June 20, 2025
In January 2024, I stepped into the role of majority owner and President of Epic Machine, taking the reins from my father who successfully led the company for over 30 years. Though I’ve been part of Epic for two decades, owning a business is a completely different experience—one that brings a new level of responsibility, decision-making, and vision casting.
When Bret first stopped by in the summer of 2024 to introduce me to Cogent Analytics, I told him to check back in a year. At the time, I wasn’t quite ready—I needed time to settle into my new role and understand the weight of leadership from the top.
True to his word, Bret returned a year later. This time, the conversation hit differently. He spoke not just about business improvement, but about leadership confidence, strategic clarity, and turning vision into achievable goals. That’s when I realized—I didn’t have to do this alone.
Shortly after, Merlin spent two days with our team, digging deep into Epic Machine. He gave credit where it was due, recognizing the strengths we’ve built over the years, but he also shined a light on the areas that needed improvement. What resonated most was his ability to paint a clear picture: what things looked like now, and what they could look like with just a few key changes. That vision was powerful.
One week later, Nick arrived. Over the next five weeks, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. With the support of Cogent Analytics’ incredible team, we redefined our processes, forecasted our financials, created a meaningful budget, improved our quoting system, trained our sales staff, updated policies—and more.
Partnering with Cogent was a great decision. We now have a clear, actionable roadmap to reach our goals. We’re no longer operating on gut instincts or guesswork—we’re leading with intention and strategy. And perhaps most importantly, we know we’re not alone. Cogent is just a phone call away, ready to guide us whenever we need support. Their commitment to our success is real—and we feel it.
Epic Machine is on a sharper, stronger path forward—and I’m excited for what’s ahead.
Sincerely,
Melinda Keway
President & Owner
Epic Machine Inc.
EPIC Machine | Tooling for the Metal Casting Industry
Epic Machine has been manufacturing high precision machined components since 1979.
