2 days ago
Building a Legacy Through Chaos
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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