The Recent Rise of Reshoring: Why It’s Happening and Who to Contact for Domestic Metal Stamping in North America

Both providers of metal components and consumers have likely noticed a recent trend—reshoring. For those that aren’t aware of the term, reshoring (also known as onshoring or inshoring) is the process of moving manufacturing back to a company’s country of origin. This includes the United States. 

The “why” behind this is due to a few main things. One is the recent supply chain scare that everyone experienced in 2021/2022, and the post-COVID supply chain hangover. This has led manufacturers to want to move their plants closer to their point of consumption to reduce the risk of delayed deliveries while providing more support to fluctuating demand schedules. 

By choosing localized suppliers like UMP, consumers don’t need to buy components from overseas, saving them from the time and risk of getting those components to NA (North American) manufacturing locations that comes with overseas purchasing. When properly evaluated, it’s easy to see that the landed cost of components in NA is very close to parity with those sourced in low-cost countries.

Risk is just as big of a factor as predictability. If a consumer is bringing a component into NA from offshore which might take 6 weeks once it’s put on a boat, what happens if the longshoremen strike or the ports back up like they did in 2021/22?  Saving 0.02% on parts means nothing if those parts are delayed for an extended period of time.

Another main reason for the growth in reshoring is USMCA (formerly NAFTA) legislation that increased the requirements for manufacturers regarding “domestic content.” The USMCA legislation is a trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada that replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 2020. One of the changes that the USMCA introduced was an increase in the requirements for manufacturers regarding “domestic content”. This means that a certain percentage of the materials or components used to produce a product must originate from one of the USMCA countries in order to qualify for preferential tariff treatment.

UMP (Universal Metal Products) is positioned well, with US/NA manufacturing locations that meet the requirements of “domestic content” that major OEMs want to see. This, combined with UMP’s minority ownership status, makes UMP an excellent option for OEMs of all sizes. 

UMP is a female-owned company that helps with the creation of metal components for the automotive, appliance, and industrial industries. We are able to create a variety of custom and standard components for vehicles, HVAC units, refrigerators, electronics, sub pumps, and much more. UMP is based in the United States, and our local manufacturing allows for superior production with on-time deliveries. You’ll receive the highest-quality, custom metal stamping products and services provided by a North American company that specializes in top-quality production within a timely delivery schedule. 

If you are looking for metal stamping services, contact us! We’d be happy to speak with you. We proudly work with female-led and operated companies and people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. 
To learn more about our employment opportunities visit our Careers page today.

UMP Celebrates National Safety Month with an Ongoing Commitment to Workplace Safety

Did you know June is National Safety Month? This holiday was created in 1996 by the National Safety Council with the intention of bringing awareness to proper safety practices and health hazards in the workplace. It serves as a great reminder both for business owners and employees about how important safety precautions are to ensure everyone’s safety.

As Universal Metal Products has an outstanding and complex factory that creates metal components, safety is paramount to our day-to-day operations. This means ensuring the flooring is dry, tripping hazards are addressed quickly, and all workplace safety mandates are not only met but exceeded. Our goal at UMP—in everything we do—is to go above and beyond and pay attention to the details. That’s how we’ve created a safe and enjoyable working environment where our workers are able to provide outstanding services without having to fear for their safety. This means more focus on creating your components and less time worrying about tripping, falling, slipping, or other injuries.

We are committed to continuing to create a safe workplace for our employees and we are proud of our staff for their adherence to proper safety measures. 

About Universal Metal Products

Universal Metal Products is a female-owned company that provides metal component creation services for the automotive, industrial, and appliance industries. We are able to create a variety of custom and standard components for vehicles, HVAC units, electronics, refrigerators, sub pumps, and much more. 

UMP is based in the United States, and we are proud of our American heritage. With that said, we are also grateful for the opportunity to work closely with our international customers (including our incredible customers in Latin America). We believe strongly in equality, inclusivity, and fairness in the workplace—regardless of race, sex, religion, or nationality. We are also proud to hire veterans!

If you are looking for metal stamping services, contact us! We’d be happy to speak with you. We proudly work with female-led and operated companies, veteran-owned companies, and people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. 
To learn more about our employment opportunities visit our Careers page today.

Join Us in Saluting Our Troops During National Military Appreciation Month

May is National Military Appreciation Month in the United States. During this month, we show our reverence for those in the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, and Space Force. 

