Ask most Martin County residents what drives the local economy, and you’ll hear the usual answers: beaches, tourism, real estate, maybe healthcare. Few mention manufacturing. Fewer still could name a single company doing the work.
But that work is here. And it matters more than most realize.
Start with Monica Dirr.
She runs Pace Machine & Tool, a woman- and veteran-owned precision manufacturing company on Jack James Drive in Stuart. There’s no storefront, no advertising—and it’s a secure facility, so there’s undoubtedly no walk-in traffic. But inside, Monica and her team are machining components for helicopters, aircraft, spacecraft, submarines, and other defense systems—holding tolerances down to the tenth of a thousandth of an inch. That level of precision isn’t standard. It is expected by only the most exacting names in the aerospace industry.
Her team is more than capable of performing. These are seasoned tradespeople—no revolving door, no short-term help. Most have been with Monica for years. They work side by side, mentor young machinists, and take pride in what they build. This says as much about the company culture as it does about their work.
In 2023, the Business Development Board of Martin County named Pace Machine & Tool Manufacturer of the Year. The award wasn’t for size or scale. It was for quiet, consistent excellence—delivering mission-critical parts with no room for error.
Bill West’s column was first published in Friends & Neighbors on June 1. Bill is an investor in the BDBMC.
