Combs Welding Design, Inc. was founded in 1999 by Mark R. Combs. Mark started the business with the intention of creating a company where he could use his creativity and experience to design products and also have the ability to fabricate and manufacture those products. Starting with little more than pure ambition, Mark bought an engine driven welder capable of welding aluminum, stainless steel and mild steel, acetylene torch outfit and an angle grinder along with other necessary small hand tools and went to work searching for customers who could use his service. The jobs came straggling in consisting of small weld repairs and fabricated products such as propane bottle storage racks of various sizes.

  The first couple of years were pretty rough as Mark had to work full time for other companies and build the business working nights and weekends. It didn’t take long before he realized the business was not going to grow unless a facility larger than his one car detached garage was obtained and he worked the business full time.

  In 2001 after the World Trade Center bombing and the ensuing market crash, Mark rented a small warehouse space in Dundee, FL putting everything on the line saying “If I can make the business grow in this economy, it will make it through anything.” As a lot of hard work and a little luck would have it the business continued to grow. More equipment such as a shop welder, iron worker, lathe, mill and plasma cutter were obtained to expand the capabilities of the company. The work started coming from many directions and was varied consisting of equipment repair, weld repairs and just about anything that came through the door. Soon additional help was needed and employees were hired.

  The commercial construction industry started to boom in 2004 after hurricanes Charlie, Frances and Jean directly hit his home and business in Dundee. Mark found himself needing even more help and brought his wife Connie on board full time to take care of the books and payroll. Connie, knowing everything she and Mark owned was at risk worked just as hard at the business as Mark and still had to take care of the home and children. As the commercial construction work kept coming they found it to be the major source of their business but still did not turn away any of the walk-in work that had helped the company grow by word-of mouth from the beginning. More equipment was obtained including a CNC controlled automatic band saw, Pressbrake, shear and more mobile equipment to expand their capabilities even further.

  In 2007 the Combs’ were able to purchase the land and building that is their current facility and again expand their capabilities by adding a CNC Plasma table and more mobile construction related equipment. The company was restructured and Connie was made president and sole owner of Combs Welding Design, Inc. and obtained status of woman owned business to help in acquiring more government related construction work mainly building schools.

  The company continued to prosper until 2009 when the commercial construction industry virtually became non-existent. The Combs’ had to back up and re-group and find other avenues of income. Connie had always wanted to be an artist and a new division was established in 2010 called Metal Mommas. The brand Metal Mommas was established to provide ornamental and home decorating products and fundraising opportunities and is the currently the main focus of the business.

  In 2010 Mark was forced to retire due to health problems and Connie took over full operation of the business.  She still works hard and has created many new products under the "Metal Mommas" brand.  With the help of dedicated father and son employees, Indar and Suresh "Andy" Malkay, Connie has been able continually create new and varied products to offer our customers.