Zackery Bishop - 4 Flutes Machining - 2025 Manufacturing Emerging Leader
This article appeared in the December 2025 issue of MiMfg Magazine. Read the full issue and find past issues online.
Zackery Bishop is the President and Founder of 4 Flutes Machining, a high-performing CNC machining company specializing in the aerospace, space, and defense industries. He founded 4 Flutes in February of 2015 and has since launched multiple manufacturing-focused ventures, making a significant impact on both the industry and the greater Kalamazoo County community.
Those who know him well say Zach has a “unique” and “visionary” way of seeing things, particularly regarding workforce development and future growth at 4 Flutes. And, being the “risk-taker” he is also described as, he finds a way to make his visions come to light, despite the roadblocks that come with business ownership
Because of his innovative perspectives, persistence in growing his own business and dedication to building the industry in Michigan, Zack Bishop joins the ranks of professionals who have been recognized as Manufacturing Emerging Leaders by MMA.
Unique Perspectives in Business Development
Bishop founded 4 Flutes Machining while maintaining a full-time job. The beginning stages of business were built in a pole barn with limited resources but limitless opportunity. The space was quickly outgrown and, with support from Jamie Clark of Clark Logic, Bishop was able to move into a much larger industrial space in Vicksburg. Since then, the growth has been continuous, and there have been multiple expansions of employees, square footage and cutting-edge manufacturing technology.
“Zack is a rare blend of vision, drive and discipline,” says Dan Wyant, President and Chairman of the Board of the Edward Lowe Foundation, which focuses heavily on second stage entrepreneurship and land stewardship.
Wyant, who coaches and mentors entrepreneurs through the Foundation, says Bishop is one of the most impressive individuals he has supported over the years.
“His mantra, ‘Grow or Die,’ is more than a slogan,” Wyant says. “It is a mindset that fuels his relentless pursuit of innovation, customer satisfaction and operational excellence.”
Bishop adds that this concept is core to the 4 Flutes culture.
“‘Grow or Die’ is the exact way we live our lives,” Bishop says. “We go after every opportunity. We answer the big questions. We take on the challenges. We help out when times are tough and we enjoy doing that. It helps excite everybody and drives everybody forward.”
4 Flutes Project Manager Matt Hillsburg attributes the company’s success to Bishop’s passion for encouraging employees to strive for excellence.
The experiences of Officer Manager Chantelle Rankin illustrate Bishop’s visionary perspectives on workplace development and success perfectly.
“Zack finds the right people and then trains them on how to fill the position — instead of finding somebody who knows the position and trying to incorporate them into an already existing team,” Rankin says.
And she knows firsthand that it works, because she is one of the people he trained.
“Zack saw something in me that even I didn’t see in myself in the beginning,” Rankin says. “He took me from my previous job, plopped me in here and said, ‘You’re going to do it.’ And here I am. I did it. So, clearly, he knew it was there.”
Making the Impossible Possible
Colleen Killen-Roberts, Vice President of Entrepreneurship at the Edward Lowe Foundation, says Bishop approaches challenges with a mindset that anything is possible and then proves it through action.
“Whether optimizing production systems, mentoring younger talent or spearheading innovation initiatives, he combines technical insight with strategic focus and an unyielding work ethic,” she says. “He doesn’t wait for opportunities; he creates them.”
Rankin adds that he sets huge goals and then takes calculated risks to reach them.
“He has this vision that’s almost like he’s seen into another dimension,” she says. “He knows what’s possible. He knows the steps that we have to take to get there.”
Bishop brings a sense of authenticity, empathy and clarity that fosters this kind of trust and drives alignment, Killen-Roberts says.
“His interpersonal intelligence has not only enhanced team performance but has also created a culture of collaboration and respect,” she adds.
Immersed in the Community
Along with steadily growing his business and encouraging employees to surpass expectations, Bishop has contributed time and resources to several organizations.
One is the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (K-RESA), where Bishop is one of eight founding investors of its Career Technical Education Program. As an adviser for multiple career paths, he helped K-RESA shape a curriculum that is relevant and responsive to the needs of today’s workforce, according to Mason Everett, Fund Development Manager for the agency.
This year, Bishop also became the youngest entrepreneur ever inducted into the Edward Lowe Foundation’s “American Academy of Entrepreneurs,” and his business has been named to the Michigan Celebrates Small Business “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” list.
“These accolades reflect not only his business success but also his deep commitment to employee engagement, peer learning and strengthening Michigan’s manufacturing ecosystem,” Wyant says. “His willingness to mentor others, share best practices and foster peer collaboration underscores the essence of leadership.”
For his leadership that inspires, action that delivers and heart for service that uplifts others, Zack Bishop is being recognized as a 2025 Manufacturing Emerging Leader.
The Manufacturing Emerging Leader award is part of the annual Manufacturing Excellence Awards which celebrates the leaders and products that are pushing the industry forward. Learn more about the awards program and gala.
The 2025 Manufacturing Emerging Leader award was sponsored by Nexteer Automotive. Visit online: wolvgroup.com.