RUST BELT HISTORY

Since I was a kid, I began working with my dad, Craig, buying and selling industrial machinery, working in our home shop on cars, machinery and his then windmill business. This also included traveling the country attending various machine, engine and tractor shows, swap meets, as well as picking up new machinery to bring home and sell. I began driving a forklift at just five years old, and since then I would like to think I have been a big help around the shop!

I started college pursuing a mechanical engineering degree at Youngstown State University. I somewhat lost touch with my older way of life, buying and selling machinery, feeling as though I could only make a living as a Mechanical Engineer. But, upon working at Goodyear Headquarters going into my senior year of Engineering School, I realized that a desk job was not for me. During this summer, I would do as much as possible to work with my hands at this facility, because I felt as though my absorption of knowledge came from practicing that work rather than planning to do it via a computer screen.

During this time, I regained my love for this type of lifestyle. Someone who is self-employed and fully self-sufficient. These feelings towards working for a corporation inspired and motivated me to start my own business. With the blessing of my parents, and Jordan, my betrothed, I successfully did so in February of 2022, now known as Rust Belt Machinery.