Universal Metal Products is proud of both our American roots and our troops. The United States military protects our freedom at a great cost, and UMP finds it extremely important to show our support and acknowledge their great sacrifices. 

UMP was founded in 1946—right on the tail end of World War II. Since then, our strong military has allowed UMP to thrive through the Cold War, Gulf War, and the various wars and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Without the strength and perseverance of United States military, there’s a strong chance we wouldn’t be here today! 

With the help of our troops, the United States has been able to grow and thrive under the tenants of freedom, liberty, and equality. Every day, our troops put their lives on the line to ensure our ability to grow, develop and live our lives to our fullest. 

Universal Metal Products would like to say a special “thank you” to everyone that has served and continues to serve, along with the military veterans on our team that have helped our business to grow and provide the best metal stamping and manufacturing services in North America. 

UMP is a female-owned company that helps with the creation of metal components for the appliance, automotive, and industrial industries. We are able to create a variety of custom and standard components for vehicles, HVAC units, electronics, sub pumps, refrigerators, and much more. While we are based in the United States and are proud of our heritage, we are also grateful for the opportunity to work closely with our international customers (including our incredible customers in Latin America). We believe strongly in equality, inclusivity, and fairness in the workplace—regardless of race, sex, religion, or nationality. We are also proud to hire veterans!

If you are looking for metal stamping services, contact us! We’d be happy to speak with you. We proudly work with female-led and operated companies, veteran-owned companies, and people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. 


To learn more about our employment opportunities visit our Careers page today.

Women’s History Month: Shining a Light on the Great Contributions of Women Throughout the Years

March is Women’s History Month, which is a fantastic time to reflect on all of the great contributions of women around the world. From historical figures like Harriet Tubman (a champion of human rights that led enslaved Americans to freedom via the Underground Railroad) and Marie Curie (a Nobel Prize-winning chemist and physicist who was a pioneer in the field of radioactivity) to modern leaders like Mary Barra (Chairwoman and CEO of General Motors) and members of our own team like Kimberly Koeth (Director of Administration and Support at Universal Metal Products) and Kristin Jenkins (Director of Diversity at Universal Metal Products), there have been so many women throughout the years that have changed the world as we know it.

At Universal Metal Products, we celebrate the amazing women that have helped our business to grow and provide the best metal stamping solution and manufacturing services in North America. UMP is a female-owned company that helps with the creation of metal components for the automotive, appliance, and industrial industries. We are able to create a variety of custom and standard components for vehicles and home appliances such as refrigerators, washer, dryer dishwasher and much more.

Kristin Jenkins and Kimberly Koeth of Universal Metal Products bring diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences to the table, which helps Universal Metal Products to innovate, grow, and leverage the unique strength of women. Universal Metal Products promotes equality by creating a culture of inclusivity. This is done by providing equal pay for equal work, offering family-friendly policies and work shift hours, and creating a harassment-free workplace.

Join us in celebrating Women’s History Month and Women’s Day (March 8th)! We are so grateful at Universal Metal Products both for the women that led the way for equal rights and the current leaders that help us achieve a better tomorrow.

If you are looking for metal stamping services, contact us! We’d be happy to speak with you. We proudly work with female-led and operated companies and people of all backgrounds and ethnicities.

To learn more about our employment opportunities visit our Careers page today.

National Hispanic Heritage Month: What Our Hispanic Employees and Clients Mean to Us

It’s officially National Hispanic Heritage Month, and Universal Metal Products has decided to celebrate by honoring our amazing Hispanic employees and clients. 

From our plant workers to members of management, we are proud of the outstanding work provided by our employees of Hispanic and Latino descent. Having a plant in Texas, our staff is very diverse. Many of our employees are bi-lingual, which is particularly helpful since we ship internationally to Mexico and Latin America. 

We are happy to provide services for our Hispanic and Latino clients. They are extremely accommodating and wonderful to work with. We are grateful for all of the business we receive from clients in Latin America, along with our clients in the United States and other regions.

It is extremely important to provide employees from all backgrounds with opportunities for growth. Regional managers, plant supervisors, and employees in many other positions have been able to grow with Universal Metal Products. This includes members of the Hispanic community that we employ. We recognize the outstanding work provided by our employees, and it’s our goal to reward our top workers with not only praise but promotions and new opportunities. Developing a phenomenal workforce is done by encouraging our team to reach their full potential, while also showing them that there is plenty of opportunity for growth in the company. 

