Meet Michael Borders

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Borders and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi michael, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I tell people, “This is my Pandemic Contingency”. I was a personal trainer for several years before the pandemic. I grew up in Fort Valley, Ga, but moved to NYC in 2001. After 19 years in NYC, and the uncertainty about business reopening, I took my savings and pulled the trigger on starting a Fabrication shop in Forsyth. My family all live in Middle Georgia, and Forsyth seemed like a nice location between Macon and Atlanta. Between the 2009 recession and the pandemic, I was self-employed. mainly Personal Tech Support. I had always wanted to own a place where I could make anything. That is where the shop, Iron Eagle Design and Fabrication Studio, was born. it has been almost 5 years, and we are going strong.

My main drive in starting this shop was to bring a little bit of manufacturing back to America. Every item I create here in Georgia keeps one from having to be shipped over from China.
On top of that, my Philosophy for all the items I create, from a bracket for an exhaust to a high-end Smoker or grill, I want everything I make to, at the very minimum, outlast me. I hope that the items I create are durable and high-quality enough to be handed down to the next generation.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My background ranges from retail to interior design, graphic/presentation design, and personal training. I have an Associate’s of Fashion Design as well. I think of myself as creative. I get to work directly with the customer to make sure they get that special item that can not be found anywhere else. We offer 3D rendering services so the customer can see the item before we cut any metal. I love thinking outside the box, and many of my clients let me create whatever I feel fits the purpose and occasion. No two days are ever the same. something new every day!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Forsyth is a great location to explore Middle Georgia and the Piedmont Plateau. We have several great restaurants in Forsyth. Fox City is great for a burger and a beer. Sol Tacos and Tequila is an amazing Mexican restaurant. We would probably take a road trip up the Dahlonega and the north Georgia mountains. possibly Savannah if the mountains didn’t work for them.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have had many great customers in the last 5 years, but I would have to say the biggest customer is the City of Forsyth. The local government has consistently come to me for some of their more unique projects. Along with the Forsyth Convention & Visitors Bureau, we have come up with a standard for all of the local city parks’ signage. Rather than have dull state park signage, we came up with a classic vintage design that will stand the test of time and, of course, the local community at large, who have come to us for many personal projects, from weddings to hunting lodges.

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