Thinking differently about running a small manufacturing business

Lori Tapani, co-owner and co-president of Wyoming Machine in Stacy, Minnesota, joins The Fabricator Podcast to discuss what it means to think differently when running a small manufacturing business.

Alongside her sister, Traci Tapani, she has led the more than 50-year-old company for over three decades, following a unique succession plan that transitioned leadership from their father.

A longtime FMA member and vice chair of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council, Tapani also brings a small business perspective to broader industry and policy discussions.

She shares how their approach to leadership, culture, and growth has evolved, and how their job shop operates across diverse industries. A major focus is workforce development, including partnerships with local communities and technical schools to attract and train the next generation, an effort recognized nationally with the W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award.

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