July 26, 2009
By LOU WHITMIRE
News Journal
MANSFIELD -- Starting with one machine, Mark Hess and his wife Pam opened a tool and die
business in 1999. The couple went all in, selling their home to put all their assets into the venture. "My faith has played such a key role in making us who we are today," Mark Hess said from his 201 E. Fifth St. shop. "It's one of the few area shops to use 3-D solid modeling technology to design and build high-tech tooling solutions. "Our team uses its years of hands-on experience and combines it with 3-D solid modeling technology to design and build high-tech tooling solutions for our customers," Mark Hess said. "We have focused on developing a state-of-the-art tooling facility by keeping pace with the latest in technology advances."

The philosophy is paying off. The couple's small business builds progressive and transfer dies for the metal stamping industry. Customers include the appliance, motorcycle, aerospace and lawn and garden industries, as well as the automotive industry. The 41-year-old Hess said this is accomplished with a combination of machinery, technical expertise and a skilled work force. "Our computer numerical controlled machinery are set up in a cell concept, meaning that the operator is not only running the machine, but he is programming them and runs multiple machines at one time. We even run some of our machines unattended while we go home at night. This allows us to be very competitive," the proprietor said.

Mark Hess was born for the business. He worked in his grandfather's machine shop as a teenager. Over a 14-year period before starting Hess Industries he learned the details of the trade by working for several companies, gaining experience in building and repairing progressive and transfer dies, managing people, production scheduling and quality control.

A graduate of North Central State College, he earned an associate degree in mechanical engineering and graduated with honors. He credited local father-and-son businessmen Dick Taylor and Rick Taylor for mentoring him. "I try to model myself after both of them," Hess said, noting he worked 50 hours a week for Dick Taylor, owner of Taylor Metal Products, while attending NCTC part-time. "I told Dick I wanted to be a tool and die maker and I wanted to be in an apprenticeship program," Hess recalled.

The rest is history. Mark and Pam Hess began their dream with a vision, and it remains as their declared vision statement: "We are firmly committed to earning our reputation as a dependable and trustworthy supplier of highquality goods and services to the metal-working industry. Always employing cutting-edge technology. Hess' dedicated team of responsive employees delivers exceptional value, on time, every time. In all of our accomplishments, we give honor and glory to God," he said.

The company's future includes a new facility in north central Ohio. "Braintree was instrumental in building and growing our business. It's also nice to be in and around other small businesses that are having growing pains or issues that we can either help them or they can help us. There's more than 20 businesses now at the Braintree facility. We're like a big family here. We've had so many small businesses help us through the years. They graduated and went on and now we've become one of the anchor tenants to help other tenants," he said.

Hess offers a state-approved apprenticeship program in order to help the younger generation. He sits on the advisory committee of Pioneer Career & Technology Center and the Kehoe Center for Advanced Training, both in Shelby. He also is active with Kids Connection of Ohio and is dedicated to his wife, daughter and two sons and his church.

The busy entrepreneur travels throughout Ohio, acting as a salesman and delivery man for his diversified customer base. Despite a downturn in the economy, Hess said his philosophy is to take a pro-active approach. "We have definitely been affected by the economy. We are taking a proactive approach in looking for opportunities to grow our customer base. We are finding those opportunities out there. Things are starting to come back,'' Hess said. "We have five dies right now to build. Business is growing by word
of mouth. We have a lot of return business.'' Hess is quick to compliment his employees for their hard work and dedication. "They understand there has to be change in the industry and they have adapted to that change. That's one of the biggest reasons we've been so successful," Hess said. "It's the core team of
employees we have. ... They all take ownership in what they do."

Additional Facts
As the economy sputters, it's important to recognize local businesses that have remained successful.
That recognition is coming via a series of stories highlighting north central Ohio entreprenuers who
have weathered past storms to remain viable. It also gives the community vivid, hopeful examples of optimism as we look to the future.