Today we’d like to introduce you to David Sullivan
Hi David, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
David Sullivan – The intro to the weight of 8: A Story of Grit & Redemption
I grew up in a broken home—my dad wasn’t around, and my mom was diagnosed with emphysema when I was just six or seven. She told me she only had six months to live, and from that moment, my life changed. I spiraled into drug abuse, using it as a way to numb the pain. It started with marijuana in the ‘80s, but it didn’t stop there. I became heavily involved in gangs and drug distribution, constantly chasing an escape from the reality I couldn’t face.
By my own request, I was placed in DCFS custody to get away from my mother’s illness, but that decision only pulled me deeper into the streets. I spent years in and out of prison, and when I was finally released at 22, my mother passed away just two months later. Before she died, I wrote her a letter, promising I would change my life. But change didn’t happen overnight. I ended up back in federal prison, where I finally took my first real step forward—I enrolled in a construction management and blueprint drafting course. With nothing but paper and pencil, I pushed myself and finished in the top 1% of my class. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I never imagined those skills would shape my future.
Fast-forward 21 years, and here I am—clean, sober, and far from “just another blue-collar worker.”
When I was released, I met my wife, Shantel. She had a young son, Caleb, who needed a father, and little did I know how much he would change my life. I was later blessed to adopt him. After my release, I took a job at US Mag/MagCorp as a Glama driver. During orientation, my future foreman noticed blueprint reading on my résumé. I barely knew what I was doing, but he saw something in me. He asked if I wanted to move into maintenance, even though it meant a $3 pay cut. I took the job anyway.
That decision was life-changing. I threw myself into learning everything—fabrication, pump builds, millwright duties, alignment, vibration analysis, you name it. Within 18 months, I had reached an A-wage position. My boss then tasked me with developing a full training program for the entire maintenance crew, covering everything from blueprint reading (which I had once faked my way into) to centrifugal pump rebuilds. I set my sights on management, but I was told that if I wanted to move up, I’d have to remove my face tattoos. So, I started the process the next day. But in the end, they told me my past was too “checkered” for a leadership role.
That rejection pushed me into new opportunities. I worked for several industrial and structural steel companies before being hired to develop and implement a fabrication department for a local contractor. After successfully building their department, I decided to start my own company—ARG Fabrication. It took off, but a dishonest client poached my crew and never paid me. I was out of business in less than a year.
I sat on my couch, defeated. But I didn’t stay there.
In 2016, I started CT&C Fabrication (www.bestlocalwelder.com) with just $5,000 from the sale of our home. My wife and I had been forced to sell before losing it, and instead of sitting in regret, I bet on myself. I opened a 30×50 shop in Grantsville. Within 18 months, we outgrew it and moved into a 50×100 space—only to realize we had already outgrown that, too.
Since then, we’ve built a company known for getting things done. We’ve shipped products all over the world, worked on projects that “no other fabricators could handle” (including the USS Colorado life-sized boat hull for the Adams County Veterans Memorial), and established ourselves as the team people call when things need to happen fast.
But more than anything, my “why” is my family—my sons Caleb, Tegan, and Carsten. My wife and I had Tegan five years after Caleb, followed by Carsten five years later. They are my legacy. They are the reason I keep pushing forward.
I’ve been clean and sober for 21 years. I’ve gone from being a statistic to building something real. My story isn’t just about overcoming the past—it’s about proving that where you start doesn’t define where you’ll finish.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not even close. The road has been filled with potholes, detours, and moments where I thought I wouldn’t make it to the other side. But that’s what makes the journey worth telling.
My early years were chaotic—growing up in a broken home, dealing with my mother’s illness, and diving headfirst into drugs and gang life. By the time I realized I wanted something different, I was already in deep. Prison became a revolving door, and for a long time, I thought that’s where I belonged. Even after I made the decision to change, it wasn’t instant. It wasn’t like I woke up one day and suddenly had it all figured out.
When I was released, I had to fight for every opportunity. I had tattoos on my face, a criminal record, and zero trust from employers. I had to prove myself over and over again. At US Mag, I busted my ass to climb the ranks, only to be told that my past would keep me from a management role. That stung. But it taught me a valuable lesson—if you want real control over your life, you can’t let someone else dictate your ceiling.
