Daily Inspiration: Meet Jim O’Meara III

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim O’Meara III.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
J4 Fabrication is multi-process welding and fabricating business. We weld metals ranging from plain steel to stainless and aluminum. In 2021 we implemented our mobile welding unit to the range of services we provide. Since then, we have garnered business from names like ABF Freight, Chick-Fil-A, JIT Coatings, 3M and the US Navy to name a few.

The backstory may not be a typical one. I have been a Deputy Sheriff for almost 8 years now in 2022. I have worked in a variety of roles including Patrol, School Resource Officer, Field Trainer, and Firearms Instructor. There is no secret about the trials and tribulations our law enforcement and their families go through. To keep it simple, we see people in their worst moments in life. Now, that being said, the job isn’t always dark and doom. It’s actually quite fulfilling. I have a phrase I use with all the new people I train, “I would want me to respond to me if I needed help.”

The reason for the story above will make sense in this next part. PTSD is something many law enforcement officers face.

“There were 632 law enforcement deaths across the nation in 2021, nearly 25% of those were self-inflicted. Suicides ranked second among law enforcement deaths last year.” -WTVY

After experiencing many critical incidents in my short time as a Deputy Sheriff, I knew I needed to do something to occupy my mind. I needed something to balance out the reoccurring thought, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Welding and fabricating was the way. It was the answer to a question I didn’t know I was asking.

There is a photo of me in diapers holding a MIG-welding torch in my hand. Some would say owning my own welding business just makes sense. I have a background in automotive racing prior to my time in law enforcement, which correlated nicely with fabrication. From welding the local food shelf shopping carts to products used on US Navy ships, J4 Fabrication is here for Minnesota’s welding needs. I couldn’t be happier with what this business has accomplished and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to business is much like the Minnesota roads we travel. Sometimes the blacktop will be smooth as silk. Other times the road will be in repair with one lane closed and half of the open lane potholes!

I have leaned on my business-minded friends who understand the logistics of owning businesses. My struggle came from having the skill set to build and fabricate, and not truly understanding the behind the scenes parts such as documentation, invoicing, state guidelines and code, etc…

I knew I had something people wanted. It was the, “How can I make this fiscally make sense” I had to figure out.

Luckily, I was able to create an organizational strategy to keep me on the right path to success.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As mentioned previously, I have a background in automotive racing. I have been blessed enough to weld under people such as Skip Pollack (a racing legend) and Joey miller (a former NASCAR driver and car builder.)

I enjoy speaking with people and truly listening to what their welding/fabrication needs are. It’s a beautiful thing when you can see an idea come to life in raw-metal form. I like to think it’s like playing with Legos, only the pieces are heavy and to connect them you need 2,000 degrees!

J4 Fabrication started as an idea and has flourished into one of the Twin Cities’ premier welding and fabricating businesses. We have been featured by Lincoln Electric and Evolution Power Tools. Today, I was underneath (you read that correctly) the US Bank Stadium delivering some custom welded aluminum framing. What a crazy and amazing experience!

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I am a believer in luck coming from hard work. All of my successes and dances with the word, “Luck” came from something I either worked my butt off for, or a connection from being upfront and honest with what my business or I have to offer.

Luck is always there to grab. It just takes hard work to see it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j4_fabrication/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/j4fab/