What Truly Defines a Strong Contract Manufacturer: The People Behind the Processes
The true strength of a contract manufacturing partner isn’t just equipment or automation; it’s the people improving the processes and solving problems every day.
At Athena Manufacturing, long-term growth, both for the company and our customers, has always started with investing in our people. When employees grow in capability and leadership, customers benefit from more stable operations, stronger decision-making, and better execution on the shop floor.
Leadership in Fabrication: Kyle Naylor’s 16-Year Journey
Kyle Naylor, Athena’s Operations Manager of Fabrication, has been with the company for almost 16 years. While attending school for welding, he received a recommendation from his instructor that prompted him to consider working for Athena. This decision led him to us, and since December 2010, he’s turned that opportunity into a successful, long-term career.
Today, Kyle manages all sheet metal fabrication operations. His responsibilities span personnel planning, scheduling, collaboration with program management, and engineering support. While his supervisor team handles day-to-day execution, Kyle focuses on high-level planning and long-term production strategy.
His educational background includes:
AAS in Welding Technology
Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification
Robot welding training
Supervisor training
Pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology
For our team, Kyle’s extensive education and experience directly influence how fabrication programs are structured. For our customers, it means fabrication workflows are engineered for stability.
Kyle’s job duties look different than when he started, but his hands-on understanding of in-depth fabrication processes remains prevalent. “Although these days I come to work with a tucked-in collared shirt, I can still do just about any job successfully on the shop floor,” Kyle explains. This adaptability is a point of pride for him and for the fellow members of Athena who have watched his growth.
Machine Shop Leadership: Judd Matheny’s Path with Athena
Reliable machining performance depends on technical leadership and strategy. That’s where Judd comes in.
Judd Matheny, Athena’s Machine Shop Manager, has been with the company for eight years, and actually came back to Athena directly from working for a major EV maker. He joined as a lathe programmer after hearing about Athena through an industry contact. Today, he leads the entire Machine Shop department.
His days begin on the shop floor, checking in with machinists and identifying potential issues. From there, he balances scheduling, technical troubleshooting, programming oversight, and long-term improvement initiatives that can add value on the shop floor.
Currently, Judd is helping drive automation and AI integration within the programming department. His background working across multiple industries gives him broad exposure to different manufacturing challenges, allowing him to solve problems with a wide lens.
One of his proudest accomplishments was designing and implementing a fully automated cell for a defense program that produced 1,000 parts per week and ran 22 hours a day for four years. That degree of sustained performance required planning, discipline, perceptiveness, and continuous process refinement.
With an effective leader like Judd on the floor, our shop can shift into high-productivity mode without sacrificing quality; this is a major standout for our customers.
Internal Growth Matters to Our Customers
It’s easy to focus on equipment lists when evaluating a contract manufacturer, but machinery alone doesn’t drive consistency; the people operating it do.
At Athena Manufacturing:
Leaders are developed internally
Education and certifications are supported
Cross-training builds redundancy
Continuous improvement is built into our processes
Kyle and Judd represent how Athena invests in its people and values employee input.
When employees are empowered, customers experience:
More proactive communication
Faster issue resolution
Smarter process improvements
Stronger long-term program stability
An added advantage: Experience that compounds over time
Kyle’s 16-year evolution from welding student to operations leader and Judd’s progression from programmer to department manager reflect a broader philosophy at Athena: when we grow our people, the company grows with them.
And when our company grows stronger, so do our customers’ outcomes.
If you’re looking for a manufacturing partner with leadership that is built from the ground up, Athena Manufacturing is here to support your next project. Contact us to get started!