We're coming to you live from Washington, D.C., at the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Summit—the largest gathering of small business owners in U.S. history. With more than 2,700 entrepreneurs in one place, the energy is electric, and the conversations are powerful. Among them is our guest, Brandon Dahms, owner of Innovative Manufacturing & Engineering (IME) in Des Moines, Iowa.

Brandon's story captures what this summit is all about—growth, resilience, and transformation. After starting his career with plans to work in sports marketing, he took an unexpected turn into manufacturing and never looked back. Today, his 10,000-square-foot, lights-out machining operation runs nearly 24/7, serving as proof that automation, strategy, and strong leadership can turn even the smallest shop into a powerhouse.

In this episode, we talk with Brandon about how the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program helped him refine his growth strategy, strengthen his company culture, and position IME for long-term success. We dive into what it's like to go through a program that feels like an "MBA for real-world business owners" and how it shaped his ability to pivot from a traditional job shop to a high-volume, automated manufacturer.

We also explore the advocacy side of the program—how small business owners like Brandon are meeting directly with congressional leaders to influence policy on issues that affect manufacturers every day: workforce development, healthcare costs, and economic uncertainty. From his experience in the classroom to his conversations on Capitol Hill, Brandon shows how one voice can help represent the entire metalworking nation.

If you've ever wondered how programs like this can truly impact your business—and why stepping outside your bubble might be the key to future growth—this conversation is one you don't want to miss.

Segments

• (0:39) Grow your top and bottom line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)
• (1:15) Recording at the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Summit
• (2:48) Brandon Dahms' origin story in metalworking
• (6:07) Why "Innovative Manufacturing & Engineering" stuck (and why it's a long email address)
• (7:17) Why apply for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program?
• (11:13) Why the investment of time is invaluable—Brandon's personal ROI
• (12:40) Manufacturing's place in the conversation: explaining CNC to non-manufacturers
• (13:30) The Voices advocacy program: How advocacy efforts translate into real policy conversations
• (16:05) Navigating uncertainty: Tariffs, government shutdowns, and planning for growth
• (18:16) SMW Autoblok: automation and workholding innovation
• (19:28) Applying 10KSB lessons to IME—pivoting, culture, and core values
• (21:08) Pivoting from job shop to high-volume manufacturing and reshoring work
• (22:51) Presenting the capstone project (a real-world growth plan)
• (24:34) How networking led to new high-volume customers
• (26:53) Balancing capacity, growth, and selectivity in customer relationships
• (28:21) Hiring for core values first, technical skill second (and personality tests that help)
• (31:20) Aligning personal goals with company growth
• (33:07) How to apply for the 10,000 Small Businesses program and what to expect
• (34:45) How MakingChips' "Machine Shop MBA" series aligns with the same mission
• (36:44) Why the best ideas often come from outside your industry
• (38:00) Hire MFG Leaders—find manufacturing talent that fits

Resources mentioned on this episode

• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Summit
• Connect with Brandon Dahms on LinkedIn
• Grow your top and bottom line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)
• SMW Autoblok: automation and workholding innovation
• Hire MFG Leaders—find manufacturing talent that fits
• Apply for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses

Connect With MakingChips

• www.MakingChips.com
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