How did Grady Cope go from working on oil rigs to running a machine shop? And how did he grow from operating a manual mill and lathe to managing a 25,000 sq. ft. facility filled with advanced CNC machines?

Fulcrum Founder & CEO Sunny Han sits down with Grady to hear the story of how he started and grew Reata Engineering & Machine Works—and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

⌲ Find out more about Reata: https://reataeng.com/

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——— About Grady: Grady Cope is the President & CEO at Reata Engineering & Machine Works in Englewood, Colorado. Grady started his career as a mechanic working on offshore oil rigs but found his way into machining through the advice of a friend. He started his shop with a manual mill and lathe in 1993, and grew the shop to become the customer service oriented, tech focused business Reata is today.

Reata is a high-mix, low-volume job shop, specializing in complex parts and assemblies for the medical, aerospace, and semiconductor industries. The combination of multi-axis CNC machines, lights-out capabilities, and digital manufacturing tools allows Reata to offer short lead times to customers.

Grady is an active leader in the manufacturing community, having served as: - Former Chairman, National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA)

- Former Chairman, Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association (CAMA)

- Board Member, National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS).

He is passionate about addressing the skilled labor gap by inspiring the next generation of manufacturers. Grady works with local schools and colleges to help students and parents understand the importance and excitement of careers in manufacturing.