept with some Adafruit boards or such, and need someone to make it into a functional PCB for their product. It is a lot of fun.
I also write for Digikey's industry magazine. History of engineering kind of articles. It's all very dense material, and I imagine some are tough to get through. Expect to sit down for at least half an hour if you're going to read the Wildman Whitehouse article, for example. (https://cybercitycircuits.com/retro-electro-the-little-told-history-of-electronics/)
I specialize in making electronic PCB Event Badges. (www.BadgesBadgesBadges.com) While PCB Assembly and prototyping, testing, QC, etc., are the moneymakers, badges accounted for a large portion of revenue last year.
I have run many soldering workshops since 2019, teaching over 1,000 people in that time. I can teach up to 150 people in one day. I am the first person in US history to teach a US First Lady how to solder. Jill Biden crashed a summer camp I was teaching in the summer of 2023. That was pretty neat. If you know someone interested in having a large workshop, it is a traveling show.
I also offer a free 30-minute live one-on-one PCB DFM review if anyone here is interested. There is no obligation, and I may be able to save you money on your next production run.
Thank you for your time.
-
Hello. My name is David. LinkedIn
I have been running Cyber City Circuits since 2018 in Augusta, Ga. We do a lot of PCB Assembly. We have three pick-and-place machines and can stay busy with them from time to time. It is feast or famine, am I right?
I also do a bit of PCB design work. Often, it is for people who already have a proof of concept with some Adafruit boards or such, and need someone to make it into a functional PCB for their product. It is a lot of fun.
I also write for Digikey's industry magazine. History of engineering kind of articles. It's all very dense material, and I imagine some are tough to get through. Expect to sit down for at least half an hour if you're going to read the Wildman Whitehouse article, for example. (https://cybercitycircuits.com/retro-electro-the-little-told-history-of-electronics/)
I specialize in making electronic PCB Event Badges. (www.BadgesBadgesBadges.com) While PCB Assembly and prototyping, testing, QC, etc., are the moneymakers, badges accounted for a large portion of revenue last year.
I have run many soldering workshops since 2019, teaching over 1,000 people in that time. I can teach up to 150 people in one day. I am the first person in US history to teach a US First Lady how to solder. Jill Biden crashed a summer camp I was teaching in the summer of 2023. That was pretty neat. If you know someone interested in having a large workshop, it is a traveling show.
I also offer a free 30-minute live one-on-one PCB DFM review if anyone here is interested. There is no obligation, and I may be able to save you money on your next production run.
Thank you for your time.
Hi David @CyberCityCircuits, I love the badges and want to order some in the near future.
How does the badge design work? Is it a collaborative process or is it expected that I would know how to design it? -
Welcome @CyberCityCircuits !!
