Forrest’s story begins in Flint, Michigan, where a natural curiosity and a passion for understanding how things work shaped the foundation of his career.

As a child, Forrest was fascinated by science. He grew up watching Mr. Wizard and, according to his mother, had a habit of asking questions that routinely stumped his teachers. That curiosity eventually led him to Michigan Tech, where he graduated in 1971 with a degree in Metallurgy.

After college, Forrest spent three years as a test engineer with Ford Motor Company. At 25, with enough money saved to travel and explore different opportunities, he spent several years discovering where his interests and talents could take him. His direction became clearer when his first son was born. He decided it was time to build a career and a future for his growing family.

That decision marked the beginning of the Docs Industries story.

In 1983, Forrest joined Ramset, where he gained an in-depth understanding of the construction fastening industry. He developed lasting relationships throughout the industry, built strong friendships, and earned a reputation for knowing how things worked — both technically and practically.

Over time, Forrest saw opportunities to solve problems in new ways. Eventually, he took the leap and began developing and marketing his own construction tools.

The first was the Lagmaster, produced and marketed right in his backyard. It was truly a family effort: his son helped with assembly, while his wife handled bookkeeping and deliveries. What started as a small family operation soon began to grow.

Forrest’s combination of technical knowledge, industry experience, creativity, and ability to connect with people led to the development of many more tools and products. Those early backyard beginnings grew into Docs Industries Incorporated, a company built around practical innovation, strong relationships, and a commitment to serving the people who make their living in construction.

Today, Docs remains a family-owned and operated business — continuing the same spirit that started it all: understanding how things work, finding better ways to get the job done, and building something worth passing on to the next generation.