Universal Metal Products is a female-owned company that provides metal stamping and manufacturing services for our clients. This includes the creation of metal components for the appliance, automotive, and industrial industries. We are able to create a variety of custom and standard components for vehicles, HVAC units, refrigerators, electronics, sub pumps, and much more. 

UMP offers many new career opportunities in different areas of the country. If you are interested in working for Universal Metal Products, visit our Careers page. Being bi-lingual is a major plus! 

Thank you again to all of our employees and clients of Hispanic and Latino descent. We appreciate you greatly and are happy you are a part of the Universal Metal Products community. 

If you are looking for metal stamping services, contact us! We’d be happy to speak with you. We proudly work with Latin American companies and people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. 
To learn more about our employment opportunities visit our Careers page today.

Celebrating Women in March

What do National Women’s History Month, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and a manufacturing company specializing in custom metal stampings have in common? 

UMP “Can-Do” That

UMP has a reputation. While it’s well known by our staff, customers and suppliers, it usually doesn’t show until there’s panic, emergencies, and even potential shutdowns. UMP has a can-do attitude about helping our customers get out of sticky spots. It’s where UMP really shines and quality never suffers despite the fact that there is a time crunch.

This way of doing business extends beyond the top brass and the salespeople, to engineering, tooling, the production line and the office. We never want to shut a customer down!

Five members of UMP’s field sales team share their accounts of making magic happen.

Yes, it’s Friday but…

Brian Sapp, had a request from one of his largest customers, a major appliance manufacturer: can UMP repair a tool from a different supplier? The supplier did not have the tooling resources to make the repairs. The tooling segment that was damaged had been welded several times and could not be repaired

It was Friday of Labor Day weekend. There were no schematics, the tool had to be scanned and remade. Our tool shop worked over the weekend to manufacture the new tooling parts. The customer tooling engineer was able to deliver the repaired tool back to the other supplier on Tuesday.
Normal lead time would be 2-3 weeks. UMP pulled it off in 3-1/2 days. And not only over a weekend, but a holiday weekend!

UMP’s dedication helped to prevent a potential plant shutdown of a major appliance manufacturer. Now shut downs come in all sizes, but for this customer in particular, it could cost 6 figures per hour! The supplier of record did not have the stock, so UMP not only helped their customer, but had a real impact on the supplier’s liability as well.

Another Friday, another crisis? A customer had an imminent shutdown looming due to their supplier’s lack of inventory, and damaged tooling to make more. UMP was preparing to take over the part in coming months, and actually had the stamp ready, but no production slots. We were able to break into the production schedule, run a sufficient number of parts over the weekend to prevent a shutdown, and ship parts to Alabama on Monday.

Same issue, different industry…

Daniel, Field Sales Engineer for UMP in Mexico, has an Industrial market customer with a similar story. An internal inventory error left them short on inventory, risking a potential production line interruption the following week.

Daniel got the wheels turning with UMP’s Customer Service Team who then worked with the Production Department to help reduce an 8-week manufacturing lead time down to just a few days. Parts were delivered to the customer 4 days later with time to spare and a shutdown crisis averted.

Do me a favor, hold my heat shields

Tim Kruk received a call from a potential automotive customer in need of a clip to hold their heat shields together during shipment. They had hoped for a shelf solution, but there was none and they needed these parts within 10 weeks! A supplier referred them to us, knowing UMP’s reputation for quality and customer service.

UMP jumped into action, building prototypes to support their very first 50 customer builds while the production tool was being produced. We were able to not only help, but made design changes happen as well. In the end, it’s not enough to produce the part, it has to be the right part.

One of UMP’s Engineers was on vacation, but coordinated a detour (with his family in tow) to hand deliver the parts. This was a brand new customer 2 years ago, now they are a regular customer with a number of parts in production at UMP.

Supply chain interuptions cost $$$

What to do when a supply chain is continuously interrupted, and costs are climbing sky high due to lack of material and lines stoppages? Call UMP, we will help you manage through it all!

Ebenezer Ruiz, down in our Texas facility, began with customer problem definition and made a case to take over and switch production of their component with UMP. He was able to offer a viable, cost effective solution by involving sales and engineering, meeting all the customer’s existing requirements and making the part at our facility in Cleveland! It was a
win-win for both UMP and the customer. The tool build was completed within the defined timeline and the part is ready to start mass production in the second quarter of 2021 for a 4-5 year run.

