Dave Hataj
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Dave Hataj

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Dave is a second-generation owner of Edgerton Gear, Inc., a custom gear manufacturer in Wisconsin. By age 21, he had become a journeyman machinist. He left the family business to seek greener pastures, only to return 7 years later, realizing home wasn’t so bad! Now equipped with life experiences and degrees from UC Irvine and Regent College, he sought to understand if the teachings of Jesus are relevant in a blue-collar machine shop. Twenty years later, while still leading the company, he completed a Doctorate in Transformational Leadership from Bakke Graduate University, where he developed the foundation for Craftsman with Character. Known for his humble, servant-leader approach, Dave believes that character is more foundational than raw skill. In 2013, he partnered with his local high school to launch the Craftsman with Character® course, designed to expose students to manufacturing while building the soft skills that support long-term success in work and life. As a result, Edgerton Gear is fully staffed, experiences near zero turnover, and has an average employee age in the low 30s. Today, growing Craftsman with Character® has become Dave’s life mission. What began in one high school classroom is now expanding across multiple states and numerous communities, where we see students who realize they are needed, employees who take ownership of their work, and organizations where pride replaces disengagement.
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  • The Craftsman's Code cover art
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    • The Craftsman's Code

    • A Blueprint for Building a Meaningful Life and Enduring Legacy
    • By: Dave Hataj
    • Narrated by: Dave Hataj
    • Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
    • Release date: 22-05-2026
    • Language: English
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  • Good Work: How Blue Collar Business Can Change Lives, Communities, and the World cover art
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