Meet The Staff

TOM BALDING : 42 Years of Experience

After years of honing his metallurgical skills in the aerospace and sailing parts industries in Southern California, Tom Balding chose the quieter life in Sheridan. He wanted his work to reflect a passion for horses, and his new course was revealed to him when a neighbor asked him to repair a broken bit.

Now, 39 years later, Tom ranks among the most revered and imitated bit-and-spur makers in the country. He’s known industry-wide for design innovation, precision and flawless finish work. His background and relationships with the nation’s best horsemen result in products of superlative function and striking appearance.

Tom fully enjoys his home and likes to backpack and explore the mountains, plus spend time with his three mature children Christal, Eva Marie and Chester.

“The worth of a piece should be reckoned by the skill expended upon its design and manufacture rather than by the oppulence of its materials.” - Carl Faberb, 1870.

 

RIP -- Justin Massar

Bit Technician & Shop Supervisor: 26 Years of Experience

Justin has been a part of the Tom Balding Team for 26 years now. A former ranch cowboy, Justin enjoys working with his hands. He is instrumental in creating bits and overseeing the process from start to finish.

He’s also a skilled engraver, adding his artistic touch to bits and spurs. “For those who appreciate craftsmanship, hand engraving is something they really cherish," said Justin. Justin and his wife, Kathleen, have one son, Jake. Outside of work, he enjoys fishing, hunting, and backpacking in the mountains.

 Kelli Anderson

Office Manager: 28 Years Experience

In her 25 years, she has spent hundreds of hours helping customers with their custom bit and spur orders. Often the first point of contact for customers, Kelli manages
the business office: answering phones, taking orders, responding to emails, shipping, helping with customer service, and managing the books. A native of tiny Lodge Grass, Mont., Kelli grew up on a cattle ranch and remains a cowgirl at heart. She and her husband enjoy spending their free time hiking and traveling.

 Sam Davidson

Technician: Spurs Technician  - 35 Years of Experience

 

Sam has been working alongside Tom for nearly 35 years. He specializes in building the spurs from assembling the basic parts to the final finish.

He learned machining and welding at Sheridan College and on the job with Tom Balding. A native of Sheridan, Sam credits his dad and granddad for his career direction. "They were home mechanics, building things just came naturally to me," he said. He enjoys outdoor pursuits, hockey, and playing bluegrass guitar and mandolin.

 

 HAYDEN BURGESS

Bit Technician: 5 Years Experience

Hayden, a Sheridan, Wyoming native and Sheridan College welding graduate, is our lead bit technician. Trained side-by-side with the late master craftsman Justin Massar, he carries that legacy forward with precision and care. Hayden’s steady hand and attention to detail ensure every bit leaves the bench with exceptional quality.

 Kati Evers

Photography & Marketing: 11 Years of Experience

 Kati is a Wyoming native and has been part of the Tom Balding crew for 11 years. She keeps the front end of the business moving so the shop can keep building. She wears many hats — customer service, shipping, website management, photography, and social media — and somehow keeps them all spinning. When she’s not at TB, you can bet she’s somewhere outdoors — usually in the mountains, or anywhere fresh air is involved.

 

 RAY FRIGO 

Component Production: 7 Years Experience

You will usually find him with a big smile on his face as he loves the work he does with all the intricate parts and manufacturing that goes into the bits and spurs. He retired from Powder River Energy and after a tour of the shop, came to work part-time as a machinist.

Outside of work, Ray loves to be in his shop working on various projects with his street rods. He and his wife Cyd love to take spontaneous adventures with their fur babies.