Creating a welding and fabrication business from the ground up takes hard work, dedication and strong networking skills. Just ask Mike Kartsonis, president and founder of Santa Ana, Calif.-based Dynamic Fabrication, Inc. (DFI). With his entrepreneurial spirit and aspirations to become his own boss, Kartsonis built his fabrication business on the desire to control his own destiny and reap the benefits of his hard work ethic.

Kartsonis received a bachelor’s of science degree in business from the University of Northern Colorado in 1977. After relocating to California to escape the snowy Colorado winters, Kartsonis began his career as a commissioned sales representative for a welding manufacturer. Once being placed on a salary, he left the company to pursue his own entrepreneurial endeavor.

This inspiration led to the establishment of DFI in March of 1981, with Kartsonis working 80 to 100 hours per week in all aspects of the business, from welding and selling to truck driving and networking, far from the 25 to 30 hours a week he put in as a salesman.

But Kartsonis is no stranger to hard work. An Eagle Scout by the age of 14, such qualities were instilled in him at a young age. Kartsonis learned his top-notch customer service, positive outlook on life and strong networking and sales skills while selling books door-to-door during college summers to put himself through school. Although he labored, spending 12-hour days knocking on doors for 12 weeks at a time and paying for his room, board and materials, he enjoyed working as his own boss. Each summer, he discovered that he made more money in a couple weeks than his friends did all summer, which opened his eyes to the windows of financial opportunity in owning his own business.

Kartsonis’ approach to the work environment has also enabled the long-term retention of highly-skilled employees, many of which are certified journeymen in welding and machining, and have worked for the Santa Ana, Calif.-based company for years. Kartsonis gives each person equal responsibility and authority and allows them to make their own decisions. With his motto that “a happy worker is a productive worker,” he provides employees with the incentive of a profit sharing program to help create a positive and motivated crew. A results-oriented business owner, he arrives at the office by 6 a.m. each day to ensure that all of his clients receive quality, custom work efficiently and cost-effectively.

Today, more than 20 years after beginning his entrepreneurial venture, Kartsonis has built a solid client roster of long-time customers, including Fortune 500 companies and small businesses, a close-knit family of highly skilled employees, and a strong network of industry associates. Over the years, Kartsonis has built an incredible reputation for DFI throughout the business community by actively participating in industry trade shows, events and organizations.

He served as the president of the National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA) of Los Angeles in 1996, and has been a member of NTMA’s board of directors for the past 15 years – he has even lobbied on behalf of the manufacturing industry in Washington, D.C.

Born in Kansas City, Mo., Kartsonis is a father of two and has been coaching youth sports for more than 10 years. An Orange County resident, Kartsonis is an avid L.A. Lakers fan and enjoys golfing, spending time at the beach, dining with friends and riding motorcycles. Kartsonis also appreciates the performing arts.