Machine Shop Mastery 78. The Power of Being Mission Driven - Court Durkalski of Truline Industries
Most shop owners I talk to are focused on the usual things: keeping the machines humming, staying profitable, maybe planning for growth or succession. But what if the real unlock for your shop wasn’t more tech or tighter margins—but a completely different way of thinking about why your business exists in the first place? That’s what today’s episode is about.
I sat down with Court Durkalski, CEO of Truline Industries, and honestly, this conversation hit me harder than most. Court runs a $23 million aerospace machining company with 120 employees—and they give away 10% of their gross sales to global charitable causes. Not profits—sales.
That level of generosity is unheard of in manufacturing, and yet their quality metrics, delivery performance, and bottom line are world-class. The kicker? That whole culture came from a very personal place, and a journey that includes addiction, near financial collapse, and walking away from a path to ministry.
I wanted to understand how a shop like Truline stays so focused, so precise, and so mission-aligned. And what I found is that none of it is accidental. From hiring practices to equipment decisions to the way they manage customer relationships, everything at Truline is built around this core belief that doing great work and doing good in the world aren’t at odds—they’re actually the same thing.
If you’re someone who’s always thought values should stay separate from business—or maybe you’ve just never thought about your shop as a force for something bigger—I think this episode will leave you thinking differently. It sure did for me.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...- (0:53) Grow your top and bottom line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)
- (2:09) The moment I got choked up—and why Court's mission moved me
- (4:12) How Truline evolved from a tax write-off to an aerospace shop
- (12:10) Court’s addiction and the personal crash that nearly ended it all
- (15:26) Leaving the shop behind for Bible college—and the shock that came next
- (17:23) The conference that changed Court’s future and pulled him back to the business
- (19:20) Early steps toward CNC adoption and finding a niche in jet fuel pump parts
- (23:35) The tight tolerances, leaded bronze, and engineering details behind Truline’s work
- (28:19) Ego, submission, and a defining leadership shift between father and son
- (34:05) What it means to run a “God-owned” company—and the cultural transformation it sparked
- (37:01) The 2008 recession, credit line debt, and the bold financial leap toward giving
- (48:42) The ROI of generosity: culture, retention, and $40M+ given away
- (50:39) How Truline earns customer trust—even when mission gets in the way of margins
- (57:04) The two things that are intrinsically tied to delivering excellence
- (1:02:22) Why you need to listen to Making Sparks
- Truline Industries
- Connect with Court on LinkedIn
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