MEL #024 | From Magic Tricks to Manufacturing Powerhouse through the Four Cs of Leadership with Jeff Bohanan

In this episode, I speak with Jeff Bohanan, founder and president of Protomet, a vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing company that specializes in precision metal components and systems for the marine industry and other demanding markets.Jeff's fascination with science began with childhood magic shows, which fostered both his technical curiosity and public speaking skills. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Tennessee and began his career at Y-12 during the Cold War before launching Protomet.In our leadership segment, Jeff talks about how he led his company through two major crises: the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent marine industry downturn. He emphasized maintaining team morale, modeling resilience, and avoiding layoffs by playing the long game—demonstrating what he calls the “Four Cs” of leadership: Commitment, Courage, Capability, and Confidence.Jeff encourages aspiring leaders to raise their hands early and often. He believes engineers already have the critical thinking and discipline needed for leadership—what’s missing is usually confidence, which only grows through experience and taking initiative.Jeff is also a published author. His first book titled Don't Touch the Marshmallow, codifies Protomet’s core values and articulates five mindset shifts for personal and professional growth.Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/ .