Title: Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Company: Metal Fab Guys, LLC
Education: Automobile, Automotive Mechanics Technology, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (2013-2014)
Career History: Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Metal Fab Guys, LLC (2024-Present); Owner, SuppliesbyPrime (2022-Present); Director Of Research Development, BBQGuys (2019-2024); Facilities Manager, BBQGuys (2015-2019); Field Service Technician, Crown Lift Trucks (2014-2015)
Richard Stewart, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Metal Fab Guys, LLC, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of manufacturing.
Before the establishment of his company in 2024—which specializes in fabrication services, bulk manufacturing, and precision sheet metal products—Mr. Stewart launched his career as a mechanic, working as a field service technician for Crown Lift Trucks, where he worked from 2014 to 2015 before excelling at BBQ Guys, a premium retailer for grilling and outdoor living, for eight years. He advanced from its facilities manager to the director of research development, helping to design, develop, and shape furniture and industry-leading grills like Blaze and Traeger. He holds numerous patents for his work and has a passion for manufacturing, product development, and design. Over the course of a decade, he oversaw operations and background work.
Since starting Metal Fab Guys, LLC alongside his business partner Mike Hackley, Mr. Stewart has seen the company significantly increase its revenue and work with some of the largest brands in the United States. He has long credited his success to the people around him, especially Hackley, the company’s president and the founder of BBQGuys, who’s played a vital role in helping Mr. Stewart reach his current position and provided him with opportunities to prove his worth. Without Hackley, he believes, Metal Fab Guys wouldn’t be what it is today. In addition, his own determination and persistence has guided him over the course of his professional journey, leading to earning an Eagle Award “for going above and beyond in solving problems” while at BBQGuys and for Metal Fab Guys to be recognized as “Medium Business of the Year”by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and “Best Place to Work in Walker, Louisiana.”
Reflecting on his career accomplishments so far, Mr. Stewart highlights his distinctive skill in engaging directly with China. Due to his background in research and development, where the majority of their products are manufactured overseas, he became conversational in Mandarin and maintains a respectful view of China. One reason for their rapid growth within a year has been its cost-effectiveness, which he attributes to their unique procurement capabilities that surpass those of other companies. People-oriented, they directly import products that their consumers need, which also makes them competitive.
Looking toward the future, Mr. Stewart aims to lead a manufacturing company valued at $100 million.