Steel market challenges during a pandemic

Today’s steel market is very challenging. Steel mills severely cut production in the spring of 2020 due to the pandemic and a drop in demand. The problem continued through the summer due to the time it takes to get mills back up and running. The problem persisted into the fall because of labor shortages.

The net result is a significant shortfall of steel supply at a time demand is increasing. This has led to price jumps and supply disruptions. UMP has been dealing with this since last December.

The automotive industry is very demanding and challenging due to their sophisticated design and manufacturing processes and procedures. Given assembly line manufacturing processes and just-in-time inventory systems, supply disruptions are catastrophic events operationally, logistically and ultimately, financially.

Currently UMP is dealing with a host of these hot spots

Damon Rodehorst tells of the most recent account, involving two 40,000lb. shipments of steel that were due to arrive in late January and later this month. This steel will produce approximately 150,000 parts. That seems like a lot of parts, but it represents only about ten weeks of demand from the customer. We were in imminent danger of shutting down a major assembly line of pick-up trucks.

Fortunately, we were able to find additional steel on the spot-buy market that will cover some of the gap in timing until we receive our scheduled deliveries.

Unfortunately, it will not arrive in time to cover the immediate need. This is where the UMP team got creative and stretched well beyond normal operational boundaries.

We had inventory of the same grade of steel but it was slit to wider width for a different application. In this case, because the steel we had on hand is WIDER than the steel we are lacking, it was possible to use the steel we have IF we could modify the tool to make the parts we need.  We were able to do just that.

Once we make the parts we need, we must change the tool back to its original configuration to accommodate the standard material once again.

Why does this keep happening

The reality is that there is an increase in these types of requests because businesses are running so lean from a staffing standpoint, but are pedal to the metal in terms of production output. Inventories are kept at a minimum for cost cutting measures, and often it causes trouble when there are material shortages, equipment malfunctions, or other disruptors.
It is our knowledge of what it means when the customer is facing a line shutdown, that enables us to see the customer’s perspective and implement a plan that works for them.

To get this done requires the dedication of everyone in our UMP family. When we ask “who’s available to get this done?”, we see that it truly “take a village” to pull these feats off for our customers.

To us, it’s what makes us shine, and we love what we are able to do.

Past, Present and Future

75th Anniversary of the
Universal Metal Products Family

In honor of UMP’s 75th Anniversary, I had a conversation with CEO Scott Seaholm to talk about everything from the company’s humble beginnings, to a glimpse into the future of the UMP family.

Q:  Tell us about UMP’s beginnings.

Universal Metal Products was founded in 1946 by Thomas Dahlstrand in an old gas station off St. Clair in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The company consisted of one office person, one machine operator and one tool & die maker.  The concept of family started early, as employees Ida, Ollie and Burt Norder actually were family. Their first customer was Westinghouse Electric in Columbus.  After WWII, Ohio was the hub of appliance manufacturing in the U.S., and so began the first opportunity for growth.

In 1954, UMP moved into a 12,000 square foot facility in Wickliffe, Ohio, which quickly grew to 50,000 square feet. Business expanded into the auto industry in the 60’s with a constant tension hose clamp called the UniClamp®, which was used on fuel and environmental systems in cars. It is still sold today for vehicle, appliance and industrial applications. The UniClamp’s® success was the driving force behind the 1968 decision to build a 40,000 square foot plant in nearby Willoughy, Ohio. The 60’s and 70’s also saw the addition of refrigeration within the appliances group.

Q:  How did you get involved with UMP?

My entry into UMP started in 1973 when I was assigned to work with UMP as a client of Meaden & Moore CPA. I continued working with UMP and eventually became a Partner with Meaden & Moore.  In 1985, Tom Dahlstrand asked me to help him create a business plan to attract potential buyers when he was ready to retire.  He did not have children to bring into the business and was looking to find a buyer who would not only take UMP to the next level, but also take care of the 65 employee “family” he had built over the years.  It was very personal and Tom wanted it to be the right buyer. He received several offers but turned them all down.

It took me a while, but in December 1986, I finally asked Tom if I could buy the business.  CPA to Manufacturing? Why not?

Tom’s response was, “What took you so long?”

