Zachary Elkins, Chief Operating Officer of LFG Manufacturing, Real Leadership

Zac Elkins didn’t wait for the supply chain to fix itself. He built his own. As COO of LFG Manufacturing, Power Design’s specialty manufacturing division, Zac is leading one of the boldest vertical integration bets in the electrical industry. When COVID-era backlogs pushed switchgear lead times from 12 weeks to nearly two years, most contractors adjusted. Zac and the LFG team invested millions, bought the equipment, stocked two years of copper and steel…and started manufacturing their own. LFG stands for “Let’s Freaking Go.” And it’s more than a name—it’s the mindset behind a company that refuses to blame the market. In this episode of Real Leadership, Zac shares how a billion-dollar “mom and pop shop” is disrupting the electrical supply chain, why apprenticeship programs are the future of skilled labor, and how a scarcity mindset is the fastest way to lose. In this episode, we cover: 🔥 Turning a 90-week supply chain crisis into a manufacturing company 🔥 Why holding two years of inventory isn’t risk—it’s opportunity 🔥 The data center boom and what it’s doing to construction economics 🔥 Reinventing apprenticeships (and cutting dropout rates from 80% to 20%) 🔥 Lessons learned from burning bridges early in your career 🔥 Building competitive, culture-driven teams that don’t think small From digging ditches in his dad’s electrical business to overseeing 85% in-house switchgear production, Zac’s story is about ownership of mistakes, of opportunity, and of the entire supply chain. If you’re in construction, manufacturing, workforce development—or just trying to build something that lasts—this one’s for you. Key Moments 07:28: The Decision to Manufacture Switchgear 10:56: LFG's Manufacturing Journey and Innovations 14:15: Inventory Management and Financial Strategy 16:39: Industry Evolution and Future Outlook 24:15: Addressing Skilled Worker Shortages 28:56: Innovative Apprenticeship Programs 31:20: Lessons from the Family Business 36:40: Cultivating a Competitive Mindset 39:42: Setting Goals in a Growing Organization   Show Notes Zac Elkins — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyelkins/  Power Design Inc. —  https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-design-inc-/  Contact Zac: zelkins@powerdesigninc.us  Jim Weaver — LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jim-weaver-36457418 Real Leadership Podcast: realleadership.oningroup.com  Real Leadership — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/104897916/ The Ōnin Group: oningroup.com/clients