Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Building a Legacy Through Chaos
Forward & Unfiltered Podcast
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Episodes
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
In this kickoff episode of Forward & Unfiltered, host Nauman Poonja sits down with Jeff Fodge, CEO of Glico Plating, for a raw and heartfelt conversation about resilience, family legacy, and the long game of building a business that survives every season. Jeff shares how he went from working the plating line at 17 to leading a 60,000 sq. ft. manufacturing operation—enduring recessions, the telecom crash, a full facility shutdown, and even a devastating fire. Through every pivot, he kept faith, grit, and a relentless belief in hard work.
Guest Introduction:
Jeff Fodge is the CEO of Glico Plating and a lifelong operator who quite literally built his career from the shop floor up. Starting at 17 under the guidance of his father-in-law, Jeff rose through every role in the business, eventually steering the company through recessions, industry transitions, and major setbacks. His story is a masterclass in resilience, leadership, and generational evolution in family-owned businesses. https://www.glecoplating.com
Key Takeaways:
Grit is built in the trenches—Jeff’s leadership foundation started on the plating line.
Resilience isn’t optional; recessions and industry swings forced strategic reinvention.
Stubbornness can be both the fuel and the friction in a founder’s journey.
Having the right advisors could have prevented years of unnecessary struggle.
Documented processes became the backbone of sustainable growth.
The next generation brings fresh thinking—if you’re willing to let them.
Chapter Markers
0:00 Intro
3:37 Getting into Electroplating
4:25 Incorporating Glico & Early Years
6:07 Building the First Shop from Scratch
7:13 First Customer & Early Operations
17:05 Transitioning into Leadership
20:11 Returning to College While Running the Business
36:47 Opening McAllen Facility (First Time)
38:03 Growth, Recession & Setbacks
40:24 Telecom Bust & Forced Shutdown
43:30 Stubbornness, Faith & Perseverance
45:07 Matt Joins the Business & Modernizes Operations
50:09 The Double-Edged Sword of Stubbornness
51:47 Hard Work, Advisors & Evolving Leadership
52:25 Culture, Documentation & Holding Standards
Keywords:
Forward and Unfiltered, Nauman Poonja, Jeff Fodge, Glico Plating, founder story, leadership journey, family business, recession resilience, manufacturing CEO, business setbacks, operational excellence, legacy leadership, entrepreneurship, business growth, founder resilience
Meet The Host: Nauman Poonja
Nauman Poonja is a CPA and MBA-trained financial executive who has helped more than 200 manufacturing and distribution companies gain the financial clarity they need to grow with confidence. With 8,000+ hours of fractional CFO experience, he specializes in turning messy back-office data, inventory complexity, and cash-flow uncertainty into clear, actionable insights manufacturers can rely on.
As the founder of Accounovation, Nauman blends deep manufacturing expertise with practical automation tools, helping leaders make smarter, faster decisions without the jargon or overwhelm. His work bridges the gap between the shop floor and the financial strategy that drives profitability.
On Forward and Unfiltered, Nauman brings honest, story-driven conversations to life — digging into the pivotal decisions, early struggles, and financial turning points that define modern manufacturing success. His mission: equip leaders with the clarity and confidence they need to build stronger businesses and better lives.