Josh Haley
Name: Josh Haley
Position: Southcentral Regional Manager
Years with the company: 1
1) What was your childhood like?
My childhood wasn’t too different than anyone else who grew up with a baby boomer aerospace toolmaker as a parent. We grew up in Antelope Valley, near plant 42. Living in the high desert, you learn to dig holes, fill holes, drill holes, tap holes, measure twice, and cut once. I once asked my dad what he did at work and he told me, ‘I’d tell ya but I’d have to kill ya.’ He was a lot of fun at parent share day.
After declassification it turned out he was on the B2 program. I loved aircraft. I followed the Blue Angels at airshows, watched the shuttle land/load, and felt my heart pound every time a sonic boom rocked the valley. I caught a glimpse of the future before most got to see it. I also watched legacies change over from Chuck Yeager to Burt Rattan and was fortunate to have time to learn from and spend time with many of my heroes including Jack Palance, R. Lee Ermy, Lyle Alzado, etc… But I didn’t learn what a hero truly is until I met my dad’s mentors for machining, engineering, mechanics, and advice.
2) Who was a hero to you growing up? Why?
My dad called me ‘Hollywood’ in front of his friends in jest at my thoughts of being a white collar worker, so when I graduated college I went to work for him. He had his own tooling shop after Clinton stopped the B2 program. He needed help; I needed a job. I learned there’s more to my dad that I never knew. He taught me how to change collets, break taps, set up weldments with levels, transits, plumb bobs, theodolites, read blueprints, stop blood with duct tape, and maintain a high bar for work ethic.
My dad is my real hero. Toolmaker can be a thankless job. Your company never appreciates your effort, your family never understands your sacrifice, and only the accomplishment is finishing a job or fixing someone else’s mistake.
3) What are your hobbies?
I’m a salesman In the South Central US. I try to experience all that life has to offer, and I enjoy learning new activities without being too good, so no one accuses me of being a salesman. I went to NAU, so I can follow the wins and losses of all college sports without any real skin in the game. I started as a Los Angeles Raiders fan and am proud to be a Vegas fan now. We hunt, fish, disc golf, golf, shoot, fence, watch little league, and as a family we even play Fortnite. My kids will likely beat yours.
4) How did you end up in metrology? Did you go to school for it?
Metrology finds you; you don’t find metrology.
5) How did you come to be at API?
API’s North American Sales Manager scouted me from my CNC sales job in Dallas. He convinced me my knowledge was needed back in the territory and made me feel valued.
6) What are your roles and responsibilities with API?
As the Southcentral Regional Manager, my role is to be the face of API. I’m responsible for representing Dr. Lau’s dream of helping advance manufacturing by supplying cutting edge technology to measurably build the future as accurately as possible.
7) What sets API apart from other metrology companies in your mind?
We are small enough to care and big enough to make a difference. We are family and when needed we are here.
8) What API Product or Service are you most excited to tell people about?
I really can’t talk about the one that excites me most until it’s released.
9) What about API’s future excites you?
Our executive team is focused on listening to its employees and customers. When we listen to the needs of the people in the field every day, there is Nothing Beyond Measure.
10) What does “Nothing Beyond Measure” mean to you?
Nothing Beyond Measure means together. When we support our customers, and our customers support us, there is nothing we can’t make.
