Ken Parent keeps it real. Ken launched Parent Manufacturing in 2020 in the midst of the Covid pandemic. Navigating running a small shop and providing for his family hasn’t been an easy road. Instead of shying away from the reality of entrepreneurism, Ken shares the good, the bad, and the ugly on LinkedIn. The response has been overwhelming. 

In this episode of MakingChips, we chat with Ken about the realities of being a small business owner in Oklahoma. He shares why he went into manufacturing, what his hope for the future is, and how he’s inspiring the manufacturing nation to make chips. Because if you’re not MakingChips, you’re not making money. BAM! 

– Mike

Segments

• [3:23] Jason’s “What are you learning?” segment
• [5:24] Learn more about Ken Parent of Parent Manufacturing
• [17:38] Why Ken became an entrepreneur
• [21:42] The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop
• [22:22] How LinkedIn has become a community of support
• [30:40] The impact of the manufacturing community on his family
• [36:00] Creating content for The Practical Machinist 
• [39:48] What Ken’s ideal job looks like 
• [43:36] The Industrial Buying Engine with Thomasnet™

Resources mentioned on this episode

• Father of 7 Builds Machine Shop From the Ground Up. So Can You.
• Get 25% off an annual Thomas™ subscription with code CHIPS25
• The Lean Setup Guide from ProShop
• Connect with Ken on LinkedIn
• Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance
• Mitutoyo

Connect With MakingChips

• www.MakingChips.com
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• On YouTube