106. Building Craftsmen with Character with Dave Hataj from Edgerton Gear

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In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Paul sits down with Dave Hataj, third-generation leader of Edgerton Gear in Wisconsin. What begins as a conversation about a custom gear job shop quickly unfolds into something much larger — a story about culture change, humility, sabotage, burnout, mentorship, and the responsibility manufacturers carry in shaping the next generation.

When Dave returned to his family’s shop in the early 1990s, he walked into a deeply dysfunctional environment. Alcohol flowed freely in the lunchroom. Leadership was fragmented. Trust was thin. When he began making changes, the resistance was immediate and intense — including internal sabotage from senior employees and the loss of key team members. What followed was years of long hours, strained relationships, and hard-earned lessons about leadership and character.

Instead of doubling down on control, Dave made a different choice. He committed to building a culture centered on humility, trust, mentorship, and service. Over time, that commitment reshaped not only Edgerton Gear but also his vision for workforce development.

Out of that journey came Craftsman with Character — a program that connects high school students with real manufacturers while intentionally developing virtues like responsibility, purpose, teachability, and excellence. What started as a local experiment in one Wisconsin community has expanded across multiple states and reached hundreds of students.

This episode explores how character-driven leadership can create both cultural transformation and business growth — and why manufacturing may be one of the most powerful vehicles we have to restore dignity, purpose, and opportunity in our communities.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

(0:00) Introduction to Dave Hataj and Edgerton Gear
(3:52) Edgerton Gear today: custom gear capabilities and industries served
(4:54) The origin story: how Dave’s parents started the company in 1962
(10:09) Get a free list of opportunities in your industry from FacturMFG.com/chips
(12:00) Returning to a toxic culture, beginning transformation, and rebuilding
(16:01) The personal toll of leadership and lessons from burnout
(19:37) Why humility became the defining hiring trait
(23:25) Studying character: The doctoral work that shaped Dave’s philosophy
(29:14) Why you need to use Hire MFG Leaders
(29:43) The launch of Craftsman with Character
(35:17) How the program works: job shadowing paired with character development
(39:40) Expanding the model nationally with U.S. Navy support
(41:46) Transitioning from grant funding to a sustainable model
(43:37) Building a mentoring culture inside Edgerton Gear
(46:05) How ProShop ERP can help you achieve on-time delivery
(47:01) The profitability impact of servant leadership and community investment
(52:14) Radical rest, health struggles, and long-term sustainability
(55:56) Why blue-collar businesses are foundational to civilization
(1:00:36) Purpose and relationships as the foundation of a meaningful life
(2:03:22) Succession planning and passing leadership to the next generation