Q: What were your dreams for the company when you acquired it in 1987?

The goal was steady growth. My methodology was to keep the goals simple, clear and measurable for all employees.  We set the growth for 6% per year, then to accomplish this we established Best Practices.  We started with the Best Quality System in the auto industry. That eventually trickled down to our work in appliance and industrial. 

From there we concentrated on developing the best business systems for the customer service management including EDI, manufacturing, and measurement of productivity for all employees. 

Lastly, we made sure UMP was a great place to work!  That has helped us to retain our workforce in an industry that can often be viewed as transient.  Our employees become part of the UMP family, and are depended upon to help shape the future of UMP.

UMP has grown from 65 employees and $6 million in sales, to over 300 employees and $60 million in sales. Most importantly, we remain committed to our growing UMP family of employees.

Q: What are the goals today?

Now, the key is to continue to diversify the client base.  For example, back in 2004, 84% of our business was with the appliance industry, 11% in automotive and 5% industrial.  By 2019, those percentages shifted to 46% appliance, 35% transportation (includes trucking and automotive) and 19% industrial.  We have also opened plants in Toledo (1997) and Texas (2003) to accommodate the changing diversity of our offerings both in industries served and markets, including Mexico.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges during your time with UMP?

The recession of 2008 and the Pandemic of 2020 have been two of the biggest challenges.  2008 was the one and only time we actually had to layoff employees. This is a feat that is practically unheard of in manufacturing. It was the hardest decision to make, because as I stated earlier, our employees aren’t just people we work with, they’re family. I vowed that we would never be leveraged like that again.

Last year, we avoided layoffs and kept doors open by being an “essential” business.  We kept everyone working by eliminating overtime, and filling nonproduction periods with internal projects such as organizing departments, cleaning and painting the equipment.  When work started to come back, we were ready to go with our full workforce intact.

Q: What changes do you see coming in the future?

There are changes in the pipeline for every department.  On the floor, we see upgraded electronics, sensors and controls as well as servo motors to drive machines.  The tool room will see Wire EDM (Electric Discharge Machine) for cutting die sections, computer operated milling to grind materials, and further evolution of CAD systems used to design and build dies.  In engineering, we are adding solid modeling CAD systems and 3D printer technology in order to design and create prototypes in real time. Management will see changes in information systems and cloud computing.

Some of the best changes coming are in employee development and training such as Tool & Die apprenticeship training, machining skills and Maintenance Tech training. Another example of our commitment to future training and retention is our involvement with AWT (Alliance for Working Together) with Lake Erie College, Lakeland College, Auburn Career Center and Mentor High School.  Watch for more information on this as it evolves.

Q: You have kept the company in the family with your daughters taking over.  What do you want your legacy to be?

I would love to keep UMP in the family for generations to come because I believe it’s a great company!  There are so many opportunities here beyond what people think of manufacturing including Engineering, Computing, Human Resources, Sales, Operations, Purchasing and Management. We have the resources to grow the business and my daughters, Kristin Jenkins and Kimberly Koeth are bringing fresh ideas – and a women’s perspective in a male dominated industry.  I am confident their impact at the helm will take what I have built to the next level.

Q: Anyone you’d like to thank for their memorable contributions over the years?

My first response is to recognize those people in senior management, but in reality, UMP has been successful due to the collective efforts of all of its employees. I feel fortunate that I have had the opportunity to be a faithful steward of UMP and have been associated with amazing people, great supply base and most of all, our customers.

I had a list of almost one hundred names, many of which most of you may not know. For those of you currently here at UMP, you are all appreciated and I frankly don’t want to miss someone, so my heartfelt thanks go out to each and every one of you.

I personally want to express my appreciation to Thomas Dahlstrand, owner and President for 41 years (1946-1986) for having the confidence in me to guide his company these last 34 years.

75 Year and counting. I doubt I will be here to see 100 years, but I’m sure the next phase of UMP will not only be successful, but continue to protect the UMP family that has been put in my care. I have certainly been blessed

Breaking Barriers in Tool & Die

Danielle Cutler completes Apprenticeship and state Journeyperson Certification

“There is no reason why women cannot excel in the tool and die profession.” Kristin Jenkins, Executive VP – Director of Sales & Diversity for UMP, sees the path for women as a certainty. “Just about everything you touch – steel, plastic and glass – requires a die, which leads back to a Tool & Die Maker. Danielle is our first female to have gone through our apprenticeship program, and we hope to have others follow her lead.”

