Meet R.T. Custer

R.T. Custer (Robert Thomas) is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vortic Inc., which owns both Vortic Watch Company and Colorado Watch Company. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, R.T. is a dedicated entrepreneur on a mission to preserve American history and revitalize domestic manufacturing. With over a decade of experience building watches in the United States, and even defeating the SWATCH Group in federal court. R.T. is one of the only American leaders in the industry committed to complete transparency and craftsmanship. Father of two, storyteller, and champion of the skilled trades, he believes in “building trees under whose shade you’ll never sit.”

About

Vortic Inc. is the parent company behind two brands with a shared mission: preserving American history and proving that “Made in USA” is here to stay.

Vortic Watch Company salvages and restores antique American pocket watches, transforming them into one-of-a-kind wristwatches. Each piece tells a story, preserving family heirlooms, celebrating early American engineering, and keeping history on your wrist. From their daily “Watch of the Day” releases to the limited-run “Military Edition” that supports the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative, Vortic is redefining how Americans value legacy.

Colorado Watch Company, launched in 2023, represents the next chapter: manufacturing the most American-made watches at scale today. Designed as rugged, modern heirlooms with “Industrial Americana” styling, their Field Watch and GCT models aim to be the proof that large-scale, high-quality American manufacturing isn’t just possible, it’s necessary.

R.T. hosts the American Dreamers podcast and YouTube show, showcasing the people, stories, and skills that make American entrepreneurship worth fighting for. He’s passionate about supporting skilled trades, American jobs, and veterans, believing that the products we buy should reflect our values.

Why Book R.T. Custer As Your Guest

Authentic Voice on American Manufacturing

R.T. doesn’t just talk about Made in USA, he shows it. He’s built two watch brands that manufacture domestically, hired American veterans, and kept the entire process transparent. Audiences love hearing from someone who can speak plainly and passionately about revitalizing American industry.

Relatable Entrepreneurial Journey

From using nearly every type of small business funding imaginable to defeating a multinational conglomerate in court, R.T.’s journey is full of hard-earned lessons. He’s not just another CEO. He’s a father, a builder, and someone who knows what it’s like to bet everything on an idea.

Champion of Skilled Trades and Veterans

R.T. is on a mission to close the skilled trade gap and support veterans through his work with the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative. He can speak knowledgeably and emotionally about the need to value skilled labor and provide real opportunities for those who serve.

Great Storyteller with Real Transparency

Podcasts and interviews need guests who don’t hide behind buzzwords. R.T. is honest, funny, and clear. He’ll share wins, losses, and the messy realities of manufacturing in the U.S, all while keeping listeners engaged with real human stories.

What R.T. Custer Loves Talking About

“Made Here, Not There” – The Case for American Manufacturing

R.T. breaks down the realities of building in the U.S., supply chains, cost challenges, and why it matters for jobs, security, and identity. He makes the big-picture debate personal and compelling.

The Skilled Trade Gap and How to Fix It

America needs more than office workers. R.T. is passionate about bringing respect, training, and opportunity back to skilled trades, something he lives daily through his manufacturing facility and hiring practices.

Preserving History Through Craft

From 100-year-old pocket watches converted into heirlooms to modern rugged designs inspired by military history, R.T. can talk about how storytelling and craft create emotional connections in products, and why this matters in a disposable age.

The Real Life of an Entrepreneur

Not the Instagram highlights, the real story. Funding challenges, lawsuit battles, leadership lessons, and family balance. R.T. believes the best way to inspire other entrepreneurs is through honesty and transparency about what it takes.

Grab R.T. Custer’s Bio

R.T. Custer (Robert Thomas) is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vortic Inc., parent company to Vortic Watch Company and Colorado Watch Company.

Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, R.T. is on a mission to preserve American history “one watch at a time” while proving that large-scale American manufacturing is possible. Vortic Watch Company restores antique American pocket watches into one-of-a-kind wristwatches, celebrating legacy and craft. Colorado Watch Company builds the most American-made watches at scale today with rugged, military-inspired designs.

A passionate supporter of the skilled trades and U.S. veterans, R.T. partners with the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative and believes in manufacturing transparency, integrity, and fun. He hosts the American Dreamers podcast and YouTube show, highlighting real stories of American entrepreneurship.

Known for defeating the SWATCH Group in federal court to secure the right to use “Hamilton” on restored dials, R.T. is a seasoned, relatable voice on what it takes to build and run a values-driven business in America today.

Links:

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LinkedIn
American Dreamers Podcast & YouTube
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Vortic Watch Company

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Vortic Watch Company

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Contacts

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