What does it really look like to step in as 2nd Generation & a lead a fabrication shop when the 1st Generation is still helping run it? 

In this episode, Jason Hayes, President of Top Coat Fabrication, shares his journey as a 2nd generation leader navigating the slow handoff of full responsibility from his parents, while carrying nearly all of the day-to-day load. Jason shares what it's taken to build a culture that people want to return to even AFTER a layoff. 

This episode covers how even during market shifts & team fluctuations, they have a focus on scaling without losing trust & investing in team-wide connection every. single. week. 

It's not ping pong tables. It's consistency, buy-in, and leadership that shows up. 

You'll learn: 

• How to scale up and down without losing your culture
• Why simple weekly habits shape long-term culture
• What it looks like to grow your business AND your people at the same time

Timestamps:

01:06 – Welcome to MakingSparks 03:12 – Jason Hayes & Top Coat History 09:18 – Leading alongside Mom & Dad: Where Top Coat is now 14:59 – Who’s running what? A look at their leadership transition 15:18 – Top Coat’s team size & managing workforce fluctuations 16:00 – Culture as the reason people return 21:28 – Weekly company-wide challenges & meetings 26:14 – The real ROI of investing in your people 28:23 – Using LinkedIn to connect, not to close 34:17 – Why showing your values isn’t bad for business 43:01 – The hardest part of leading people—done with grace

Resources: 

Top Coat Fabrication on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/top-coat-fabrication/ 

Jason Hayes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-hayes-3a0a327a/ 

Lights Out podcast by MakingChips: https://www.makingchips.com/lights-out 

By The Numbers with Mike Payne: https://www.makingchips.com/by-the-numbers 

SmartDollar by Dave Ramsey: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/business/smartdollar

Forging Ahead: https://www.nixcompanies.com/forging-ahead-book-order/