{"id":3096,"date":"2026-05-11T12:19:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T17:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/business-engagement\/?p=3096"},"modified":"2026-05-11T13:53:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T18:53:55","slug":"success-story-midwest-metalworks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/business-engagement\/2026\/05\/success-story-midwest-metalworks\/","title":{"rendered":"Success Story: Midwest Metalworks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Welding a Future in Rural North Dakota<\/h2>\n

LEEDS – <\/strong>For Derrek Leapaldt, welding has never been just a job. It has been a steady goal in the background of his life since graduating from the welding program at North Dakota State College of Science in 2008.<\/p>\n

Business ownership was always part of the plan. After moving back to his hometown of Leeds in 2014, he began preparing in earnest. What started as side projects in one stall of his garage gradually grew into something more. In 2024, he made the decision official. Leapaldt purchased property for the business and committed to opening his own shop. Midwest Metalworks LLC was established October 2024, followed by planning and construction. The building was up and operational in the fall of 2025, with an official grand opening planned for spring of 2026.<\/p>\n

Leapaldt brings more than 20 years of welding and fabrication experience to the business, including eight years managing a welding and fabrication department. His work ranges from decorative pieces to functional builds and emergency repairs that help customers get back up and running quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe satisfaction of my customers has to be the most rewarding aspect of it,\u201d he said. \u201cKnowing that they are happy with the product I am making, or the repairs I am doing for them makes it all worth it at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning Experience into a Business Plan\"\"<\/a><\/h6>\n

 <\/p>\n

While Leapaldt had deep hands-on experience, he knew the financial and planning side of launching a business would require guidance. Through word of mouth, he connected with the ND SBDC Devils Lake center and began working with Business Advisor Ashley Louw.<\/p>\n

He needed help developing financial projections and a formal business plan to begin the loan process. Together, they built a complete financial statement package and documented his plan in a way that clearly presented both the numbers and the vision.<\/p>\n

When he brought the materials to the bank, the preparation stood out. \u201cThey were very impressed with how well everything was put together,\u201d Leapaldt said.<\/p>\n

For someone who admits he was not a paperwork person, the process marked an important shift. With support from his advisor and a broader team that included banking, legal, and tax professionals, he moved from skilled tradesman to prepared business owner.<\/p>\n

Meeting a Rural Need<\/h6>\n

Welding shops are limited in many rural communities, and before Midwest Metalworks opened, residents in and around Leeds often had to travel for fabrication and repair services. By establishing his shop locally, Leapaldt is helping close that gap. Farmers, small businesses, and area residents now have access to skilled welding services closer to home, reducing downtime and keeping projects moving.<\/p>\n

Since opening, steady project work, encouragement from other local business owners, and strong family support have helped build momentum. What began as a longtime goal has grown into a fully equipped shop handling increasingly larger projects. As demand continues to build, Midwest Metalworks is becoming a dependable resource for Leeds and the surrounding rural communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welding a Future in Rural North Dakota LEEDS – For Derrek Leapaldt, welding has never been just a job. It has been a steady goal in the background of his life since graduating from the welding program at North Dakota State College of Science in 2008. Business ownership was always part of the plan. After […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSuccess Story: Midwest Metalworks - ND Small Business Development Centers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After years of welding experience, Derrek Leapaldt launched Midwest Metalworks in Leeds, North Dakota, bringing local fabrication and repair services to rural communities with support from the ND SBDC.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/business-engagement\/2026\/05\/success-story-midwest-metalworks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Success Story: Midwest Metalworks - 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