E-10: Cultivating Solutions

<p>Mertek Solutions founder Jerry Pedley combines his love for mechanics, work ethic and turns it into a thriving business.</p> <p>Mertek Solutions According to Gallup, 70% of Americans view the American Dream as personally achievable. Our next Clocking In guest was a farm boy from Iowa who worked his way through the manufacturing industry and created a prosperous business in which he’s proud to go to every day. He is a manifestation of that dream, showing it is achievable to anyone.</p> <p>In this interview, I sat down with Jerry Pedley, president and founder of Mertek Solutions. Pedley has been in the manufacturing industry for over 45 years, previously working as an automation engineer, manufacturing manager, division manager and electrician for several different companies. Pedley is well respected in his community, earning a reputation for his compassion as a leader and getting results. He sits on both the NCMEP and Industry Expansion Solutions Advisory Boards.</p> <p>Mertek Solutions is based in Sanford, North Carolina and provides machine design for manufacturing automation and manufacturing equipment design. Mertek serves as a manufacturing solution consultant to Fortune 500 corporations and start-ups alike. Since its inception, Mertek has only grown, earning over 40 awards in its ten years. Some of these awards include: NC SMT Business and Industry Award 2016; IAF Award for Advisory Board Champion 2017; Superintendent Extra Effort Award 2017 and NC Small Business of the Year 2017.</p> <p>On this episode of Clocking In, we discuss the creation of Mertek Solutions, Pedley’s outreach efforts, how Mertek Solutions is working through the pandemic and how Mertek Solutions has pivoted to make PPE and more.</p> <p>LINKS <a href='https://www.ncmep.org/'>NCMEP</a> <a href='https://www.merteknc.com/'>Mertek Solutions</a></p> <p>ABOUT Phil Mintz <a href='https://www.ies.ncsu.edu/staff/phil-mintz/'>Phil Mintz</a> is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North