When I started my first company, ARG Fabrication, I was all in. It was growing fast, and I thought I had finally made it—until a dishonest client hired my entire crew out from under me and refused to pay me. Just like that, my business collapsed. I was back to square one, sitting on my couch, wondering what the hell to do next.
Then came CT&C Fabrication, and it wasn’t an overnight success either. We started in a tiny 30×50 shop, barely scraping by, taking whatever jobs we could just to keep the lights on. Moving into a 50×100 space was a huge milestone—until we realized we had already outgrown it before even moving in.
The biggest struggles weren’t just financial. They were mental.
Imposter syndrome—thinking, Do I really belong in this world of business owners?
Trust issues—learning from past betrayals and knowing who to keep in my circle.
Balancing family and business—being present for my sons while building something bigger than myself.
And let’s be real—being a felon-turned-business-owner in the construction world isn’t the easiest sell. People assume the worst. But I’ve learned that if you show up, work harder than everyone else, and refuse to quit, the world takes notice.
At the end of the day, the road has never been smooth—but smooth roads don’t make strong drivers. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
About My Work – CT&C Fabrication
I’m the President of CT&C Fabrication, a structural and miscellaneous steel fabrication company. We specialize in everything from steel erection, industrial fabrication, and custom metalwork to emergency project recovery—when others drop the ball, we pick it up and get the job done.
What We Do & Specialize In:
Structural Steel Fabrication & Erection – We build and install the backbone of buildings, plants, and industrial structures.
Miscellaneous Steel Fabrication – Stairs, railings, platforms, embeds—anything metal that’s custom-built and needs to be done right.
Industrial Fabrication – We manufacture non-OEM components, repair/rebuild critical equipment, and produce precision-machined parts for major industries.
Jobsite Solutions & Emergency Recovery – We’re known as the team to call when a project is falling apart, deadlines are blown, and the client needs immediate results.
Advanced Cutting & Precision Work – We own an Arc Cutting Industries plasma table with the Bevel Pro system, allowing us to deliver high-precision bevel cuts and custom metalwork at scale.
What We’re Known For:
Dependability Under Pressure – We’ve built a reputation as the go-to team when jobs need fast turnarounds and absolute precision.
Immediate Capacity – Unlike many competitors, we have open capacity and quick turnaround times due to our recent expansion.
Military & Government Contracts – We’ve built 100’s of military trailers and fabricated critical components for projects across the country.
High-Profile Projects – One of our proudest moments was fabricating the USS Colorado life-sized boat hull for the Adams County Veterans Memorial—a project others said couldn’t be done.
What Sets Us Apart:
Grit & Execution: We don’t just talk—we execute. When a job seems impossible, we make it happen.
Emergency Recovery Work: Most fabrication shops work at their own pace. We work at your pace. If you need it yesterday, we’ll find a way to deliver.
Industry Knowledge & Versatility: With a background in industrial maintenance, millwright work, blueprint drafting, and fabrication, I bring a unique hands-on approach to every project.
We Don’t Quit: CT&C Fabrication was built on grit, resilience, and an unstoppable work ethic—values that carry through in everything we do.
What I’m Most Proud Of:
My team. The people I work with are some of the hardest-working, most dedicated professionals in the industry.
My family. My sons—Caleb, Tegan, and Carsten—are my driving force. Everything I build is for them.
The fact that I built this from nothing. I started CT&C Fabrication in a 30×50 shop with $5,000—and now, we’re working on projects that ship all over the world.
At the end of the day, what sets us apart is simple: We do what we say we’re going to do, and we get it done right—every single time.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something Surprising About Me
Most people see the business owner, the fabricator, the problem-solver—the guy who gets things done, no matter what. But what they might not know is that my true life goal has never been about money, success, or even building a company.
My real goal has always been to impact just one person’s life forever in a good way. Just one. If I could do that, I would know my life meant something. And the crazy thing? I know I’ve accomplished it. But that doesn’t mean I’m done.
What most people also don’t know is that I’ve always wanted to be a motivational speaker. It’s been in the back of my mind for years, but I’ve never fully stepped into it. I’m working on it now. I’ve started speaking at recovery centers, sharing my story with people who need to hear that rock bottom isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning.
I’m not there yet. I wouldn’t call myself a motivational speaker right now—but I’m becoming one. One speech, one post, one conversation at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bestlocalwelder.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheForjador/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sullivanctncfab/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/Or-Y_HchR1A
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/bestlocalwelder
