This story perfectly illustrates what MetalBC stands for: perseverance, finding each other, and achieving something great together.
In 2021, Jack Vermeulen was approached by one of the owners of Denned Installatietechniek for a conversation about rebranding and image. Everything seemed to be in place for a great collaboration. Until life intervened.
“In the week I was supposed to have the meeting, I was told I had metastatic melanoma.”
This put Jack’s life on hold.
After a few surgeries, immunotherapy, and a long road to recovery, he decided to become an entrepreneur in early 2023. Through the No Guts No Glory Foundation, he ended up at the Metal Business Club.
“I knew right away: this is my club. Cool people, honest stories, no masks. I want to be part of this.”
He signed up and became one of the first 100 members.
In the summer of 2023, he decided to give Denned another try, and after many text messages and emails, another appointment was made. In November 2024, the first quote was signed. What happened next is typical MetalBC: the right people came together.
Together with Tom Schilders, the branding was developed: Tom on the text, Jack on the visuals. Melvin van Liebergen and Youri Valentijn from the club also joined in for photography.
“You can’t do this alone. You need people who understand you, who are better than you at their job. That’s something I’ve learned.”
In November 2025, the final agreement came from Denned. They are allowed to implement the new branding: from logo to car stickers and from website to company clothing.
The first two days of filming have already been completed, and in early February, there will be a (video) shoot in Lelystad with Youri Valentijn for about 75,000 m² of drone footage. The plan is for everything to go live in mid-April.
For Jack, there is also an extra symbolism in this for himself. “In April, I will have been clean for 5 years. That is a milestone. And exactly 5 years ago, the first seed for this project was planted. For me, this is really the crowning glory of 5 hard and increasingly better years. I am super proud to be able to deliver a great project with a great team of people.”
His lessons are clear and recognizable to many MetalBC members: you can’t do it alone. Find people who suit you, perseverance will take you further than you think, don’t be too modest, and above all… Stay Metal. 