Okay, let’s tackle this. So Ben Piatt has a broad range of skills, including manufacturing operations management, optics, and production management. He’s based in Macedon, New York, which is a relatively small market. Considering his skills and experience, I’d estimate his hourly rate to be around $75. This is a bit lower than what I’d expect for someone with his level of expertise in a larger market, but Macedon is a smaller market, and his skills are more specialized. Some manufacturing operations managers with similar experience in larger markets might charge $100–$150 per hour. So, I’m being conservative with this estimate.