Innovation, Ownership, and Customer Focus: The PMI Story

Innovation, customer focus, and 100% employee ownership come together in a story of growth, resilience, and purpose. It’s a journey that begins with humble roots, evolves through decades of dedication, and finds strength in putting people first. At its core is the belief that customers deserve solutions that simplify challenges, reduce stress, and create lasting value. Along the way, employee ownership has transformed not only the way business is done, but also the way people work together—building trust, loyalty, and a future shaped by shared success.

In this first episode of the The Fabricated Metals Podcast, we dive into the world of Progress Metal Innovators (PMI)—our beginnings, the products we create, the customers we serve, and why becoming a 100% employee-owned company has been such a meaningful milestone. Joining the conversation are Dana Hansen, PMI’s Sales and Marketing Manager, and Chris Conard, President of PMI, who have worked together for over 20 years to build strong relationships, simplify supply chains, and deliver lasting value to customers.

Tune in now!

Key Highlights from the Episode

• [00:01] Introduction to the show
• [00:50] PMI’s history: how it started and grew into a one-stop shop
• [04:12] Meeting customer needs in the supply chain
• [05:22] Why working with one supplier can save inventory headaches
• [06:27] What partnering with PMI looks like for customers
• [08:33] How outsourcing with PMI saves time
• [09:20] PMI’s customer base and how they are served in today’s climate
• [10:45] Diversifying the supply base—and how PMI meets demand
• [11:58] Why PMI started the The Fabricated Metals Podcast
• [13:48] Becoming employee-owned in 2021—and what it means to the team
• [15:10] Wrap-up and closing thoughts

Notable Quotes

• “You can reduce a lot of stress in a day by putting the work of managing so many different suppliers into just one.”
• “If you are dealing with multiple suppliers, you are probably killing more inventory than you want to.”
• “It’s human nature to be comfortable with something you have been doing for a long time.”

Resources Mentioned

• Fabrication Buyers Guide: https://www.pmillc.com/guide/

Let’s Connect

• Website: https://www.pmillc.com/
• Dana’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-hansen-46a61114/
• Chris’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-conard-bb2b5016/