Behind the Build: Meet Todd, Our Shop Manager

From fixture design to farm chores, Todd Nelson keeps everything running smoothly.

At Martin Trunnion Tables, our team is the engine behind every custom solution — and Todd is one of our key drivers. As Shop Manager, he brings decades of hands-on experience and leadership to our floor, keeping production efficient and quality top of mind.

How It All Started

Todd’s machining journey began in an unexpected place: furniture sales. After high school, he worked as a traveling rep when a friend in vocational school sparked his interest. That friend’s stories about machining projects — like building axes and hammers — were all it took.

“I enrolled the next year,” Todd says, “and I’ve been fortunate to be in the trade ever since.”

A Fixture to Remember

When asked about a project he’s proud of, Todd recalls a standout challenge from before his time at Martin. At his previous shop, they ran a legacy part in three separate operations, producing just 6 parts at a time with constant handling between setups.

Todd changed that.

By repurposing a rotary table and designing a custom tombstone, he enabled the team to complete all machining operations in one setup — producing 24 finished parts with better quality in the time it used to take for just 6.

The result?

Less handling, less downtime, and significant savings in both labor and machine time.

Life in and out of the Shop

Todd’s day starts with a mild black coffee (no frills, just focus) and a pulse check around the shop floor. With his mix of mechanical creativity and calm leadership, he’s the kind of manager who makes the tough jobs feel possible.

Outside of work, Todd enjoys time with family and keeps busy with his small cattle farm — proving he’s just as hardworking at home as he is at Martin.

Why It Matters

Todd’s story is a perfect example of what we value: people who solve problems with ingenuity, lead with experience, and show up every day ready to do great work. We’re proud to have him on our team.