26: Jared Cochran - From Plasma Table to Powerhouse

In this episode of Irregardless, Shep sits down with Jared Cochran, Owner of Speed Fabrication out of Perryville, Missouri. What began as a father-son project to build a CNC plasma table turned into a thriving fabrication business that Jared runs with his wife. From decorative metal signs to residential, artistic, and government work, Speed Fab has grown from a garage hobby into a full-blown powerhouse fabrication shop.
Jared shares how losing his full-time job led him to take the leap into entrepreneurship, how the COVID pandemic unexpectedly accelerated their growth, and why delivering American-made products remains at the core of everything they do. He and Shep talk about the evolution of their business, adapting in the face of adversity, embracing automation and new tech, and why speed is more essential than ever. They also dive into how Speed Fab and Bryzos first connected—and what’s ahead as the next generation joins the shop.