It’s Our People Who Make the Difference

We’re proud of our 77 years of history, and the culture that we’ve built. We don’t rest on our laurels or past accomplishments. We’re creatively improving and adapting to the market to serve you better.
We have a strong team of nearly 70 employees and an average tenure rate of 11 years. Our management team boasts a total of 236 years of combined experience- ranging from 9 to 49 years.
We have the equipment, experience, and knowledge to make the most challenging parts efficiently.
Kyle Gates, Quality Assurance Manager
Kyle has been with Starn Tool for a total of nearly 5 years and in the manufacturing industry for almost 20 years. Before he joined us, he was a Precision Machining instructor for the local Vo-Tech, Training Manager, and a Machinist. In his current role, he is responsible for ensuring part conformance to customer requirements, recording and maintaining all documentation relating to product conformance as well as conformance to ISO requirements. Kyle routinely helps throughout the business, advising on job setups, processes and procedures. He enjoys helping others find ways to improve manufacturing processes and problem solving. Kyle is also very involved with the community, he is the instructor for the UAA (Uniquely Abled Academy is an innovative job-training program for people with high functioning autism), youth football coach, and sits on the advisory committee for precision machining at the Crawford County Career & Technical Center. When he’s not at work he enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, boating and being outdoors.
Dakota Price, CNC Apprentice
Dakota has been with Starn Tool since 2019. He originally started as a wire EDM operator, and regularly switches back and forth between our Lathe and Mill departments. When he was in high school he worked at another tool & die shop, gaining experience with operating CNC Mills and Wire EDM Machines. He is a graduate of the Precision Machining Course at CCCTC, where Kyle Gates, Quality Assurance Manager, was his instructor. He enjoys gaining knowledge and experience of running different machines, as well as, the challenge of making different parts everyday. Dakota is currently a Toolmaker Apprentice. Dakota enjoys archery hunting, fishing and being outdoors when he’s not at work.