Tarra Enochs – Tom Smith Industries

For Tarra Enoch, CEO of Tom Smith Industries, the role was never a matter of if—it was always when. She doesn’t just lead a company; she carries a legacy.

Tarra Enochs | Tom Smith Industries | CEO
Photo Credit: Samantha Meyers, Eighth Lane Photography

“I was born into it,” she says. “If you cut me open, plastic pellets would fall out.”

That may sound like a punchline, but it’s an honest reflection of a life steeped in manufacturing. As the third-generation leader of her family’s business, Enochs grew up on the factory floor. She learned to operate machines, manage supply chains, and understand the value of every role in the company. It wasn’t just training—it was preparation for what would eventually become her mission.

Today, Enochs leads Tom Smith Industries (TSI), a woman-owned, Dayton, Ohio-based custom plastic molding company serving the automotive, defense, industrial, and HVAC sectors. Founded in 1980 by Enochs’s grandfather, TSI has evolved into a trusted supplier for some of the world’s most demanding OEMs, including Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and tier-one defense contractors like Northrop Grumman and L3 Harris Fuzing and Ordnance Systems.

What sets TSI apart isn’t just its technical ability to convert traditional metal parts into high-performance plastic components—it’s the way the company operates: rooted in family, driven by relationships, and built to last.

From Factory Floor to Corner Office

Enoch’s journey to CEO was paved with firsthand experience and hard-won knowledge. After earning a business degree from Wright State University, she began working in the company’s accounts receivable department in 2003. Over the next two decades, she took on human resources, operations, and strategy roles, eventually earning an MBA from the University of Dayton.

Photo Credit: Samantha Meyers, Eighth Lane Photography

“I’ve done nearly every job here. It gives me the perspective I need to lead. When I make decisions, I know how they’ll affect the people on the floor, because I’ve been there,” she says.

The roots of the business trace back to Enochs’s grandfather, who started TSI with nothing but determination.

“He had two nickels in his pocket and rubbed them together to make a dime,” Enochs says. “He built something out of nothing, with my grandmother by his side every step of the way.”

When her grandfather passed, her grandmother stepped in without hesitation, eventually passing the business to Enochs, who has led TSI since 2019.

“It’s not just a company—it’s our family story,” she says.

That story continues to be written in the everyday interactions between Enochs and her team. She knows every employee by name, and TSI maintains an open-door policy across all departments.

“Our people aren’t numbers. They’re the heartbeat of our business,” she says.

Innovation born from crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for manufacturers, and TSI was no exception. But where others saw disruption, Enochs saw an opportunity to transform.

Photo Credit: Samantha Meyers, Eighth Lane Photography

“We couldn’t go remote. As a manufacturer, we had to keep making parts. But that time also allowed us to look hard at how we were operating,” she explains.

TSI used the crisis as a catalyst for change, adopting automation, robotics, and lean production systems to boost efficiency. In the process, the team was streamlined from 150 to about 40 employees without sacrificing output.

“Time is the biggest waste in manufacturing. We finally had the chance to dig in, find the gaps, and fix them,” Enochs says.

The results speak volumes. TSI cleared a $1.5 million backlog of 150,000 pieces, implemented new forecasting and purchasing models, and built infrastructure to scale production quickly when demand returned.

“When our OEM customers flipped the switch, we were ready,” she says. “That’s what we do—prepare, adapt, and deliver.”

That same agility helps TSI weather economic pressures like tariffs and supply chain volatility. Rather than locking into rigid pricing, Enochs prioritizes transparency and close communication with customers.

“We take it one day at a time. We don’t overpromise—we work hard to be honest, reliable, and responsive,” she says.

Relationships over transactions

In a competitive market filled with technical players, TSI wins business through something less tangible—but far more enduring: relationships.

Photo Credit: Samantha Meyers, Eighth Lane Photography

“We’ve never had a marketing department,” Enochs says. “We’ve grown for 45 years purely through word of mouth.”

That includes multi-decade relationships with OEMs and defense contractors who know TSI not just for its performance, but for its integrity.

“We’re not just a vendor. We’re a partner. Our customers call us when things go sideways, and they know we’ll figure it out together,” Enochs says.

As a woman leading a manufacturing company in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Enochs understands that she and TSI are unique, and she embraces that.

“It gives us a different voice—one based in empathy, collaboration, and connection,” she says. “We treat every customer like a member of the family. Because this business is personal.”

That same culture extends internally. TSI’s diverse workforce represents all walks of life, bound by a shared purpose. “We defend each other. We support each other. And we grow together,” she says.

Inspiring the next generation

One of Enochs’s greatest passions is workforce development, especially in filling the growing gap in skilled trades like tool and die.

Photo Credit: Samantha Meyers, Eighth Lane Photography

“It’s a dying art,” she says. “Many of our experts are retiring, and there just aren’t enough people coming in to learn those skills.”

That’s why TSI participates in National Manufacturing Day every October, welcoming students from local schools into its facility to learn about careers in STEM and advanced manufacturing.

“I love seeing the curiosity in kids—especially young girls—who maybe love Minecraft because they like building things,” Enochs says. “I tell them, ‘So do I. Just look around.’ You can turn that passion into a real career.”

Her message is clear: manufacturing isn’t just dirty work on a shop floor—it’s creative, innovative, and rewarding.

“We need to flip the narrative. You can build a great life in this field. And we want to help kids see that early on,” she says.

The road ahead

With 45 years of experience behind it, Tom Smith Industries is firmly rooted—but Enochs is steering it toward the future.

Photo Credit: Samantha Meyers, Eighth Lane Photography

That includes expanding TSI’s work with OEMs, defense, and industrial clients while investing in next-gen technologies like AI and more advanced molding systems. The company also plans to grow its in-house capabilities to meet new demands in sustainability, advanced materials and additive technologies, and cost efficiency.

“I want to make my grandparents proud, but I also want to leave my mark,” Enochs says. “We’ve always been true to our roots. But we’re also forward-thinking. We’re ready for what’s next.”

With her children now grown and a supportive husband, Enochs has embraced a new phase of life as a leader and mentor, not just for her team but the entire industry.

“I don’t feel pressure from the outside anymore. The only pressure I feel is the pressure I put on myself—to ensure this business thrives and continues to be a place where people are proud to work,” she says.

From humble beginnings to high-stakes manufacturing for global giants, Tom Smith Industries proves that family values, strategic thinking, and relentless determination can build something lasting.

“We’ve been at this for 45 years,” Enochs says with a smile. “And we’re just getting started.”