“Winning’s way more important than being right, and when the shop wins, we all win.”
— Steve Van Orden, President at Paramount Machine in Salt Lake City, Utah
In this episode of Manufacturing Mavericks, we’re heading to Salt Lake City to talk with Steve Van Orden and Eric Van Orden —father and son leaders at Paramount Machine. Steve started the company in the family garage with a manual lathe and a bold vision. Now, Eric is helping lead the next chapter of growth with a focus on automation, people-first culture, and smart investments in technology.
Eric opens up about why his dad made him start at the bottom and how that decision shaped his leadership style. From sweeping the shop floor to now helping run a 70-person team, Eric shares his perspective on generational transitions, developing trust within the team, and what it takes to modernize without losing your core.
Together, Steve and Eric talk about the balancing act of family and business, the turning points in Paramount’s growth, and why listening to employees is a competitive advantage.
If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to grow a shop across decades and do it with heart, humility, and smarts—this one’s for you.
“If you can figure out how someone receives information and deliver it to them in a way that they’re receptive to it, then you can really start to influence them… and then you just have to start pushing the right buttons.”
— Eric Van Orden, Machinist at Paramount Machine in Salt Lake City, Utah
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- 2:20 — The garage days: How Paramount started with a manual lathe and a vision
- 4:03 — Why Eric started with a broom, not a title
- 7:43 — Choosing the shop over law school
- 10:43 — Why Steve invests based on employee feedback
- 14:25 — Betting on Swiss machines changed the game
- 19:25 — Developing new talent without a programming department
- 23:30 — Navigating the tension and trust of a family business
- 37:39 — Datanomix’s positive change on Paramount’s culture
Links Referenced:
- Paramount Machine
- Datanomix: https://datanomix.io/
- mfgmavericks.com: https://mfgmavericks.com