Danielle’s UMP Story

Danielle Cutler is the first woman in UMP history to complete the Tool and Die Apprenticeship and receive her state-approved Journeyperson Certification. Danielle began her career at Universal Metal Products in January of 2014 as a Punch Press Operator and was accepted into UMP’s Tool & Die Apprenticeship program in 2016. 

She recalls, “In my interview the apprenticeship program was mentioned. That if I work hard and prove my worth with UMP, I could get in. I knew that’s what I wanted and where I wanted to go from that moment. I actually took a pay cut when hired, but the chance to make something of myself made me take the leap.”

The apprenticeship is a state-certified program where students have four years to develop the skills and education needed to become a Journeyperson in the tool & die trade.  Apprentices log hours and take courses at a local college. Once an apprentice reaches 500 hours of in-classroom instruction and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, the sponsor (employer) of the apprentice can file for certification from the state.  

Danielle was a good candidate for the apprenticeship because she had a strong mechanical aptitude and a willingness/desire to learn.

“There was nothing that was going to stop me from achieving that goal,” says Danielle. “My children, Al and Cash, and being able to provide for them was my only objective.” Her eldest son, Al, took on helping with his younger brother, cooking meals on school nights, helping with homework, getting up for school and more, all so she could work the hours needed to complete this rigorous and lengthy program. “He knew helping me would mean a better life for them and I can’t thank him enough for stepping up. No matter how tiring or frustrating this journey became, they both were always there to keep me motivated.”

UMP’s Commitment for the Future

The career path begins with the apprenticeship, however, the skills and troubleshooting are developed over the span of the career.

Gordon Daugherty, UMP President states that he is “very proud Danielle is our first home grown female tool and die maker with a long career ahead at Universal Metal Products. I am certain she will continue to be a great example and advocate for women in manufacturing.” For the next class of apprentices, Gordon hopes UMP will see more female candidates inspired by Danielle’s accomplishment.

According to the US census.gov microdata on reported Tool and Die employees, this would put Danielle and her female journeyperson counterparts in some elite company with women making up just 3.3% nationally and 2.6% regionally in Ohio of the total skilled tool and die workforce. In August, the State of Ohio reported that 10.4% of the current active apprentices are in fact women, which is an indicator that more women are jumping on the bandwagon.  

UMP has partnered with local schools and vocational tech schools to provide these opportunities. “We have put the word out that we are looking for self-motivated, hard- working people to enter our tool & die apprenticeship program,” states Kristin Jenkins. “Our program is open to all that are interested, qualified and committed.”

There is a maintenance apprenticeship program UMP is just launching. UMP also has their own internal setup / operator program in both slide and punch press forming. Several women have progressed through this program over the years.

For those who enter now, the future is bright.

The need for skilled tradespeople isn’t going away, but the interest in skilled trades has diminished in the last decade. For those who do go into a skilled trades career, the opportunities for stability and advancement are there for the taking.

“I’ve known many in the trade who have moved into managerial/technical sales roles,” says Christina Balint, UMP’s Corporate HR Manager. “Others have had an entrepreneurial spirit and have established their own tool & die shops. Of course, there are those who are completely happy advancing their skills within the business who sponsored their apprenticeship.”

Paving the Way for Women

When asked what it means to be UMP’s first woman to complete the Apprenticeship and Certification, Danielle answers, “I hope that it has shown that there are women out there capable of succeeding in this field, that we can be given a chance just like the men who walk through the door. I was hired in with a chance to work my way up and prove that I can be of value to the tool room. I was not handed an opportunity, but a chance. 

My experience was a lot different from the male apprentices and I hope I have paved a way that shows women are capable too.”

Danielle has a deep appreciation for the experience and the treatment she received on this journey. “I’d like to especially thank Rodney Reynolds, Russel Craig, Will Griffe, Rick Hansel, and Ilia Bridviski, along with the other tool makers, for their words of wisdom, guidance, and knowledge they passed onto me through this apprenticeship and as I continue in my career. I appreciate all of them as they treated me as a fellow co-worker and not just the ‘girl apprentice’.”

Women will be a big piece in the solution to fill the shortage of skilled tradespeople for the future, and UMP is committed to making that happen.