Machine Shop Mastery

108. Massive Growth and CMMC Certification with Jessica from Bent River Machine

2026-03-18 · 10:00 UTC ·Paul Van Metre, Jessica Eckman ·2 min read

Brief

Bent River Machine’s story combines a classic small-manufacturer ownership transition with the newer pressures of defense-grade cyber compliance. Paul Van Metre interviews Jessica Eckman about how she and her husband took over the family-linked business in 2021 and then had to absorb a sudden jump from a $5 million shop to a $12 million-plus operation as automation demand surged. The first half centers on practical scaling: Bent River relied on customer relationships, subcontracting, better documentation, and more disciplined production planning rather than rushing into new buildings or uncontrolled hiring. The second half shifts to CMMC 2.0 Level 2 certification, where Eckman describes a year-long effort spanning IT systems, email and server choices, physical controls, and procedures for managing CUI in a manufacturing environment. The conversation frames CMMC less as optional bureaucracy than as an unavoidable operating requirement for defense suppliers, especially shops handling drawings, CNC programs, and other sensitive technical data.

Why it matters

Jessica Eckman said Bent River Machine, an Arizona factory tooling and automation company founded in 1978, was acquired by her and her husband in 2021 and then grew from roughly $5 million to more than $12 million in revenue, with over 125% annual growth that put it on the Inc. 5000 list.

Key details

  • Eckman attributed Bent River’s rapid expansion to long-standing customer relationships, large automation projects, and demand from companies including Amazon and Sonix, while the company avoided immediate facility expansion by leaning on subcontractors and tighter internal logistics.
  • On the operations side, Eckman emphasized that scaling outsourced manufacturing required much more detailed planning, stronger documentation, and clearer supplier communication so CNC work, assemblies, and handoffs did not create expensive quality or schedule errors.
  • Bent River spent about a year pursuing CMMC 2.0 Level 2 certification for defense-supply-chain work; Eckman said the process touched cybersecurity controls, physical security, audit preparation, and how the shop handles controlled unclassified information such as CNC programs and technical drawings.
  • The episode names specific implementation choices for compliance, including Microsoft 365 Government Community Cloud, Virtru, and audit support from Reef Systems, underscoring that CMMC readiness is becoming effectively mandatory for manufacturers serving defense customers.
Source evidence

title: 108. Massive Growth and CMMC Certification with Jessica from Bent River Machine
author: Paul Van Metre, Jessica Eckman
contenttype: podcast
publication: Machine Shop Mastery
published: 2026-03-18T10:00:00+00:00
sourceurl: https://cfcef04b-b7b2-498c-887b-3c776966c298.libsyn.com/108-massive-growth-and-cmmc-certification-with-jessica-from-bent-river-machine

word_count: 535

Taking over a family machine shop is one challenge. Scaling it rapidly while navigating defense-industry cybersecurity requirements is another entirely. In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Paul sits down with Jessica Eckman of Bent River Machine, an Arizona-based factory tooling and automation company that has been building complex equipment since 1978. After Jessica and her husband took over the business in 2021, Bent River experienced explosive growth, landing on the Inc. 5000 list after expanding more than 125% in a single year. Jessica shares how a combination of long-standing customer relationships, major automation projects, and a surge in demand from companies like Amazon and Sonix pushed the company from a $5 million operation to more than $12 million in revenue almost overnight. With limited time to expand facilities, the team had to rethink planning, outsourcing, subcontractor relationships, and internal logistics to scale quickly without losing control. Midway through the conversation, we pivot to one of the most pressing topics in defense manufacturing today: CMMC 2.0 certification. Jessica walks through Bent River's year-long journey to achieve Level 2 certification, covering everything from cybersecurity systems and physical security requirements to auditing, consultants, and real-world implementation challenges for manufacturers. For shops working in the defense supply chain, this episode offers a rare inside look at what it actually takes to become CMMC compliant and why it will soon be unavoidable for much of the industry. In This Episode: (0:00) Introducing Jessica Eckman and Bent River Machine's rapid growth story (3:21) The origins of the company and its evolution from a machine shop to full engineering and automation (8:05) Jessica and her husband's journey toward eventually taking over the business (11:31) Completing the ownership transition and purchasing the company in 2021 (14:31) Scaling from a $5M shop to a $12M+ company and landing on the Inc. 5000 list (20:18) The role of long-term relationships in winning repeat business and large automation contracts (22:05) Get a free report of opportunities in your industry at facturmfg.com/factur (23:52) Scaling production through subcontractors instead of immediate capital expansion (24:54) Lessons learned while outsourcing large volumes of work quickly (26:44) Why we created Hire MFG Leaders to help the metalworking nation (28:37) Why detailed planning is critical when coordinating internal and outsourced manufacturing (31:10) Creating documentation systems and supplier communication tools to avoid costly mistakes (34:11) Hiring assemblers, building a team, and workforce development (37:40) The process of pursuing CMMC Level 2 certification (44:52) Key cybersecurity infrastructure decisions including ERP, servers, and email security (47:27) Handling CNC programs, drawings, and CUI within a manufacturing environment (49:44) Why you need to come see us at 2026 IMTS (57:08) Advice for manufacturers preparing for CMMC certification (1:02:57) Where to connect with Jessica and learn more about Bent River Machine Resources & People Mentioned Get a free report of opportunities in your industry at facturmfg.com/factur Why we created Hire MFG Leaders to help the metalworking nation Why you need to come see us at 2026 IMTS Jessica recommends Reef Systems for CMMC Audit Microsoft 365 Government Community Cloud Virtru Connect with Jessica Eckman Bent River Machine JessicaR@Bent-River.com Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The website LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple , Spotify