Earlier this month, nine Dunwoody women visited the woman-owned blacksmithing and metalwork shop Iron Maiden Metal Fabricating located in Minneapolis.
According to ironmaideniron.com: “Iron Maiden Metal Fabricating is a one-woman custom metal fabricating company run by Heather Young. She’s worked in the metalwork business since 1995, first as an office assistant and then in the shop. Formally educated in Minneapolis and trained through the Guild of Metalsmiths in St. Paul, she takes on industrial, commercial, and residential fabrication.”
Young honed her welding skills through a Workforce Training & Continuing Education course at Dunwoody.
She talked about her welding career and experience as a mother and small business owner. She also demonstrated blacksmithing processes by creating a decorative hook.
The group of Dunwoody women left inspired by Young’s story of setting up a blacksmithing shop at an orphanage in South East Africa before starting a metal fabrication business out of her garage in Minnesota—in 2009 she moved the business into a rented warehouse space.
Current students from the College’s Welding Technology department who attended the field trip were offered occasional work at the Iron Maiden shop.
Young’s business plan: to not have a plan and adapt to the industry’s needs. So far, her plan has been as strong as iron.
For more information about Iron Maiden Metal Fabricating, visit www.ironmaideniron.com.
For information about upcoming Kate’s Club events, email katesclub@dunwoody.edu.