What if the biggest challenge in manufacturing isn't technology, but timing? In this episode of MakingSparks, host Brendon DiVincenzo sits down with Shonali Ditz, co-founder and executive director of SparkShop, to explore a powerful idea: we're trying to solve a talent pipeline problem far too late.

Shonali's journey from engineering student to nonprofit founder started with a realization that many in the industry share—there simply aren't enough people entering manufacturing and engineering. But instead of focusing on recruiting at the college or job level, she and her team went upstream… all the way to elementary school. What they've built is a hands-on, curiosity-driven approach that introduces kids to engineering before they ever decide what they "are" or "aren't" good at.

This conversation goes beyond STEM buzzwords and into something more fundamental: identity. How do kids see themselves? Do they believe they can solve problems, build things, or think like engineers? Through real-world examples, classroom stories, and practical insights, this episode reveals how early exposure, hands-on learning, and reframing failure can unlock entirely new pathways into manufacturing.

For shop owners, leaders, and anyone concerned about the future workforce, this episode is a wake-up call—and a blueprint. Because if you want more skilled people in your shop tomorrow, you may need to start inspiring them when they're ten years old today.

• (0:00) Building resilience, teamwork, and emotional skills through hands-on learning
• (1:17) The challenge of explaining manufacturing to kids
• (2:11) Shonali's background and discovering hands-on engineering through Formula SAE
• (5:18) Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026!
• (6:11) Realizing the talent pipeline problem and the origin of SparkShop
• (9:50) Making manufacturing engaging and relatable for young minds
• (13:30) Different motivations that draw people into making and problem-solving
• (16:21) Labor shortages, limiting beliefs, and the need to rethink hiring barriers
• (20:10) The evolution of modern manufacturing and workforce expectations
• (22:00) Why we love using SMW Autoblok for workholding
• (22:43) Inside the SparkShop model: hands-on, teacher-led STEM curriculum
• (25:41) Learning through failure and building confidence with early exposure
• (29:46) Connecting manufacturing to the real world students see every day
• (34:11) Why you need to listen to the Lights Out podcast
• (34:36) Teacher feedback and increased engagement from all types of students
• (36:38) Developing teamwork, empathy, and problem-solving skills
• (39:24) Long-term impact and expanding the pipeline through high school internships
• (42:41) Preparing the next generation for workplace expectations
• (43:57) Bridging the gap between industry and young talent

• Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026!
• Why we love using SMW Autoblok for workholding
• Why you need to listen to the Lights Out podcast
• Reach out to hello@SparkShop.org to get involved

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Change in manufacturing rarely comes quietly—and neither does progress. In this special episode of MakingSparks, longtime hosts Matthew Nix and Casey Velker take a moment to reflect, rewind, and ultimately pass the mic to the next voice of the show: Brendon DiVicenzo. It's not an ending—it's a handoff mid-stride.

Matthew and Casey revisit the origin story of MakingSparks, from a short-run idea built around 100x growth to a full-fledged podcast embedded in the MakingChips ecosystem. Along the way, they've built something bigger than episodes—a platform for honest conversations, shared lessons, and a growing community of fabricators willing to pull back the curtain on how they really run their businesses.

But like any good shop floor evolution, this transition is rooted in focus. Casey leans deeper into storytelling, culture, and video. Matthew explores new opportunities around family business and leadership. And stepping into the spotlight is Brendon—a manufacturing lifer with deep technical expertise, a front-row seat to shop transformation, and a passion for telling the stories that don't always get told.

As the conversation unfolds, the trio digs into what makes this industry so resilient right now—from the rise of automation and AI to the growing investment thesis around "HALO" (Heavy Asset, Low Obsolescence). Through it all, one thing stays constant: manufacturing is still, and always will be, a people-first business.

This episode isn't a goodbye. It's a recalibration—and a launch point for what's next.

• (0:00) The rise of "HALO" investing and why manufacturing is gaining attention
• (1:42) Matthew and Casey reveal a major announcement
• (4:38) The "why" behind MakingSparks' creation (and it's growth)
• (7:15) The impact of storytelling and listener feedback
• (8:11) Casey shares what's next: culture, marketing, and video
• (11:00) The value of an outsider perspective on the show
• (13:32) Brendon's background in manufacturing and engineering
• (18:43) Why people are the most rewarding part of manufacturing
• (23:19) How automation and technology is leveling the playing field
• (25:29) How manufacturing skillsets are evolving (continuous learning)
• (28:44) Brendon's vision for the future: highlighting people
• (32:57) Technology enhancing—not replacing—the workforce
• (35:09) Final reflections and gratitude from Matthew, Casey, and Brendon

• MakingSparks: How Technology Drives Innovation on the Other Side of Metalworking Nation, 395

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In this episode, hosts Matthew and Casey sit down with Codie Aljets, owner and artist behind Sage Country Customs, to talk about the realities of building a business around custom metal art.

Codie shares how he turned his passion for high-detail metal artwork into a full-time career, the lessons he's learned about pricing creative work, and why relationships, storytelling, and value matter just as much as the craftsmanship itself. From navigating the business side of being an artist to building meaningful pieces that clients will treasure for generations, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to succeed in the metal art world.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The hard truth about pricing your work and valuing your time

• Why many artists and fabricators undervalue what they create

• How personal relationships drive high-end custom work

• The role of storytelling and meaning in custom metal art

• Why word-of-mouth and real-world events often outperform social media

• How philanthropy and community involvement can grow your brand

• Why the metal art community is one of the most supportive in the industry

Timestamps:
00:01:05 – Introduction to Codie Aljets and Sage Country Customs
00:02:02 – Building a business around high-detail custom metal art
00:05:23 – Why Codie focuses only on art instead of general fabrication
00:08:03 – The business side of being a welding artist
00:09:55 – Building relationships with clients through in-person events
00:12:57 – Using art and philanthropy to give back to the community
00:16:04 – The hard truth about valuing your work and pricing your art
00:20:03 – Creating custom pieces that tell a client's story
00:24:59 – Turning the delivery of art into a full experience for clients
00:31:46 – The supportive community among metal artists and creators
00:38:31 – Advice for artists building a career in custom metalwork

Resources:
Sage Country Customs (Codie Aljets): https://www.sagecountrycustoms.com/
Follow Codie Aljets on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagecountrycustoms/

Lights Out Podcast by Making Chips: https://makingchips.com/show/lights-out/
Buy the Numbers Podcast by Making Chips: https://makingchips.com/show/buy-the-numbers/

If you're a fabricator, artist, or shop owner trying to build something meaningful with your work, this episode will challenge how you think about value, pricing, and the business behind creativity.

Let's keep making sparks. 🔥